| College touring can get pretty tedious and tiring after | | | | hard to read. Allow a half hour extra for unexpected |
| awhile. Parents go to great lengths to make sure | | | | detours, parking lots that are full, traffic, etc. Make |
| their children are checking out colleges and uncovering | | | | sure you have a parking pass for your windshield if |
| the strengths and drawbacks for each one. | | | | needed. Some universities have shuttle buses to get |
| Sometimes however, no matter how much you have | | | | to different parts of the campus, which will take |
| planned, the trip with your teenager may turn out to | | | | extra time as well. |
| be a disaster. | | | | 4. Not speaking with the athletic coach prior to |
| Here are 5 mistakes people make when going on | | | | making appointments with the college - if you are an |
| college tours: | | | | athlete, you will need to speak with the coach, see |
| 1. Letting your teenager take care of the driving | | | | the athletic facilities and want to talk with the team |
| directions - even though they may have their driver's | | | | members. If you arrive on campus without making |
| license or permit, they may not have learned how to | | | | these arrangements, you will have to go back |
| navigate. Make sure they google the directions to the | | | | another day. Make sure you are eligible to make the |
| college or university not to the city itself. Have them | | | | team or at least find out what you need to do to be |
| sit next to you in the passenger seat to get them | | | | considered for the team. |
| acquainted route numbers, major highways and | | | | 5. Not thoroughly investigating the college while you |
| geographic locations as prep for making the right | | | | are there - Not talking with students on campus or |
| college a decision. | | | | not speaking with anyone from your prospective |
| 2. Letting your teenager take care of making the | | | | department will not give you all the information you |
| appointment with the college - the worst part of | | | | will need to find out if that college is what you are |
| driving all the way to a college or university is getting | | | | looking for. Seeing a picture or website only or |
| there, going on a tour only to find out that you | | | | students talking with their own classmates will not |
| missed the personal tour for your major or you were | | | | give you a good snapshot of reality. While you are |
| there on the wrong day for the facilities tour. Call | | | | there find out what campus life there is really like and |
| ahead to find out when the personal tour for your | | | | talk with as many people as possible. Find out things |
| major will be on the day you arrive or find out | | | | like the infirmary hours and what unexpected costs |
| immediately when you get to the campus. Excuse | | | | there may be after your child matriculates. |
| yourself from the tour of the grounds to go to the | | | | Letting your teenager be active in the college |
| department of your interest. | | | | process is giving them a chance to be more |
| 3. Not leaving enough time for driving, parking, and | | | | independent and letting them feel like you are not |
| finding the right building - if you already know how to | | | | controlling them. Try to be overlooking what they are |
| get to the college there is only the matter of finding | | | | doing to make sure your time is being used |
| the right parking lot and building when you arrive. | | | | efficiently. Enjoy the ride to the campus and the |
| Most campuses are very large and the tiny maps are | | | | tours. Good planning can make all the difference. |