Planning a Michigan College Tour

TIPS FOR PLANNING A MICHIGAN COLLEGE  TOURpersonal experiences such as;  Why did you choose
Family vacations for most people typically include athis college? Why did you stay after freshman
trip to the beach, a day at a theme park, or anyear?  What do you like best about your classes? 
overnight stay at a campground.  But if your plansAre faculty members accessible and supportive? 
for a vacation this year include inspecting dormWhat do you do during the weekends? What are
rooms, eating cafeteria food and listening to youngyour plans for after graduation?
enthusiastic tour guides, then you are probably theTake a step back.  It’s important to let your
parent of a high school senior.  And, you are notson or daughter ask the questions and direct the
alone.  According to the Michigan Department ofconversation. You can always call the admissions
Community Health, estimates are there will becounselor at a later time to ask your specific
approximately 115,062 seniors graduating fromquestions.
Michigan public and private high schools in the summerBe attentive and polite.  This applies to both parent
of 2010.  Of this number, roughly 47.5% (or 54,626)and child. Talking on your cell phone, texting friends,
will attend college next fall, and those futureor talking loudly when others are trying to listen to
freshmen are beginning to make their college plansthe presentation is rude.  Put the cell phone and
now. Blackberry away and give your tour guide the
One of the items high on the to-do list is the collegeattention and courtesy they deserve.  
campus tour. “Tours offer a quick way forAfter the Tour
students to decide whether a school is right for themTake time to digest.  Don’t ask “what did
and whether they will even consider applying toyou think?” on your way out of the campus
it,” said Catherine Healy, President of Michiganparking lot.  Give your child some time to process
College Tour, “Next to cost, a campus visit canthe things they observed and don’t be
have the biggest influence in choosing a college.”discouraged by his or her initial lack of enthusiasm. 
  A college education is an important and expensiveFor most teenagers used to their small high school
purchase, so with only an hour or two to form anenvironment, a visit to a large college campus can be
opinion about a school, make the best use of aan overwhelming experience.   Have your child bring
campus visit and develop a personal college tour plana notebook so they can jot down their impressions
before you go.after each visit.  Encourage them to take pictures
Before the Tourtoo.   Later, have a nice meal at a quiet place and
Do your homework.  Make a list of colleges andallow your child to share their opinions before offering
universities that appeal to you and your child andyour own judgment of the school.
determine whether the schools meet your criteria ofHave fun.  Take time to relax by the hotel pool, see
academic offerings, location, extra-curricular studentthe local tourist spots and just enjoy the time spent
activities, and financial affordability.   Visit eachwith your son or daughter.  Being in such close
school without leaving home by taking an onlineproximity with your teen for so many hours can be a
virtual tour which many college websites nowreal test of nerves or it can be a unique
offer.   The more you know about a college aheadopportunity.  Have your child remove their ear buds,
of time, the less time you will waste visiting schoolsturn off their cell phone,  even let them drive,  and
that don’t meet your needs.use the time in the car to talk and bond with your
Register in advance.  Check the schedules foroffspring .
campus tours and informational sessions since mostFollow-up and stay organized.  Prompt follow up with
schools require advance registration.   Somea college or university is important to making a good
colleges limit the number of visits on a certain dayimpression.  Be sure to write down the names of all
and their available space fills up quickly.   A goodthe personnel you met with and send them a thank
resource for this information is the Michigan Collegeyou note or personal e-mail.  Purchase a file box to
Tour Campus Visit Calendar found at   which postsstore all of the college information accumulated during
a calendar of scheduled campus visits and openyour trip and to collect all of the admissions
houses for all Michigan colleges and universities. correspondence that will soon follow.
Map out your itinerary and make hotel reservations.With the official start of the 2010 college application
 Plan short trips and focus on schools in a singleseason quickly approaching (September 1st for many
geographic area.  Don’t attempt to visit moreschools), today is the right the time to schedule your
than two schools a day; otherwise it all becomes acampus tours.  And if you visit now before most
blur. Many campuses are big and sprawling so it is ahigh school classes begin again after Labor Day, your
good idea to print out a campus map before yourchild will have a head start in the fall when they are
arrival. Local hotels will often offer discounts fortrying madly to complete their college applications, do
college visitors, so be sure to ask for any specialshomework, and participate in their many high school
that may be available. Give your child thesenior activities.
responsibility of handling the tasks of researchingfeatures the Michigan College Tour Campus Visit
schools, scheduling visits and planning the itinerary. Calendar which gives students, parents, teachers, and
This is their first step into adulthood and should behigh school guidance counselors a single site where
allowed to take the lead in the planning.they can quickly access a monthly calendar of
While on the Tourscheduled college campus visits and open houses. 
Engage the tour guide.  Most college visits are led byThe site also includes links to Michigan college and
a tour guide who is typically a student at theuniversity campus maps, virtual tours, and admission
college.  Be prepared to ask about his or hercontacts.