| Though it's been a long time since I applied to college, | | | | better questions to ask once you get there. |
| I can still remember it distinctly. I know you already | | | | Call or email the admissions office before the date of |
| have a lot on your plate and I hate to be the one to | | | | your visit to see if there are activities beyond the |
| give you even more to do. However, the truth is | | | | tour and interview that are available to you. When I |
| that if you want to make the most of your college | | | | was interviewing, I was sometimes able to have |
| visit, you are going to have to do some homework. | | | | lunch with students on campus. Seeing who I'd be |
| Your first assignment is reading. Before your visit, | | | | going to school with helped shape my opinion of the |
| learn everything you can about the school. As | | | | schools in realistic and important ways. The students |
| questions occur to you, jot them down. You'll be glad | | | | who attend your prospective college will be your |
| you did. Once you're on a tour or in the admissions | | | | peers for the next few years, and they offer a |
| office, the pressure of the situation might make you | | | | valuable window into the culture of the school. |
| draw a blank. Not only do you need to get answers | | | | You might also want to ask the admissions office if |
| to the questions you have to help you make the | | | | you can call or email the department heads of your |
| best decision about what school to attend, but your | | | | particular fields of interest. When I was applying, I |
| questions will make you a stand-out among the | | | | was especially interested in Latin, and so I made |
| students who did not take the time to demonstrate | | | | arrangements to talk to people working in the |
| your level of interest. | | | | Classics department to find out how I could continue |
| If you know anyone in your community who | | | | to pursue my interests once I matriculated. Taking |
| graduated from the school you're visiting, or if there | | | | such a step also doesn't hurt how you look to your |
| are kids from your high school who currently attend | | | | interviewer. Colleges want to know that you are |
| it, you might want to get in touch with them. Talk to | | | | passionately interested in your educational |
| them about their experiences. You'll make sure the | | | | development, and in what they offer in that way. |
| visit is worth making, and if it is, you'll have even | | | | |