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For Students Entering College... Part II
Visiting College -- When Should I Go? What Should I Ask?
When making applications to colleges, students often find that going to visit the campus of any potential college is one of the most important deciding factors in their college search. It's essential to get the low-down on the campus from by experiencing it for yourself. But when is the best time to visit, and what do you need to check out when you get there?
When to go
Whether you choose to do a full-on campus trip during your summer vacation, taking in a few colleges, or spend a few weekends during the fall, winter or spring, the important thing is that you do take time out to see the colleges to which you intend to apply. Anytime is the right time!
Some students prefer to visit a college before sending in an application, in order to get a feel of the place. Others will apply to a range of colleges first, and then make visits to find the one where they feel most at home. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way to go about your college search, as long as you collect the information needed to make a choice that is right for you.
Colleges don't want to waste their time catering for students who aren't serious about choosing them as a possible application choice, so make sure you are well prepared before making applications to the colleges you are interested in. Before you complete any applications, try to visit the campus and arrange to have a chat with the staff - they may even offer to give you a formal interview. All of this demonstrates a real desire on your part to choose this college, and boosts the chance of your application being successful.
Why not get in touch with the College admissions office - there are bound to be lots of special events designed for budding undergraduates like yourself who want to find out more about the college. You will often find a wealth of resources on offer to potential applicants, which might help you save time in your college search.
What to do
Which such a bewildering array of colleges all claiming to offer the best courses, facilities and student activities, how do you know which one's right for you? To find out what's so special about an individual College and see if you think it's the kind of place you aspire to studying in, you need to be campus savvy during your tour. Check out our list of essential things to do to maximize the time you spend there.
- Talk to students, professors and admissions staff- they work and live here, and you'll soon pick up some top tips which will help you to make up your mind.
- Visit student accommodation - could you really live here? Is it conveniently situated in relation to the areas where you would be taking classes?
- Sit in on a class - don't be shy, most professors will be only too pleased to welcome another eager face to their ranks!
- See essential study areas such as the library and IT suites - if provision here seems poor, you may find you'll have a battle when it comes to getting work done!
- Hang out in the cafeteria and other favorite student haunts - there should be a buzz of energy here; if not, do you really want life in the slow lane?
- Check out the surroundings - there is life outside the classroom, and you should tour the campus and the city beyond it to get a feel for the area.
- Find out about sports and other recreational activities - are there good facilities which will allow you to pursue your favorite activity, or take a new one?
- Read all about it - college bulletin boards and newspapers are a great source of up to the minute info on what's happening on campus right now.
- Imagine yourself being a student here - first impressions last, and you'll often get the right vibe which will lead to you making your final choice.
What to ask
Your trip is an important step in your college search, so you need to balance out the sightseeing with some in-depth research! The best way to do this is to speak to other students - after all, they were in your position last year, and will give you the lowdown on things the prospectus may not tell you. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- What do you like best about this college?
- What's the downside?
- What is your average day like?
- What happens at weekends - do most students stay on campus?
- How long are classes, and are there any difficulties with a split campus?
- What made you choose this college?
A word of warning about weather - don't let weather influence your decision too much. It's easy to be taken in by a beautiful sunny day, or have a negative view of a place just because it's grey and wet when you visit, but you need to check out what the climate is usually like. Are you a sunshine person, or do you love the snow? Can you live in this climate?
I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I've learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search.
Helping Teenagers Choose a College Major
Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com, stated in an article for MSNBC that eighty percent of college-bound and high school students have not yet chosen a major. Gupte continues, "It is little wonder 50 percent of those who do declare a major, change majors - with many doing so two and three times during their college years."
Before declaring a major, college students need to explore campus resources including academic advisors, faculty or department chairs and career counselors.
Academic Advisors Academic advising offices offer a wealth of information about college programs, minors and course schedules and selection. They exist primarily to help college students maneuver through the sometimes complex academic landscape and choose a major. Teens and new college students should know that academic advisors are not just there to pick classes, but to advise students about college programs. Academic advisors know the college catalog thoroughly. New college students should be encouraged to connect with and become acquainted with academic advisors as soon as they arrive on campus.
Faculty and Department Chairs University faculty and department chairs can share insights and nuances about a major that a college student might not have considered. Visit professors during office hours and ask questions about faculty specialties, research interest and classes in the major. Faculty can tell college students new directions within careers and ultimately the majors required to succeed. Faculty also can connect students with recent alumni and make a recommendation for someone with whom a student could do an informational interview.
Career Centers Last, but by no means least, students need to become familiar with the college career center. Career counselors do not serve just graduating seniors who need help with a resume. Career counselors, career associates or career advisors as they might be called, are an amazing campus resource, full of information about majors and careers.Career counselors are not alarmed by college students who are undecided about a major or career; in fact they welcome these students. Students can get help with major and career selection by asking the following kinds of questions:
- What can I do with this major?
- Where can I find out more about this career?
- How can I get more information about certain careers?
- Who can I do an informational interview with in that career?
- Why are my values, skills, interests and personality important when selecting a major or career?
Finally, college career center staff will not only guide teens with the decision to select a major or a career, but have the tools in place to help students make successful transitions from their major into new careers beyond college.
Parenting New College Students: Are You Too Involved In Your College Student's Life?
Mobile phone, instant messaging, email, FedEx... with all the technology that is available today, it's so easy for parents to stay in touch with their new college student children. But, when is it too much?
Parents are talking to their kids two, three, four, five times a day. However, what they fail to realize is that a major part of college is the student learning to deal with life issues on their own.
Stay Involved in Your College Student's Life, But...
Don't get me wrong.
I am the first one to say that parents need to remain involved. But, there reaches a point that your young adult needs to start taking responsibility and advocating for themselves. They need to make their own decisions. This is all part of growing up.
And, if you have been a good parent, now is the time to step back and let your child step forward and practice what you have been teaching them all along.
How Parents Can Exercise Their New College Student's Problem Solving Muscle...
Your new college student son or daughter will run into problems starting from the beginning. They might not like the roommate they have, or they might not like the dorm supervisor or their advisor.
In many cases the first thing they will do is call mom or dad. But before you call the school and take care of this...you may want to think twice.
As a parent, I strongly urge you to be there as a listener and listen to the dilemma. But then, ask them what they plan on doing about this. Discuss what their options are and encourage them to take care of the problem without you stepping in.
Don't deny them this experience. Let them feel good about handling the issue. Only get involved if it is dangerous or something that truly involves a parent.
How to Be a Resource for Your New College Student & Not a Pest
1. Avoid those "blah, blah, blah" phone calls during the week Establish a once a week time to talk. Agree in advance when this talk will happen. Use this time to catch up with everything that has happened. It may be 15, 20, or 30 minutes. The point is, you are not there constantly hovering over your new college student. Let them know that if they need to talk, you are available. But if it is not an emergency, try to talk only at your pre-appointed time.
2. Encourage your child to seek available resources at school Send your student to their advisors for the academic advice that they need. Other resources include student affairs, career centers, medical clinics and other counseling centers. Your student should be familiar with these resources available to college students.
3. Encourage your child to get involved Throughout their college years, your child should engage in their college's ongoing student activities. You can also suggest that they volunteer for charitable activities. Healthy activities help to combat some of the loneliness your new college student child may feel when they first go to college. And, it's a perfect opportunity for them to meet a diverse group of friends.
4. Let them be in charge of their own finances Credit cards are disasters waiting to happen. Adults have issues with credit cards. How can we expect a college student to do better? Instead, you should be clear about their monthly living expenses. Use a debit card and each month deposit a set amount. Do not give ANY additional money, unless there is an emergency. This gets your child in the rhythm of budgeting and will teach them how to become more independent?
Remember, as a new college parent that wants the best for their child, you should be involved in your student's life. But your parenting may need to be different. When you "hover" over your child you build a barrier between you and your college student. You give them the message that they cannot do anything on their own without their mother and father.
So, step outside your comfort zone. Let the student experience success. They may have to experience some failure to experience their success but let them own it. As a parent, your reward will be watching them become successful adults.
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Click here to read other articles by Phillip Walters.
Click here to read other articles by Marcia Robinson.
Click here to read other articles by Dr. Debi Yohn.
"Visiting College -- When Should I Go? What Should I Ask?" Copyright © Phillip Walters. Visit his website. Reprinted with permission.
"Helping Teenagers Choose a College Major" Copyright © Marcia Robinson. Marcia writes on career and workplace related issues for BullseyeResumes.com which offers free career advice through hundreds of articles and FAQs on resume writing and interview preparation. BullseyeResumes serves High School students and graduates; College students and new graduates; Career/Vocational Education students and graduates; Hourly/Skilled employees; Career Changers and workplace Re-Entry professionals. Reprinted with permission.
"Parenting New College Students: Are You Too Involved In Your College Student's Life?" Copyright © Dr. Debi Yohn. Parents from around the world have sought College Parenting Expert Dr. Yohn's advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success – a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-book now at her website & improve your child's chances of a successful college experience. Reprinted with permission.
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