Why a Campus Visit Is Critical in Choosing a College

campus visits college admissions college planning Apr 01, 2024

3 Key Takeaways

Personal Experience Enhances Choice: Visiting campuses in person provides invaluable insights that can't be captured through online research alone. Experiencing the atmosphere, meeting students and faculty, and seeing the facilities firsthand are pivotal in making an informed college choice.
Demonstrated Interest: Colleges take note of applicants who visit, as it demonstrates genuine interest. Utilizing the same email for both the tour sign-up and application can help colleges track this engagement, potentially benefiting the applicant.
Strategic Visit Planning: Maximizing campus visits involves attending information sessions, touring dorms, and even shadowing a student if possible. These activities provide a deeper understanding of campus life, helping students assess whether they can thrive there.

At Anja Education Consultants, we've always emphasized the transformative power of education. Guided by Anjali Maazel's visionary leadership, our consultancy has achieved unparalleled success, ensuring our clients' admission to their top-choice colleges. But beyond our metrics lies a core belief in making informed choices—a philosophy that extends to the crucial step of campus visits in the college selection process.

Why Visit Colleges?

The journey to selecting the right college is both exciting and daunting. Among various steps, one stands out for its irreplaceable value: the campus visit. As Anjali Maazel eloquently explains, "visiting colleges in person is a great way to demonstrate interest and to learn a lot about the college in ways that you would not be able to do online."

Timing and Planning Your Visit

Timing is everything. We advocate for visits when classes are in session, offering a live snapshot of campus life. Planning ahead is crucial. Anjali advises signing up for in-person information sessions and tours using the same email address you'll use for your college applications, ensuring colleges can track this demonstrated interest.

The Consultative Approach to Campus Visits

Our unique approach involves more than just attending a tour. We encourage prospective students to email admission counselors, expressing their interest in a comprehensive visit that includes attending classes, meeting students and faculty informally, and, if possible, being hosted overnight on campus. This immersive experience can offer invaluable insights into the daily life and culture of the institution.

Engaging with the Campus Community

Engagement with the campus community is key. "When you talk to students on campus, ask if some of those reviews are true, identify the issues most important to you, and bring those up," Anjali notes. This engagement is pivotal in debunking or confirming second-hand information and ensuring that your chosen institution aligns with your values and academic goals.

The Critical Role of Information Sessions and Tours

Information sessions and tours are not mere formalities but opportunities to probe deeper into what a college offers. Questions about internship opportunities, thriving student profiles, and institutional achievements can offer deep insights into whether the college aligns with your ambitions and learning style.

Reflecting on the Experience

Reflection is a vital part of the visit. Anjali emphasizes the importance of taking notes and assessing how you feel on campus, from the ambiance of the dining halls to the vibe of the surrounding neighborhood. This holistic assessment ensures that your final choice is not just informed by academic offerings but by a comprehensive understanding of the environment you'll be stepping into.

The Anja Education Consultants Edge

Guided by Anjali's expertise and our team's dedication, Anja Education Consultants stands as a beacon for those navigating the complexities of college admissions. Our approach, deeply embedded in personalization and strategic planning, ensures that every student we guide makes informed decisions, grounded in both aspiration and reality.

Campus visits, as outlined by Anjali, are more than just preliminary steps; they are foundational experiences that shape your educational journey. At Anja Education Consultants, we are committed to ensuring that this journey is not just successful but also transformative, paving the way to a future full of possibilities.

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Video Transcription

(Anjali Maazel): If you're able to visit colleges in person, try to pick a time when classes are in session and definitely plan ahead. It's a great way to demonstrate interest and also to learn a lot about the college in ways that you would not be able to do online. Most students do not visit all the college campuses in person before they receive their letters of admission. But you can start locally and plan a trip or two. Now, if you can visit all of the colleges on your list before you even submit your applications, that's fine too. Whatever you do, definitely visit the colleges that you are considering attending once you've been admitted. If possible, don't enroll in a college without having been there in person at least once. So now back to visit planning. First, sign up for an in-person information session and tour on the college website using the same email address you will use to apply to the college. This will help the college track you and include this aspect of demonstrated interest in your file. Then email the admission counselor assigned to you and tell them that you have signed up for the information session and tour and ask if it would be possible to put together a visit that would include attending classes, meeting students informally, meeting faculty members, and possibly being hosted by a student overnight on campus. Sometimes admissions can arrange that, and then you can attend classes with that student that you stay with overnight and even go to social events. When you talk to students on campus, ask if some of those reviews are true, identify the issues most important to you, and bring those up. If the college offers on-campus interviews, generally these are quite relaxed and informational in nature. However, read over the notes that you took about the school so you can ask informed questions. The most important thing is to do your homework and to come to the interview prepared and also to express your enthusiasm about the school. At the information session, ask what is most important to you about this college, including things like how easy it is to get internships, what kinds of students thrive on campus, and what is the college most proud of. During the tour, see how you feel on campus. What are the facilities like, the dorms? Try eating in a dining hall with students. And what about the neighborhood the college is in? Do you feel safe there? Read the campus news and local news and see what's going on to get a sense of the environment. If you can talk to faculty members, that would be ideal. Ask about their research and how they involve undergraduate students in their projects. Sometimes these connections can be really helpful in admissions, and you can certainly learn more about your major. When sitting in on a class, try to attend both a large introductory freshman class and a smaller discussion group. See if students are engaged, if faculty is engaged, and try to see if this is the kind of academic environment where you can see yourself doing well. Finally, try to talk to students apart from your tour guide. Talk to students in the student center, at a social or sporting event, or while you walk on campus. The more you experience and the more students you talk to while you're there, the better sense you're going to have if this college is for you and the more you will have to write about in your application essays. So take lots of notes.

Anjali Maazel

Founder and CEO of Anja Education Consultants

At Anja Education Consultants, we pride ourselves on the exceptional expertise of our Founder and CEO, Anjali Maazel. With over 15 years of experience as an alumna interviewer for Princeton University, our team, led by Anjali, brings a wealth of knowledge in college admissions. Our interdisciplinary approach, which melds arts, international education, and public relations, allows us to provide unparalleled guidance in college planning. The cornerstone of our success is the proprietary Talent Development 3D Process™, a unique strategy that has achieved a remarkable 100% success rate in securing admissions for our clients to at least one of their top three preferred schools. As a respected Ted Talk speaker and a sought-after authority in college admissions, we are frequently invited by high schools across the globe to share our insights and strategies, empowering students to reach their full potential in the competitive world of college admissions.

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