College Vists

If at all possible you should try to visit some college campuses. A visit is an excellent way to help you narrow your list of colleges. You may find that an urban setting appeals to you more or less than a rural, college-town campus. Similarly, you may need to actually visit a large state university to discover that you would prefer a small, private college.

Visits are best made early in your college planning--at the end of your sophomore or junior year is ideal. If you will be near a college campus during the summer, stop in and take the tour. The amount of information that can be gained from a campus visit is amazing--which is why CRMS counselors have visited numerous colleges.

It is a reality that CRMS students generally don't have the option to visit a college during the school year before the senior year. Do not be overly concerned if you cannot get to colleges when they are in session. While a visit is more helpful if the student body is available to see and talk to, even a relatively empty campus can give you a feel for whether or not the school appeals to you. Just be aware that what you see in the summer is probably not what you would see during the year. You can re-visit when the school is in session if you feel like you need to sharpen your impression before making a final decision.

You should have visited colleges during the summer before your junior year and during spring break of your junior year. Other good times to visit include the following: Thanksgiving break, Christmas break (CRMS gets out several days earlier than most colleges) & Spring break. (Most colleges have different spring breaks schedules so plan accordingly)

You should spend some time during the summer before your senior year visiting as many colleges as you possibly can. Remember that the school year is generally packed with activity and that seniors — especially those who are involved with the play or with athletic teams — have very little time to get away from campus to visit colleges. By the end of the summer, your list of twenty to twenty-five schools should be down to under ten (with at least two in each “expect” category).

CRMS College Visit Days
Students are granted three days that they may miss classes to visit colleges with the permission of their teachers and the college counselor for the purpose of seeing the colleges they are considering. The expectation is that a student will go on a campus tour, attend an information session, have an interview if possible and visit a class if feasible. We encourage students to use these days wisely. The college counseling office reserves the right to refuse permission for a student to skip class to visit a college if they do not think that the student has a genuine interest in the college.

Arranging a Visit
To arrange a visit, first consult the college's Admission Office website to learn about how to arrange a visit. It is best to make arrangements for college visits at least two weeks in advance so that you can be assured space on the tour and in the information session. Moreover, you may be able to schedule an interview with an admissions officer and ask for a class visit to be arranged. Most schools are open Monday through Friday each week except during holiday periods. Often there are group information sessions two or three times a day presented by an admission officer. This is often followed by a campus tour given by a current student. We are happy to offer suggestions about organizing trips, as we can frequently make suggestions about people you should meet or talk with or alumni you could visit at colleges.

Interviews
A few schools, generally the smaller liberal arts schools, offer individual interviews. When you contact the college about a college visit, find out if there is an opportunity to meet with an admission counselor.
There are a few different types of interviews:

Regional—Admissions Representatives travels to a city & schedules appointments, usually in a hotel suite.

Alumni—Alumni conduct interviews in their home region for their alma mater. They are trained representatives, but you also need to bear in mind that they do not make admission decisions.

On-campus—Normally conducted by an Admissions Officer, though you could also be seen by a current student (senior). Usually, they are individual but some colleges do group interviews. Don’t think there is safety in numbers with this method though. They take note of how you interact within the group—do you dominate, do you participate appropriately, or are you a statue?

Phone—If a college requires an interview and distance/time does not permit you to do one of the above options; a college may offer the opportunity to do a phone interview.

Here are some tips:

• Schedule an appointment well in advance of your trip. Many colleges are booked up a month ahead of time, particularly during school vacation times. Don’t “Drop-in” and expect to be seen by an admissions officer. Generally, someone will be able to speak with you to answer some questions, but won’t give an interview without prior arrangements.
• Arrive with time to spare, if you will be late, CALL.
• Dress comfortably and appropriately. Khakis and a collared shirt is a good rule of thumb. You do not have to wear a jacket and tie, but think about how you are portraying yourself. What you wear says a lot about who you are. If you are visiting an art school a funky outfit will be much more acceptable than if you are visiting a more conservative college.
• Do not wear ripped or shabby clothing, tee shirts, flip flops, etc. It is not necessary to be really dressed up, but you should be neat, clean, and a class act.
• No gum!
• Greet the interviewer with a smile and firm handshake. Show them you are glad to be there and aren’t just there because your parents dragged you. Admissions people are really nice people; they wouldn’t be there if they didn’t care.
• The term interview is rather misleading these days. While it used to be a time when students were “grilled” it is much more humane now. It is usually viewed as a conversation…the sharing of information. While they won’t ask you what you are going to do to contribute to world peace, they will expect you to be able to talk about what is important to you and why you are considering their institution.
• Do not answer a question with just a “yes” or “no”--elaborate. For example, if you are asked about a unique program you have done, or a job you have held, or a class you liked, don’t just say “it was great, really fun and I learned a lot”--tell them why it was great and what you learned. Be prepared for questions such as:

• Who are you? Which accomplishments, activities, people are most important to you? What and who made you into the person you are today? What interests you? What are your passions?
• Where are you going? What are your goals? What are your dreams? How do you see yourself developing over the next five/ten years? What course of study are you thinking you’ll pursue?
• Why this college? What is it about the confluence of your goals, your interests, your talents and your personal style that brings you to consider this college? What do you know about this college that tells you it would be a good match for you? How will this college help you reach your goals?

• Make a list of questions. Questions that you cannot find the answers to by simply picking up their view book. Show you have put some thought and effort into it. It is okay to pull out your list of questions and ask them, it shows you are prepared and organized. Ask questions about topics such as scholarships, interesting research going on, hot issues on campus, what the interviewer would say is the greatest area in need of change.
• Know your scores and grades. It is very frustrating, and a big red flag, to an admissions person to hear a student say “I don’t remember”. It is tempting to embellish a bit, but keep in mind; they will see your transcript and scores if you apply. Be honest!!
• The interview is a good time to let them know of any extenuating circumstances…not excuses, but explanations. If there was a death, divorce, or health issue that had a negative impact on your academic performance, let them know.
• Usually you will meet with the admission officer for about 20-30 minutes. Be respectful of your parents, they are a part of this process & decision too. Even if you are tired of traveling with them, or think they are asking embarrassing questions, refrain from the “Oh, Mom’s” or rolling the eyes. You don’t want the interviewer to get a bad impression of you.
• It is rare that an interview can hurt your chances for admission, but occasionally it can. If you know you will be absolutely frozen with fear, then it may be best not to have an interview. Be yourself, do not try to impress. Have humility, yet be sure to tell about the things most important to you. Be truthful.
• Get their business card and write a thank you note!

The Tour
The tour is also the best time to ask questions of someone who is both knowledgeable and candid. Guides will encourage families to do so, as they do not enjoy providing a one hour monologue. They are obviously pleased with the school (or they would not be giving the tour), but they are invariably honest about the drawbacks along with the positives.

Move beyond the facts- Besides specific, factual information, seek out your student guide's personal opinions. How does he/she feel walking around the campus at night? How about the surrounding neighborhood in all four directions? What is the quality of faculty advising? Can an independent feel comfortable on a campus with a significant percentage of students in fraternities and sororities? How is the student turnout and spirit at sporting events? Is the student body diverse or does one type dominate? What happens on the campus on the weekends? Does it empty out or is there plenty to do? Can freshmen have cars and are cars really necessary? What outstanding professors or courses might the tour guide recommend regardless of a student's major? If you are interested, you can also learn about campus safety at different schools.

To order CRMS Transcripts please contact svalin@crms.org