Traditionally, students seek early entry into higher education for a number of reasons.  Some feel it gives them a better chance into getting accepted by a highly competitive school, while others simply want the process over faster if they get in to the school of their choice.  Yet, these recent changes have shocked the students of schools historically known to take the most advantage of such policies.  This spike in competition and addition of those highly respected schools in the process has certainly increased the stakes for those seeking early admission.

Has it been a trend for your students to seek early admission?  If not, will you encourage it in the future?

Early Admissions- NY Times

Yet, knowledge is all around for the taking. Everything from reading bulletin boards during a break or asking impromptu questions of the student guide or random nearby students will help increase the overall feeling a student gets about the campus. But, after several college tours they can start to run together. It’s also a good idea to snap quick photos and take notes on first impressions and any other information that will help recall the visit when making decisions later.

What advice do you offer your students for taking full advantage of their visit opportunities?

College Apps- Campus Visit Tips

Some of your students and their friends will also get excited about the possibility of attending the same school and enjoying the college experience together. What they don’t realize is that this can also become competitive when friends apply to the same school, especially if one gets accepted and the other doesn’t. It certainly makes the entire situation awkward when they realize this could be a possibility.

How do you strike a balance of encouraging college preparation without sparking a highly competitive or stressful atmosphere?

Protecting Friendships During the College Admissions Process- New York Times Education Blog

Yet, a recent New York Times article suggests that incoming students want technology once they are on campus but do not enjoy schools engaging them via social media during the admissions process. It’s a fine line to walk for colleges as they continue to learn the nuances of recruiting and educating this current generation.

What technological amenities are expected or unwelcome by your students in the college search?

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/technology-in-admiss/

In recent years, schools have decided to stray from that model and offer more modern housing options. Some college are now taking that to the extreme. Luxury amenities like movie theaters, tanning facilities and athletic courts are just part of the offerings to current college students.

Our take: Flat-screen televisions and private rooms are exciting to those that didn’t grow up in a world of sharing bedrooms with siblings, but there is something to be said for the social camaraderie of boring study rooms and Dorm Pizza Nights. Modern apartments are good for some but deprive those students of part of the fun of the early college experience in old-school dorms. Unless you just really hate the idea, try out the most popular traditional hall your first year and scope out your ideal modern option for the rest of your college living experience.

Would you want ‘dorm-life’, modern apartment or a mix of both during your first years of college?

“Extreme Dorms”- CNN

Of course, the main school building is one of the most important places to see since there are so many reasons that the student will need to go there. For instance, the student may need to go there to change a class schedule or to file new papers for financial aid or to deal with housing problems. But, there are other buildings that are important to visit as well. A student athlete will want to see the playing field and the training facility. A student who wants to go to medical school will want to see the various areas of that building.

Finally, you will also want to see the housing facilities for the school as well as where you will be getting your food while you are enrolled in the school. Since school is not just about “school” you might also want to see what is meant for entertainment and enjoyment.

In the case of a student athlete who is trying to choose from the schools that are offering him or her, a scholarship and an opportunity to continue in their sport, then they might want not only their parents but their high school coach as well.

Some high schools take students on an initial college campus visit to introduce them to the local schools. Some allow seniors to drive themselves over if they have the correct permission from their parents and bring back proof that they actually went to the stated school. If it were up to the high school’s guidance counselors, all of the qualified students would get at least one local campus tour, but that is not always the case.

Left up to the parents, the answer to whether they should go on a campus visit with their student or not is yes. After all, it is them that will be paying for that education and they deserve to have some idea of where their child will be for the next to two to four years.

While all of the schools might meet the educational needs of the student, there are other aspects that need to be addressed as well. Will the student’s cultural, religious and other needs be met by the school? These are questions that would be asked by any student who is going to attend the university in question, questions that would be directed to the admissions counselor or campus tour guide. Most colleges should be aware that in certain cultures, a man would not guide a young woman and vice versa.

Now, most international students speak good English, so the language barrier is not as big a problem as it once was thought to be, but still, some students would like to know that they will be able to speak their native tongue from time to time. It is also important that they are free to practice their religion and express their culture, another question that should be answered on the initial campus visit for the international student.

There are a number of college tips that will help you on your college campus tours, guiding you to make the best decision for you and your future. Once you get to the school and start talking to the admissions counselor, it might be easy to be swept away by their excitement and everything that is going on around you.

Make sure that you are thinking carefully and not letting emotions guide you. Before that tour gets started, write down the questions that are most important to you and really get the answers. Of course the people are going to make their school sound like the best – that is their job.

Some of the best college tips that you should keep in mind include keeping the focus on what you personally want, shutting out the opinion of everyone else all around you.

You will never be totally prepared for your children leaving for college, but the more prepared he or she is, the better off you will both be. There are many things you need to do to help prepare your children for college. There are going to be many, many brochures to go over for college selection. Then, there is the fun of touring colleges to see what each one has to offer and which is going to be best for your son or daughter. It is also a good idea to have several appointments with the high school guidance counselor to get plenty of great information about different colleges so you and your teen can make the right choice.

Getting Ready for College

In addition to studying, reading brochures and touring colleges, there are many other ways you can prepare your teen for college. Choosing a college is just the first step. You will also need to help choose the right classes and find out about financing. You and your teen will need to find out about out-of-town schools if this is going to be a consideration. These preparations should be ongoing as your teen is in high school, so by the time he or she is ready to graduate, the college plans will be securely in place