<p>We are going to visit a few schools with my son in a few days. I have some questions...</p>
<p>1) What should he wear? This is a purely sweats and jeans kid. I got him a couple of button-down shirts. Would jeans be a no-no? I'm not sure he even owns a pair of shoes that aren't athletic, lol.</p>
<p>2) He is scheduled for a couple of overnights. They instructed him to bring a pillow and sleeping bag. However, we are flying, and they would eat up all of his suitcase space. I was thinking of letting him "borrow" a pillow from our hotel room, but what to do about the sleeping bag?</p>
<p>3) Any tips for recording his impressions so that he can better evaluate the schools?</p>
<p>The sleeping bag comes with its own bag. It did mean we had two bags and had to check luggage. My son brought a pillowcase and stuffed it with clothes, but the students he visited may well have had a cushion he could have used. If he’s interviewing he should have the business casual uniform - generally khakis, button up shirt, no tie. But if he’s just touring and hanging with students jeans are fine. My younger son went to all his casual interviews in black jeans and a button up shirt, and the one interview at a law firm he dressed up in a suit. He didn’t have any at admissions offices, but I am sure he’d have gone for his jeans and nice shirt routine. Which really was fine.</p>
<p>I’m very visual so taking pictures is the biggest help for me. But I don’t think it hurts to write a few notes. But most of the info you’ll get is on the website or you’ll soon learn generic to all schools. (They all have interlibrary loans and blue light security systems for example.)</p>
<p>If he’s just touring then he s/b able to wear whatever he’s comfortable in - just like the rest of the students will be doing. </p>
<p>Youdon’tsay raises a good point - if he’s doing interviews then he’d probably want to be sure to dress ‘neatly’.</p>
<p>Put the sleeping bag and pillow in a duffel and check it. This should make it easy. If you don’t want to do that you could buy one at Target or someplace when you get there and then donate it so you don’t need to bring it home but I don’t see why you couldn’t just check it.</p>
<p>Maybe at the end of each college tour he could list his likes and dislikes for each. </p>
<p>He needs to somehow separate mentally impressions representative of the entire college from things unrelated - like getting a poor host for hi overnight or a lousy tour guide (or even a great one of each).</p>
<p>If he’s not doing interviews, nice jeans and polos/button downs are fine. T-shirts are probably fine too–you will see it all on your tours.</p>
<p>As for the pillow/bag here are my suggestions: blow-up pillow or a small case that he can stuff with a fleece jacket. Makes an easy pillow in a pinch. There are fleece bag liners that will work fine for these overnights. My DS took one for his overnights and it worked well. He was able to pack everything he needed in a carry-on for the one we flew to. They sell them at places like wal-mart or sporting good stores. </p>
<p>I think this is cross posted with others with similar suggestions!</p>
<p>Clean, simple clothes – including jeans and athletic shoes – are fine for an interview. I’d prefer khaki pants, but I can’t imagine that he’d get points off for denim.</p>
<p>He should do some preliminary research on the character/personality of the school and be prepared with two or three questions that reflect his interest. Stay away from the nuts and bolts kind of questions – what’s the meal service like? – and focus on more thoughtful topics, like teaching style, quality of life.</p>
<p>The background of on-campus interviewers varies. Could be part of the admissions staff, often a recent graduate of the college, sometimes the top person. Could be a current student. So he’ll have to gauge his questions when he sees whom he gets.</p>
<p>My son used a simple format to record his impressions: What I liked, what I didn’t like, what I hated. Reaction to an individual school is often immediate and visceral. The right one will rise to the top of his memory and stay there. </p>
<p>Sleeping bags roll up pretty small these days, so it shouldn’t be a problem checking one on an airplane. Or buy one on arrival at your destination. It will get used again.</p>
<p>Your ideas are very helpful. I wasn’t even thinking about just checking in the sleeping bag as a piece of luggage. I think I will have him bring a pillowcase, too… great idea!</p>
<p>As for the interviews, he does have a “meeting with an admissions counselor” at a couple of schools. Is this considered an interview? Should I prepare him for being evaluated? I’m afraid that he’ll be more nervous if I say they are “interviews.”</p>
<p>He is already accepted to 2, but he is waiting to hear from the other 2. Goodness, now I’m getting nervous. :eek:</p>
<p>You don’t need to “prepare” him for these conversations…other than to ask him if he wants to do them. If he says yes…then that’s it.</p>
<p>Re: clothing…they need to be clean and fit well. No excessively large or otherwise ill fitting clothes. No T-shirts with “writing” on them. Wear a top that is comfortable but a bit on the nicer side. Shoes should be comfortable and clean (no dirty sneakers but sneakers really ARE ok if they are presentable).</p>
<p>The admissions folks tend to be very friendly and are there to answer questions for you too. They will probably make your son feel comfortable.</p>
<p>Re: how to remember…does your kid have a smart phone? Have him take pictures of things HE wants to remember.</p>
<p>Do you mean that he’s already in at two of the colleges where he plans to interview? If yes, plan to schedule these first. My son became increasingly less nervous as the process progressed and he came to know what to expect. The interviewers really are friendly and they keep the conversation flowing.</p>
<p>The point is to USE the interview to your advantage. Not by showing off or bragging, but by gently directing the conversation to areas that make you look good. It’s an opportunity to let the college know what you can contribute to the campus community. And most importantly how you’ll fit in.</p>
<p>Actually, the first and last schools are the ones where he is still awaiting decisions. He didn’t necessarily schedule interviews. Due to finances, he has not yet visited any OOS schools. Now that he has been accepted to a few, we scheduled somewhat of a crazy 3-state college tour, and naturally, the schools want to meet with the applicants whenever possible.</p>
<p>I imagine he’ll be fine in these “interviews,” but I think it’s a rather anxiety-producing for any 17yo. Or rather for his Mom :)</p>
<p>Oh, and thanks for the reminder on the cell phone!</p>
<p>If you have those vacuum-sucking bags (or can run out to get a couple in the next few days) that can solve the problem of the pillow and sleeping bag. With that, they’ll be legitimately about an inch or so thick.</p>
<p>I think what the kids wear depends somewhat on where the school is located. On our tours and interviews in Oregon, Washington and California, virtually every kid there was in shorts or jeans and a tee shirt. At Gonzaga, there was one boy there in khakis and a polo shirt and he looked really out of place. Actually, when ds toured/interviewed at UVM, Lafayette and Leigh, all the kids were very casually dressed. Jeans and shorts predominated. Probably anything that’s clean and without holes is fine for a teenage boy!</p>
<p>An interview would formal and he would need to dress up a bit, for instance D had an interview as party of an scholarship application process. I would not consider meeting with admissions an interview. Agree with other posters on clean clothes.</p>
<p>Also there is a space bag that does not need the vacuum, you squeeze the air out</p>
<p>I’ve posted many times that I think that term “interview” is extremely misleading. Adults associate it with a job interview, which <obviously> has a huge impact on whether or not you get the job. The college admissions interviews are more to provide an opportunity for the applicant to learn more about the school. Calling it a meeting with an admissions counselor is much more accurate. He (and you!) should not stress. (Typical format is for the kid to go in alone for about 20 minutes, and then the parent to be invited to go in and ask any questions he/she might have. Often it’s conducted by an undergraduate student at the college working in the admissions office. I always asked them where else they applied and why they chose this school.)</obviously></p>
<p>The only preparation I would suggest is for your son to have a couple of questions specific to each school that he can ask when he meets with the admissions rep. Not just “How many students study abroad?” but “Can you tell me more about the study abroad program in China?”. My sons found it helpful to know they had a couple of talking points because they will be asked if they have questions. My older son never wore anything other than Jeans/shorts and a t shirt to these meetings (he doesn’t actually own anything else other than concert attire). My younger son tended to go with black jeans and a button down shirt, but he likes to “dress up” (he thinks that is dressing up).</p>
<p>I feel SO much better reading all your advice. You all are very helpful. I will make sure he looks presentable. I think that a pair of dark jeans and button-down shirt will work at the schools he’s visiting. I’m going to buy him a pair of (non-athletic) shoes today, since he will need them come Spring and graduation anyway.</p>
<p>I told him that he should have a good question or two to ask the admissions counselor. This is such an exciting time for us, as this is our firstborn son. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>we noticed that if the interview was part of an overnight, or part of a day on campus, the kids dressed in shorts/jeans.tees, maybe a polo or button-down. It was more important that the guys not stand out in the classroom. Alumni interviews, scholarship competitions, etc, went formal all the way to suit and tie.</p>