Tips for a successful college visit or summer preparation?

Applying to College
1

I’m heading to a few schools I’m considering I’m a few days for a visit and am pretty stressed out.

I’ve been told I need to get all this information and start essays and common applications and such all over summer break but I really have no clue where to start or how to show interest.

I’ve been told it’s good to find my admissions counselor on the visit and ask questions but I’m not sure I’ll have many that aren’t already covered either on the website or by the tour. I want to convey interest but I don’t know how else I would be able to do that aside from visiting multiple times which I likely won’t have time to do.

Ive also been recommended to do interviews but I’m not sure I’ll have the time to interview with all the schools I’m interested in. I’m planning on interviewing for at least a few of the stretch schools I’m planning on applying to but I’m not sure when to do those.

I’m planning on applying early to most schools so should I be getting all of this done over summer or should I be waiting for the next school year to start?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

2

The first thing you need to do is google “ Common Data Set” and
then look in Section C7: Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, firstyear,degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions.

Then look at " Level of applicant’s interest" and “Interview”

Is it Very Important, Important, Considered, or Not Considered?

For Large publics, Interest may be Not Considered because there are too many students to keep track of.
e.g. https://budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=FreshAdmn&Location=UP&AY=20162017

For some tippy top schools, Interest may be Not Considered because of course you want to go there (or they want many applicants but few admits so they there are too many students to keep track of)
https://oir.yale.edu/sites/default/files/cds_2017-2018_0.pdf

So that leaves your other private schools.

Here are some ways to show interest:

+Sign up for information on the college website

+Attend a college fair and talk to the admissions counselor/alumni. They will have a method for you to share your information

+Attend a High School visit if the college visits your HS

+Attend a regional information session if they are offered

+Take a tour/Go to open house if possible.and have an interview if offered

+Sign up for an alumni interview if you can’t make it to campus if offered

+Contact the admissions counselor in your area if you have specific questions

+Read emails the college sends you (yes they can tell)

+Asking questions not answered on website or in this forum

For Interviews, see if they are offered and how important they are.
For some colleges, you may need to show interest but not do a tour until you are admitted if it is far away.
For others, you really need to do an interview. I would suggest googling college interview questions that you may be asked and come up with some of your own, like “I read the website, but what do you think makes really different than the others?” or “How would you describe a typical student?” or “What made you choose this college” etc.
Interview when you tour if possible…you don’t want to have to go back…but this takes planning of course. I would definitely do as much as you can this summer because you will be busy with school in the fall.

You can meet your admissions counselor (if available) and say that you wanted to meet them so they could put a face to a name and you look forward to interacting with them throughout the process.

3

Junior year summer, do the following:

  1. Make a list of all your ECs, when you did them, about how many hours a week, and descriptions.
  2. You only get 10 slots for ECs on common app, so start categorizing them. Like you may want to categorize all music ECs together, or split them up somewhat.
  3. Make sure to mention what leadership you have in those ECs, even if not a formal position…and talk about what you did as a leader.
  4. Choose a Common App essay prompt
  5. Write a draft of your essay this summer. Give it to your GC/English teacher to review in the fall.
  6. If you haven’t already, choose who you want to ask to write recommendations for you. If your major is STEM, ask a Math and a science teacher.
  7. See what your HS Guidance office wants you to do for college apps…(look on their website)…Do they want you to complete a brag sheet or something else to help the GC?
  8. Visit some local colleges if you haven’t already…
  9. Find out from your parents how much they can spend on college each year
  10. Run the Net Price Calculator on those colleges to see if they are affordable
  11. If not, look at colleges that give automatic scholarships and see if they are good for you http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html#latest
  12. Try to visit some of those colleges over the summer if possible if you haven’t already
  13. DO NOT APPLY TO A SCHOOL YOU WOULDN’T ATTEND. Also known as “Love thy Safety”. Pick your Safety first. I don’t know how many stories I read about people who didn’t get into an of their reaches and what they thought were matches and are only accepted to the safety and have a fit…find one that you like.

Yes this seems like a lot of work…but imagine doing it when you have classes and ECs too!

4

There IS a lot to do as far as college applications go. Bopper gave you excellent advice, especially doing the research about level of interest and interview requirements. Everything you can get out of the way over the summer will benefit you during the school year.

Having said that, you need to find a good fit, a vibe that matches yours. The best way to do that (after accounting for affordability, majors/areas of interest, etc.) is by doing the same things - to the best of your abilities - you’d do if you were trying to “demonstrate interest”. If you don’t have time to get to know the colleges, it may be better to cull your list a little.

Of course, it is possible to visit after you are accepted and attend admitted student events. However, we’ve seen a lot of kids on CC shut out of their reaches, then their safeties didn’t take them either because they didn’t show enough interest. The college didn’t think they’d attend, so they sent a rejection letter to protect their yield. “Love thy safety” and show them some love!