| I'm a professor also. In the past, I've participating in giving "mini-lectures" to visiting students and their families (arranged by the school) but also, if I have time, I'm happy to meet with students. I think many of my colleagues (at any of the universities I've taught at) would welcome meeting students. Even if you don't have an indirect relationship to one, its possible to look them up on the web and send them an email.
I'd be happy to meet a whole family, and in some ways given its so unusual, it might be fun and interesting. Though at the same time, being unusual, it might be considered odd/awkward by some.
I think the conversation I'd have with a student alone vs. with their parents in tow would be entirely different one so maybe you should think about what you'd like to get out of such a meeting and decide that way.
As for questions, consider putting that task to your child- have them generate some questions (the question generation is as useful as the answers themselves).
Some things I might want my child to ask a prof are things like:
How would my experience be different here, than say school X?
What do most students do after graduating with a major in Y?
What's the difference between major X and major Y and how should I decide which one might be best for me?
Besides the classroom, when might undergrads get a chance to interact with the profs?
Do undergrads ever get to do research in your department?
Do students get internships?
Who are some of the employers who recruit on campus?
Who tends to teach the intro undergrad courses here (e.g. sessionals, graduate students, or full time faculty)?
What do you think students like most about X? Or least about X?
How would you describe the undergraduates here?
I want to major in X or go to the best school for Y, what advice would you give me?
Any recommendations on other things I should be asking schools?
Where else should I look on this campus to learn more about it? |