College Selection / Touring Timeline?

caymusjordan
Mon, 29 Jan 2018 19:21:28 +0000

agree with the talk about finances - before visiting schools take a look at what you can realistically afford. It is sad to see so many posts where kids are accepted to their dream school only to discover they can’t afford it.

If you have schools that are close, see if you can visit a large and a small campus to get an idea of what your daughter prefers. We started our out of state tours the summer after sophomore year visiting a region, then did another big trip to another region the following summer. For my son, he fell in love with the second school we toured so he measured the rest based on that school. We were surprised with a couple of the schools he crossed off his list after visiting as well.

My son scheduled a face-to-face with his regional AO at most schools when we flew out to tour and followed-up with a thank you. With his top choice, he stayed in contact with the Regional AO - stopped in to say “hi” when he was visiting the school and read all emails (clicked on the links) sent to him throughout his junior and senior year. He did email the RAO when he had a question about whether to send Subject Test scores since they were not required - again, staying in contact without sending unnecessary emails. The RAO knew his school was my son’s top choice and I’m sure remembered him when he received his application.

My son had a small notebook that he took with him on college visits so he could jot down things he liked and disliked at each school - this also helps when they are writing their “Why X College” essays. The visits all seem the same after the first few, it helps to have some notes to look back on - and to use to compare schools.

You might want to purchase one of the big college books at the end of her freshman year - go through it with your daughter when you have an idea of test scores, what type of school, major and other items of interest to her. You’ll need to see what their admission requirements are (subject tests, four years of foreign language, etc) so she can plan her schedule accordingly.

My daughter is currently a freshman in HS and has no interest in discussing colleges at this point. She’s aware of what she needs to do academically, but isn’t interested in looking into schools as of yet - follow your daughter’s lead. If she has interest now, then do some preliminary work, but if not, you’re fine waiting for another year!