Going on College Visits

College Life
1

<p>So I was reading this post today, and thinking about going on campus visits made me start thinking: [1] it sucks that they’re so expensive [2] depending on how far from home you are (in my case very) they take up a lot of time [3] you really only have one chance to figure out if you like it or not (in person)</p>

<p>Number 3 in particular i guess is most relevant to my question and this article, because I’m wondering: Is this a good list, or are there other things that I should be making sure to do on visits??? because I’m pretty sure I won’t have another chance to go back…</p>

<p>Here’s the article with the list:
[10</a> Things to See and Do on a College Visit](<a href=“Campus Compare”>Campus Compare)</p>

2

<p>It’s a decent list, though meeting with the department chair seems like overkill- I’ve never heard of anyone doing so. Talking to students in your potential major or a similar one is probably easier and more informative for you. Interviews won’t be offered at every school, either.</p>

<p>Before you go off to visit campuses, take that list of things to see, think about what’s most important to you in a college campus, and tailor said list accordingly.</p>

3

<p>I think I went to the Health Center at my school exactly once in four years, and they were useless. You’re better off finding a walk-in clinic in the area or just going to the hospital for anything serious.</p>

4

<p>

I talked to the admissions lady for the pharmacy program. I thought it was really helpful because she told me about the program, what it takes to get in, gave me tips about classes to take, made sure my classes would transfer, and it kinda gave me a foot up on other applicants because she still remembered me (she remembered my last name, but not my first name) when I went to enroll months later and she appreciated my effort to learn about the program. Maybe my going to see her before starting will help me get admitted.</p>

5

<p>i visited department chairs at the schools I got into when I did visits in april, not when I was doing the visits in the fall of senior year.</p>

6

<p>the problem though is that (for me at least) most campus visits are a one time thing – its just too expensive to see most of them then go back again when / if i get in…from what im understanding the department chair can probably not be on the list, but is there anything else missing?</p>

7

<p>“Maybe my going to see her before starting will help me get admitted.”</p>

<p>The chair of the English department at my college told me once that the chairs have quite a bit of power when it comes to making “recommendations” to the admissions committee to accept certain students who show an interest in their program / department, in much the same manner as coaches of sports teams (albeit with less weight imo). I didn’t know all that business about the money that the article mentioned, but I suppose it makes sense.</p>