What was that "magic question?"

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Was there a single magic question that you ended up asking during college visits or with admissions people that helped you narrow your decision to THAT SCHOOL?</p>

<p>I know this would be different for most people depending on the student, but I am curious as to what motivated each of you.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>What are the characteristics of a student who is most likely to love it here, and what sort of person might not like being here?</p>

3

<p>Someone also told me to be sure to look up what percetage of sophomores return to that school on year 2 – it can be really telling. Anything else you ask that helped you decide?</p>

4

<p>An indication of how friendly a school is to kids from the Northwest my daughter asked about coffee. Best answer “We have a Starbucks in University Center”.</p>

5

<p>I knew someone who had 2 “magic” questions. 1) What are kids around here doing Wed nite at 8pm? 2) what are they doing Friday nite at 8pm?</p>

6

<p>I also saw a question I thought would be helpful: How does your school differ from similar schools? Ex.: What makes Amherst different from Swarthmore and Haverford?</p>

7

<p>Do engineers have social lives?</p>

<p>if i didn’t ask it, i could see the answer on campus, somebody else asked it, or some presenter would bring it up.</p>

<p>like at UCLA…at an EE student asked a panel of current students “Do engineer’s go the beach?” (since the beach is really close). after some quiet discussion among themselves…the leader of the panel said “If you want to go to the beach…don’t be an engineer.” and on top of that, the another student said going “Don’t make too many friends on North Campus [the Letters and Arts part i think].” now, i’m not exactly planning on partying it up hard (hardly even…), but i was looking for a school that was more supportive of an interesting, well rounded student. and before anyone says anything, that wasnt the only thing i counted UCLA out on.</p>

8

<p>“What would you say is your least favorite thing about ______ University?”</p>

<p>I always had more respect for the people that you could tell gave an honest answer. Plus, knowing what the tour guides feel are the downsides to their school gives you a better all-around picture of life on campus, and what is important to the students. And some of the tour guides just started complaining and complaining–and then I knew I didn’t want to go to their schools!</p>

<p>The percentage of returning sophomores is also very telling. I know that 97% return to UVa for their sophomore years! :)</p>