Program Information
  Statement of Purpose
  Statement of Practice
  College Profile
  Calendar for Seniors
  Calendar for Juniors
  Fall Visitors

How To Guide
  Make Visit Appointments
  Visit Campuses
  Interview
  Plan Curriculum
  Plan Testing

Site Links
  College Search
  Standardized Testing
  On-Line Applications
  Financial Aid Assistance
  Student-Athlete Information
From the College Office   Statement of Purpose   
 

How To Make your Summer Campus Visit Appointment

Here is your step-by-step guide to getting this all done in one call. Vary these guidelines according to your individual or family needs, of course, but do use this as a check-list to make sure you've covered all the bases.

FIRST, you must decide which one or two schools you wish to see on each day you will travel. Remember, even in the summer, mid-week is easiest, Friday and Monday are a bit tougher, Saturday is the tightest (if available at all) and never-on-Sunday. (Later August can also be tricky because of freshmen orientation.) The farther in advance you can schedule, the better your chances of getting your preferred day and time. Always try to see two nearby campuses on any weekday which takes you more than an hour or so from home.

NEXT, telephone (do not write, fax, or e-mail for this purpose) the admissions office of the college which is the most important to you (of the two chosen for that day). Ask for the following:
1. A "personal interview" (or "group information session" if this college offers no interviews) and
2. a "campus tour", around the preferred time of the day you have chosen. These two elements are the core of your compus visit experience. Scheduling procedures vary widely from large to small schools, so listen carefully to instructions and take notes.

The appointments secretary will then tell you what times are available. By calling your preferred college first, you leave open the possibility of reordering that day in case admissions is closed or fully booked in the time slot you wanted.

 

  • 3. If your agenda includes a meeting with a professor or a coach, ask the appointments secretary if she/he can help you with this or tell you how to make such arrangements. Again, availability of these personnel during the summer will vary widely from college to college.

     

  • 4. Food. Even in the summer, having breakfast or lunch in a college's dining hall or food court adds to your experience of the place (be it positive or negative) and opens possibilities of talking with current students. If it fits your schedule, ask what food service facilities, if any, will be open on the day of your visit, and during what hours.

     

  • 5. Travel instructions. Ask him/her to send you, along with your appointment confirmation, a campus map showing the location of the admission office, where to park, and access routes from major highways. Most will do this automatically, but be sure.

     

  • 6. Travel times. Ask for the approximate driving time from wherever you will be before this campus to this campus; then get the same estimate for driving from this campus to your next stop. Check your map to be sure these estimates make sense, then add about a half-hour for each drive (more if a major urban area is involved) to allow for your unfamiliarity with the locale and your determination to arrive 15 minutes early.

     

  • 7. Try to allow for some time for your campus stroll and neighborhood check-out either before your tour/interview or before you have to dash off to your next school. The appointments secretary, your interviewer, and your student tour guide are all possible sources of information on where to go and what to see on and near the campus that the official tour does not include.

     

  • FINALLY, repeat this procedure for your second college for day one, and move onto the ensuing colleges and days. Keep track of your confirmations as they arrive, and re-call any who haven't responded within ten business days. HAVE A GREAT TRIP!