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Health & Fitness

Visiting an Empty College

That seems to be the general practice in the US, thousands of college bound high school students and parents, trekking to visit college campuses in the summer months, to see empty, deserted college campuses. Late spring and throughout the summer is when campuses are basically shut down and absent of all activity and students, and the time most colleges do their major construction projects. Do you want your child to see and get a feel of a college by having them see an empty school and campus, void of students, closed buildings, and having to navigate around cranes and workmen? Unfortunately, too many people think that summer is the only time to take high school students to visit colleges.

Visiting a college during the summer is like visiting NYC and deciding which restaurant to go to that night by checking out the well reviewed restaurants at about 9am; when they are all closed and shut up tight. Maybe the kitchen help is outside hosing down the sidewalk. But there’s no chance of seeing the patrons eating there. No chance of hearing sounds of chatter or laughter. No smells of fabulous foods. Is there a fun and active bar that’s rocking, or a place where old drunks hang out? What about dinner specials and maybe price fixe meals? How would you ever know? Do you want to go there? Can you tell all of this by peeking in an empty restaurant? That’s almost as bad as seeing a college during the summer.

Don’t get us wrong, many people think their schedules will only allow them to visit colleges with their children over the summer months and combine a vacation with a few college visits. Sure, the colleges have people available to provide admissions info sessions and have a guide to give a campus tour, but that’s because – that’s when so many parents take their children to see colleges.

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At goCAMPUSing we think, no, we know that right now, during the school year – the fall semester and spring semesters, while a college is alive with students and a functioning center of education and activities is when a college bound high school student should tour colleges. The difference between seeing a college when a college is in session is a whole different ballgame.

When you visit a college during the school year you can see the students on campus. Are they happy? Is anybody laughing? Are they serious or look depressed? Are the students walking and conversing in groups or are they solemn and unaccompanied? As a high school student – do you see yourself as a member of the college’s student population? Demeanor, attitude, activity, dress, and general overall vibe, that can only be felt by the student who will be committing 4 to 6 (yes, sometimes 6) years of their lives there? Are their students playing Frisbee or throwing a football on the quad, or are they silently sitting in small groups, or reading under a tree? A college is a community and has its own personality; to learn, survive, strive, and grow at a college – a student has to feel like they are a member of that college’s community.

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How on earth can a parent or student even begin to understand the size of a school’s population, without seeing the students on campus? There are college campuses whose physical environment is sprawling and others that sit on a tiny plot of land. Void of students, there is no way one can appreciate the size of the student population. At some huge campuses, the student population can either look like Grand Central Station or random specs, lost in a sea of lawns. It makes a huge difference to the experience and the decision making process. It has to feel right. Does it feel overwhelming, underwhelming, frightening, lonely, exciting, welcoming, or just perfect? Once a student understands that “right fit” feeling, they can and will recognize that feeling at other colleges that offer the right mix of academics, community, size, and student make up.

At goCAMPUSing, it’s our business to take high school students to colleges throughout the entire year, yes, during the summer months too, but as college advisors, we ask parents, high school students, and school counselors to rethink the summer college visit practice. We, don’t care, (we sort of do), if you don’t visit a college with goCAMPUSing during the Fall and Spring semesters, just go during that time when campuses are bustling with activity. It will make all the difference in the world.

And for those who think they can’t get away from work or take their children out of school...well let goCAMPUSing start the college selection process for you. We have lots of preplanned college tours throughout the year for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, (with new tours posted on our website throughout the year).

So if you take anything from this Blog posting, it should be – visit colleges while they are in session, and save the summertime for vacations to the beach!

 

goCAMPUSing, Inc. America’s Premier College Tour Company. Each goCAMPUSing college tour is like a mini college prep course on wheels. goCAMPUSing College Advisors ride along on every trip to point out the nuances of each college/university visited, talk about aspects of each college and how they compare to other colleges not seen on the tour, plus answer student’s questions, discuss the college selection and admissions process, discuss SAT & ACT testing & test scores, and much more. So check out our upcoming fall tour at: http://www.gocampusing.com/documents/campusTours.html#tour and LIKE us on Facebook.
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