The Pros and Cons of the Summer College Campus Visit

Summer is here, and you still have more college campuses to visit than you can possibly see in the fall before applications are due.  Plus, the fall semester is going to be challenging with that rigorous senior course load you have planned, and you don’t want to take too much time off.  What’s a rising senior (and their family) to do? 

Our advice is to use the few days you have available in the fall to see the leading contenders on your list and to use some time in the remainder of summer to visit others, if possible.  Campuses are generally much quieter in the summer months, but there may still be some students around doing research or other projects.  There is still great value in taking in the layout and feel of the campus, its location, the information presented in an Information Session and by the student tour guide and admission people are usually available to answer questions.  Additionally, it is often a great time to schedule an interview. You will get credit for demonstrating interest – provided you check in with Admissions - which some colleges weigh in their deliberations for admission. 

You may not get a solid read of the campus culture as you tour the quieter summer campuses, but you will get a sense of the place.  Note that start times for fall semester vary greatly, so check the academic calendar online at each institution – you may see more students than you expect with late summer visits as some college students may already be making their way back to campus.  It’s nearly impossible to see every campus during the school year, so it may be inevitable that you will have to compromise and visit a few in the summer! 

What Is The University of Texas at Austin Like? Our Visit and Review

I called a Lyft to pick me up near the popular 6th Street in Austin, Texas. Normally, I would’ve walked, but it was an unusually cold 35-degree day in late January. I was told that it was a beautiful 60-70 degrees and sunny just a week before. Looks like my timing was unlucky, but good to know that Austin can provide some bright days to break up the winter months. In just a short seven-minute drive from the heart of the city (30 if I had walked), I passed the Texas State Capitol building and arrived at UT.

It was easy to notice within the first two minutes on campus that the student body was much more diverse compared to many of the other schools I had seen. The statistics back that up. According to Niche, 37% of the students are White, 26% are Hispanic, and 24% are Asian. And while a vast majority of the students are Texas residents, the student body still has students from all 50 states and over 120 countries represented.

Most of the buildings I saw were maintained throughout the years, but they are not all that modern. Two exceptions to this were the Moody College of Communication and Cockrell School of Engineering. According to the admission counselor, the university’s engineering and business programs were the most competitive to get admitted to. Since UT’s primary goal is to serve Texas residents, it’s very competitive to be admitted to the university at all from out-of-state.

One reason to stay motivated to apply is the school spirit once you’re there. The vibe there is supportive and prideful, from the First-Year Interest Group (FIG), to the study groups in the library by noon on a Monday just weeks into the new semester, to the big-time football game days. I attended a top-15 men’s basketball match-up that night with Baylor University visiting UT at the brand new, ultra impressive Moody Center on campus.

Outside of campus, students can go to famous barbecue spots like Franklin Barbecue (pro tip: go during an off-peak time for a shorter wait) and Terry Black’s (pro tip: mix your cream of corn with Mexican rice). 6th Street is a popular and long street with plenty of food, bars, and businesses. Also, you’ll see that many technology companies have already set up offices in downtown Austin, like Google and Indeed. The city is becoming one of the hottest places for people in their 20s to move to because of the weather, job opportunities, and wide variety of activities available.

Terry Black’s brisket, beef rib, Mexican rice, and cream of corn.

At College Matters, we’ve visited colleges from all over the country (and even some abroad too)! It’s helpful to keep an open mind and take as many in-person and virtual visits as possible to find the right fits for you. We have the expertise to point you in the right directions.

How to Make the Most of College Admitted Student Events

Getting back on campus is great, but there are other ways to make up your mind.

Q: I’ve been admitted to several colleges. How can I choose by May 1?

A: It certainly is an anxious and unpredictable time! Even more so for high school seniors who are awaiting final decisions and feeling the pressure of the impending deadline to select a college.

The good news is that many colleges have gone back to in-person admitted student visit days. These are great and allow students to see the school through a different lens: one of a shopper and not an applicant. But what if you can’t attend?

• Participate in virtual events. Many colleges are hosting virtual visit days for admitted students. You’ll be able to interact with faculty, speak with current students, and view some of the facilities.

• Talk to a current student. If you don’t know someone from your high school or hometown that attends, call the admission office. They’re happy to make a connection.

• Reach out to faculty in your area(s) of interest. Most faculty are happy to answer the questions of admitted students. And if they won’t make themselves available, well, that tells you something too.

• Join the admitted student group online. These could be your future classmates. Do you like what you see and hear?

• Read the college newspaper. Most college papers are online and searchable. What events intrigue you? What are students complaining about? Is the general vibe activist, collegiate, intellectual, humorous?

• Ask for more time. If a college does not extend their enrollment deadline, call and ask if they will extend to give you time to make a decision.

But don’t double deposit!! Sending in two deposits is a violation of the NACAC guidelines and could result in you having both acceptances revoked. At the end of the day, you will need to go with your gut and choose. And if you’re really undecided, it’s probably because you are choosing from among several schools that are outstanding choices. And, most likely, there is no bad choice!

Looking at Colleges is Like a Game of Wordle

Have you caught the Wordle bug yet? It seems like the once-a-day word puzzle sensation is everywhere!

The game is simple. You have six chances to guess the five-letter word, only being told what letters are correct and in the wrong place or correct and in the right spot.

Our Wordle-fest group chat (yes, it really is a thing) has had some fierce debates about the best way to go about solving each day’s puzzle. Some, like myself, subscribe to the “stay with what you know” strategy. If I know that I have an S in the first spot and a Y in the last, my next guess will follow that pattern — something like SPICY. In the other camp, we’ve got the “eliminators.” They are happy to burn a turn with a strategic guess, with the intention of eliminating as many letters as they can early on. They’ll start with SCORE and then guess IRONY. (See what I did there?)

So how can your Wordle strategy inform how you research and visit colleges? Read on!

Some students are eliminators!! During every college visit, and at each virtual event they attend, they are figuring out what they don’t want. They’re ticking things off the list rather than adding them. SMITH wasn’t quite right? They’ll check out UCONN. And that’s okay. They’re not wasting time! At every step of the way, they are getting clarity as to what they ultimately want in their college experience.

And then there are the students that are fine-tuning their criteria, visit by visit. They’ll return from a tour saying, for example, “I liked BROWN a lot, except maybe a more outdoorsy crowd.” Off to BATES they go!

Whatever your campus Wordle approach is, know that there is no right way to go. Sometimes you need to eliminate criteria, and sometimes you need to fine-tune or confirm what you think. Regardless, the most important thing is to keep playing! For that’s how you’ll find your MATCH!

Acknowledgments. Thanks to my Wordle-fest friends (Alicia, Becky, Bill, John, Katie, Ken, Linda, Steve) for your inspiration.

Five Unique Majors at UCONN

The University of Connecticut has a lot to offer prospective undergraduates! In addition to a beautiful campus, Husky-mania, and homemade ice cream at the Dairy Bar, UCONN has several unique majors that you might want to check out.

Actuarial Science: Hartford is the insurance capital, so what better place to study to become an actuary than UConn? There are several routes that prospective actuaries can take. There is an Applied Mathematics major, as well as an Actuarial Science - Finance option. The most selective, however, is the Actuarial Science degree. Students must apply directly to the major and maintain a 3.2 GPA or higher to continue. In addition, as the only Actuarial Science program in New England, students from other New England states can attend at a reduced tuition rate. A hidden gem!!

Diagnostic Genetic Sciences: This 2-year degree prepares students for high-demand careers in genetic counseling, molecular pathology, among others.

Marine Biology: While most students at branch campuses of the University of Connecticut system spend their last two years of their bachelor’s degree at the Storrs campus, Marine Biology students spend all four years at Avery Point. Why? A gorgeous waterside campus located just down the road from the world-renowned Mystic Aquarium, and not too far from Woods Hole.

Puppet Arts: One of only a handful of universities in the United States that offer a BFA in Puppet Arts, and the only university to award MFA degrees in the field, UConn’s Puppet Arts program has been a powerhouse since the mid-1960s.

Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems With three unique concentrations, Environmental Horticulture, Sustainable Agriculture, and Turfgrass Science, UConn is leading the way in making what we eat and what we plant on the earth better for our collective future.

Interested in Finding LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities?

7 GREAT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE VISITING CAMPUSES:

1. Is there a resource center with support services for LGBTQ students and does it have paid staff?

2. Are there any LGBTQ and Ally student organizations that plan regular social activities and educational events for LGBTQ people? How is it funded?  Is there a meeting space and is it visible and centrally located?

3.   Is there an LGBTQ studies program and are there LGBTQ course offerings?

4.   Is there faculty and staff training, including for public safety officers, for sexual orientation and gender identity issues, experiences, and concerns?

5.  Are there support groups and counseling services offered for LGBTQ students and is health center staff trained to address health issues of concern to LGBTQ students?

6.  Are programs offered around topics of sexual orientation and gender expression in new student orientation programs?

7.   Is there a way to be matched with an LGBTQ-friendly roommate on the housing application? Are there gender-inclusive housing and gender-inclusive single-occupancy restrooms and shower facilities in campus housing? Is there training for residence life staff regarding concerns and experiences of LGBTQ people?

Thanks to Campus Pride for their benchmarking tools and the Campus Pride Index.  Go to  www.campuspride.org to access the Index and more information.

“SINCE 2007, THE CAMPUS PRIDE INDEX HAS BEEN THE PREMIER LGBTQ NATIONAL BENCHMARKING TOOL FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CREATE SAFER, MORE INCLUSIVE CAMPUS COMMUNITIES.  THE FREE ONLINE TOOL ALLOWS PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, FAMILIES/PARENTS AND THOSE INTERESTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION TO SEARCH A DATABASE OF LGBTQ-FRIENDLY CAMPUSES WHO HAVE COME OUT TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AND QUALITY OF CAMPUS LIFE.”

Don't Know Your Favorite Schools Yet? Start Here

It’s getting down to crunch time. You’re in your senior year, still have a long college list, and still don’t know which schools you truly want to attend. While your consultant or parent or next-door neighbor can’t pick a school for you, we can give a few strategies on how to narrow down the list.

Take some time to really think about the absolute must-haves for your college search. This is going to be different for each student. We always say there is no perfect college. Our advice is to trust your gut for which schools feel right and check off those must-have factors. Do you see yourself up late on a Tuesday night deeply invested in a biology research lab? Then start to hone in on the schools that have research opportunities for undergraduates. After a long week of classes, would you desperately want to go off campus to sit down for a nice meal? Maybe a school in a college town is right for you. Have you always dreamed of cheering on the home team on a football Saturday? Circle those schools on your list that have great school spirit. Your recipe for what makes a great school might be different from others. Once you take care of your essentials, you can compromise on the things that are nice to have but not as important for you.

For many students and families, you will get a definitive picture of affordability once you’re accepted and receive a merit scholarship or a financial aid package. There might be some schools that you were less interested in before that all of a sudden become financially attractive options. Make sure to have another family discussion so everyone is on the same page when it comes down to decision time.

Rest assured that there are a lot of great colleges for you. Millions of students have attended a wide range of schools, had memorable experiences, and gone on to accomplish their goals. You can choose the school that you feel is right for you right now, but remember that your time in college is ultimately what you make of it when you arrive on campus.

Students: Get Together With Your Parents for Virtual Visits

Our students are well aware of the virtual ways to learn about colleges. There’s just one thing missing—their parents. While it’s great that students are independent, having both the student and parents sit down for the virtual visits can be a great bonding experience, and be very productive.

Students and parents can work together to ask admission officers the right questions, discuss impressions about the schools, and have a real dialogue about where the search is going. Based on those conversations, students can then narrow down their lists and do more research on the schools in which they’re interested.

If you are comfortable, and the college allows it, do a drive together through the campus. See what the surrounding town is like. Gauge how you feel about the distance from home, the campus, the weather. Take some of what you’re seeing with a grain of salt because most campuses aren’t at full capacity right now. After you visit and do your research, share your opinions with your consultant. We’ve seen hundreds of colleges and universities around the country and abroad as a staff, and we’re continuing to visit them virtually, just like you are.

Seek the Right School, Not the "Good" School

There is such a wide range of colleges in America. There are schools with 1,000 people and those with 30,000 people. There are schools in rural, urban, and suburban places. There are traditions and campus cultures for just about every type of person. However, as a society, we fail to recognize that our students are just as unique as the colleges from which they can choose. We automatically pin the valedictorian as “Ivy-bound” without thinking about whether they really want to attend an Ivy League school to begin with.

The reward isn’t being able to go to what society deems as a good college. The reward is having more options to attend the right school for you. Every college-bound student has a list of schools where they think they would fit in really well. When high school students work hard to develop socially, practice their skills, master subjects, and figure out their interests, they put themselves in a much better position to be selected by their school of choice. They won’t have to stress as much about going after those schools. Those schools will go after them.

How to Choose a College When You Can't Visit

Most colleges have cancelled spring admission events. How do we choose?

Q: I was planning on going back to visit several colleges before deciding where to attend. But now that everything's closed due to COVID-19, how can I choose by May 1?

A: It certainly is an anxious and unpredictable time! Even more so for high school seniors who are awaiting final decisions and feeling the pressure of the impending deadline to select a college.

There is some good news. Over thirty colleges and universities have extended their enrollment decision date to June 1, and we hope that others will follow suit.

That still doesn’t address the question of how to choose a college if you can’t get there to visit. While we understand that the situation is not ideal, there is a lot you can do.

• Participate in virtual events. Many colleges are hosting virtual visit days for admitted students. You’ll be able to interact with faculty, speak with current students, and view some of the facilities.

• Talk to a current student. If you don’t know someone from your high school or hometown that attends, call the admission office. They’re happy to make a connection.

• Reach out to faculty in your area(s) of interest. Most faculty are happy to answer the questions of admitted students. And if they won’t make themselves available, well, that tells you something too.

• Join the admitted student group online. These could be your future classmates. Do you like what you see and hear?

• Read the college newspaper. Most college papers are online and searchable. What events intrigue you? What are students complaining about? Is the general vibe activist, collegiate, intellectual, humorous?

• Ask for more time. If a college does not extend their enrollment deadline, call and ask if they will extend to give you time to make a decision.

But don’t double deposit!! Sending in two deposits is a violation of the NACAC guidelines and could result in you having both acceptances revoked. At the end of the day, you will need to go with your gut and choose. And if you’re really undecided, it’s probably because you are choosing from among several schools that are outstanding choices. And, most likely, there is no bad choice!