Submitting college applications is at the forefront of seniors’ minds as deadlines come closer and closer. College visits “are critical for those in the final stages of their college search,” says Mr. Ara, a Grade 12 University and Academics Counselor at EF.
Since the school year began, there have been over 25 college visits. By far, the recent New York University (NYU) visit drew the most student interest overall. 11th and 12th Grade students crowded around three large tables on the second floor of Cena. Some students likely felt intimidated by the large turnout, leaving them unprepared to ask questions in front of a massive audience. Some students described their discouragement about their chances of being accepted into NYU due to many pupils’ high interest in the program. Previous college visits held fewer attendees, providing each prospective student with their own “time to shine.”
Ari, a 12th grader, attended the NYU event. “I thought it was informative,” she said. However, she expressed that the large volume of student attendance made it “hard to get that individual attention that most university visits have.” Her suggestion for a possibly smoother future event was to arrange “multiple visits or time slots so that there could have been smaller groups so as to provide for a more individualized experience.” Though the logistics of the NYU visit were not ideal, Ari said that she would still “most likely” be applying to the college this fall.
Consistent with Ari’s experience with college visits on the EF campus, Mr. Ara noted that the experiences of seniors who have attended these important events have “generally been positive, with many appreciating the chance to interact directly with admissions representatives.”
He also noted that he “would like to see higher attendance” at these events. The clock is ticking for seniors, and they should seize every opportunity to take control of their college experience. “One area for improvement is student engagement during the visits,” he said. Because the visits are merely a half-hour long, it is imperative that students take advantage of these valuable chances to ask visiting admissions counselors questions. He proposed multiple suggestions to raise attendance, such as “offering incentives,” “setting clear expectations,” and possibly “integrating visits into the students’ advisory sessions” to stress that students should view them “as part of their overall college preparation.”
As college application season rages on, high school seniors worldwide are forced to make one of the toughest choices of their lives– where to attend college. Some students have already planned out the rest of their lives: studying at their dream school with their closest friends, while others still contemplate whether going to college is right for them. Notwithstanding these differences, there is one common factor between all high school seniors: they will all be graduating in the spring. Thus, they must take ownership of their future, and a strong way to do so is by engaging in college visits.
Questions to ask during a college visit:
What sets your academic programs apart from other schools?
How does the college support internships and job placement after graduation?
What are some unique campus traditions or aspects of student life?
How accessible are professors, and what is the average class size?
What types of financial aid and scholarships are available for incoming students?
