Posts Tagged ‘college campus tour’

When Should I Visit a College?

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Good for you! You’ve figured out that seeing a college in person is a really good idea. Now the only question that may be on your mind might be when you should actually start physically looking at colleges? This depends a lot on your future plans but, as always, My College Guide has a few tips for you to keep in mind as you think about making the college campus visit!

When is the right time to make the college campus visit?

linkway88

Up and At ‘Em! – Do you have a lot of colleges on your list? Don’t wait! Even Sophomores can benefit from visiting colleges. If a school doesn’t feel like the right college fit for you, you can cross it off of your list.

On the other hand, if a school is a maybe, you can always revisit later when you know whether you are a good academic match and if it still feels “right” as your high school career draws to a close. Starting to make visits during your Sophomore year can help you get through more schools if you aren’t really sure what you want or if you want too much!

SAT or ACT Scores – After you receive your standardized test scores, you can be a lot more proactive about the college visit process. You will know what colleges and universities generally take students that have an academic background that is comparable to your own. That doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a spot, but at least you have some way of figuring out your reach and safety schools and can adjust the schools you were considering visiting to fit this new knowledge!

Money Matters – It’s not cheap to visit a college. Your parents may need to take off from work, there may be traveling involved, and depending how far it is, possibly an overnight stay somewhere, too. By getting started early, you can spread out the financial burden of visiting multiple colleges and universities. Not only that, you have more time to fit in those schools that you really want to see—without doing a lot of last-minute cramming!

Don’t visit a school just to visit a school. Do a little background research before you visit a college first to make sure it has the programs and majors you think you might be interested in. You should have some idea as to whether or not you are an academic fit so you don’t waste your time visiting a bunch of reach schools and never check out schools where you have a better chance of becoming admitted!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus | 1 Comment »

Before You Make The College Campus Visit: 4 Things to Know

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Traveling isn’t exactly cheap so before you sign up for a bunch of different college campus tours, you might want to do a little research first! There are a few things that you should keep in mind when determining whether or not a college is the one for you – and while you should try to keep a variety in there, just in case you have a change of heart, you should make sure that you have a few on your “must visit” list that fit the bill!

Knowing what you want in a college can go a long way in ensuring college success!

Mr. Ducke / Matt

Location – It might seem strange for someone to accept an offer of college admission without knowing the location, but it’s happened on more than one occasion. Just because a college is in New York doesn’t mean it’s in or right next to bustling New York City, and just because a college is located in the Midwest doesn’t mean it’s teeny tiny or small town. Find out more about the area you are thinking about calling “home” to see if it fits in with your style. Don’t base your college decision on your Aunt’s neighbor’s son’s college experience. See for yourself – after you do the research.

Selectivity – If you take a look at your SAT or ACT test scores: how do they compare to incoming students? Does your GPA match up to the admission requirements? Look at the whole picture. See if there’s anything else mentioned (a year of foreign language, etc.) that is required and also lacking in your application. Don’t waste time visiting 10 hyper-selective schools when the numbers don’t match up. It’s okay to apply to one or two (we call those reach schools) but be realistic. Spend your time on college applications and visits that you can actually get into.

Majors and Minors – While you might be absolutely positive right now about your intended major, once you actually dig in and take a few classes, you may realize it isn’t the right fit for you. Instead, think about a few things that interest you – and then check to see if the related majors are even offered. This tiny bit of future planning could save you an un-needed college visit or a college transfer down the line!

Tuition and Financial Aid – How well does your intended college handle financial aid for its students? Is it hard to come by? Of course, you should fill out the FAFSA but it’s important to know how your school specifically handles aid. For example, if you are a low income student, will your college work with you? Do they have no loans packages? If you don’t qualify for need-based aid, are there merit scholarships available? If several colleges on your list aren’t known for assisting students that match your characteristics, you may want to think about replacing them with colleges that do.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Transfer, Financial Aid, Paying for College, Scholarships | 2 Comments »

Applying to College: Why You Should Apply to More than One College

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

How many colleges should you apply to? You’ve done the whole college search routine: you’ve requested free college info, narrowed down your options, made the campus visit, and know that you need to start applying to colleges.

Dream school or not: applying to more than one college could get you in for less!

wallyg / Wally Gobetz

There are plenty of options to consider and while you may think you have found the perfect college and you just can’t (or won’t) picture yourself anywhere else, there are a  few very good reasons why you should apply to more than one college!

Acceptance – Yes, My College Guide knows how bad you want in to that college. Your SAT scores and your GPA fall within the required college admission guidelines, you have leadership roles and even community service behind you – but sometimes, sometimes, you won’t make it in due to some part of your application not meeting requirements or that your test scores don’t match, or that the admissions officer is simply having a bad day — whatever secret reason why you won’t get in to your first choice college. You need to have a back-up plan — which is why it is so important to make the college campus visit to a few colleges and universities.

Indecision – What if you made the college campus visit and you can’t decide between a few colleges? Shelling out the college application fee multiples could really be worth it in this case: you can base your college enrollment on what college lets you in. Also – it won’t hurt to find out what college will not only let you in but cover more of your college tuition!

Financial Aid – Applying to more than one college can help you figure out how much you really want to pay! After you receive your college acceptance from more than just one college (inexpensive college or not), you will find out how much of your tuition is covered by financial aid. Some schools have better financial aid than others so if you apply to more than one college, you will easily see what school expects you to pay more out of your own pocket, and who will let you in for less!

After the college campus tour you might be "sold" but it's still a good idea to apply to more than just one college!

almostsummersky / k wheeler

Competing Colleges – Okay, so this sort of ties into financial aid but competing colleges (think peer colleges or Ivy League like Cornell University and Stanford University) could give you a financial aid break (or maybe at least match your parent(s) contributions) if they know that you are accepted at a competitor’s school. So, students who are accepted at competing colleges can leverage that selective admission status to gain more financial help to attend the college they really want to attend. Just make sure that if you are dreaming “Ivy League” that you apply to more than your dream school.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, Financial Aid, Paying for College, Scholarships | 1 Comment »

Choosing a College: Questions for Jewish Students to Consider

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

The college search is rough on everyone, but if you are looking for a college where others share your religious beliefs, it might require a bit more research on your part. My College Guide recognizes that there are some special concerns that face college bound Jewish students – and we’ve got a few questions you might want to consider as you evaluate whether or not a college is the right fit for you!

College students enjoy a Hillel BBQ.

Alla_G / Alla

What about Hillel?
Does the college you are interested in have an active Hillel (or some sort of equivalent)? The majority of colleges,  even church-affiliated colleges like Georgetown University, have an active Hillel, though it may be small in size. Find out who the staff are, the specifics about the activities and services, as well as social events to meet other Jewish students. Speak with both the staff and students actively involved in the Hillel to get a better idea of the way things are run and how your Jewish faith will fit in to your college life!

What about the holidays?
Take a look at what services are offered on Shabbat and the high holidays as well as the facility in which the services are held. Can you bring your family or other guests?

Are there any Jewish studies courses or majors?
If learning about your Jewish heritage is important to you and you are toying with the possibility of a Jewish major or minor, you will want to see how many courses are offered on the topic each semester – and if you can major or minor in Jewish Studies.

Is it possible to study in Israel?
If you  foresee a trip to Israel as part of your not-too distant future, you might want to see if your college will allow you to study abroad in Israel in exchange for college credits! Every college is different but some do have Israel programs for college students so it might be easier than you think (and definitely worth looking into). Keep in mind that Birthright Israel does sponsor free trips to Israel for Jewish young men and women between the ages of 18 and 26. Although these Birthright trips don’t typically provide you with college credit, they are a fantastic (and free!) way to visit the country of your heritage.

Johanna and Herman H. Newberger Hillel House at the University of Chicago.

reallyboring / Eric Allix Rogers

Is there a kosher meal plan?
If you want to keep kosher, your best bet is usually the meal plan offered by many of the Hillel chapters on college campuses. If that’s just not available, see if the colleges that you are interested in have either a specific kosher food meal plan or, at least, kosher food choices.

What is the percentage of Jewish students on campus? Of course it’s fine to make friends with other students from different backgrounds and cultures, but it’s also nice to have common ground with students that celebrate the holidays just like you. Knowing the percentage of Jewish students on campus can help you decide how comfortable you will feel based on the numbers. You can find the number of Jewish students at the majority of colleges simply by checking out the Hillel website.

How does your college handle holidays?
Most colleges do not close for the high holidays or any other Jewish holidays. However, if you miss classes on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, most schools will understand and your college professors usually won’t schedule exams on these days. If you are more observant and do not plan on attending classes on other holidays, such as Sukkot, Shavuot, Passover or Simchat Torah, you should check with the schools in which you’re interested to see the policy for making up work and/or exams that may be missed.

Lehigh University Hillel poster.

Sarcasmette / Dyana

Remember: the best way to get a feel for a college is to make the college campus visit! Don’t be afraid to ask your questions, get the population statistics from the Hillel website and college admissions, visit the Hillel on campus, and talk to some of the Jewish Student Union members.

It might also be worth trying to stay on-campus for the Shabbat and attending the service at the Hillel, particularly if you intend to do Shabbat services while you are in college.

Know that you can make a successful transition to college, keep your Jewish identity, make new friends, and gain a college diploma!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, Fun Stuff | 1 Comment »

Don’t Just Sit There, Interact! Saint Michael’s College Interactive Campus Tour Video

Friday, September 24th, 2010

My College Guide has seen plenty of campus slideshows, photos, and video on many a college website, but what we haven’t seen before is an interactive campus tour via YouTube! Instead of just watching a ho-hum video on YouTube, Saint Michael’s College let’s you choose your own adventure – it’s just like the books (but there’s no wrong choice and frantic page-turning here!).

While no campus video (awesomely interactive or not) can replace the traditional college campus tour, it is worth noting that it is a beneficial new tool to not only aid you in your college hunt but to get you excited about the college process. We know it seems like a whole lot of work but, trust us, it all pays off in the end! You may even learn a few things about a campus that you didn’t know before. College tour videos can also show you various campus buildings that may hold particular interest to you (Theater major? How does that auditorium look?). At the very least, you can’t help but get psyched about college life – and that can go a long way in ensuring your college success! Watch St Mike’s Interactive Campus Tour on YouTube or below.

Special thanks to Saint Michael’s College Twitter account for bringing this fun interactive video to our attention!

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Virtual College Tour in Higher Education: Second Life Style

Friday, June 25th, 2010
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alice_burgess

My College Guide discovered a slew of Second Life campus tours on YouTube – and we thought you might like to see them.  You won’t believe the ways in which the college campus has been reinterpreted within these virtual worlds!

Check out the  Washington State University Second Life virtual college tour with an appearance from the WSU Mascot Butch T. Cougar himself.  There’s also Florida International University that mimics the Miami, Florida campus – right down to the palm trees.

You’ll find the University of Kentucky, Saint Paul College’s tour that shows off The Pavilion (a meeting place with video screens and virtual Coke machine), as well as Ohio University and several learning kiosks.  But YouTube has even more, like East Carolina University, Texas State University San Marcos (with drivable golf carts and boats), San Jose State University, and ECPI College of Technology.

A trip to a Second Life virtual college campus won’t replace an actual college campus visit — but you can check out college coursework, student Second Life projects, and even sit in on lectures, speakers, and events – while having a little fun, too!  Take a look at how the college and university campus is transformed into this virtual world in recognizable (and sometimes not so recognizable) ways.  Watch Texas A&M’s Second Life Campus on YouTube or watch it below.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Fun Stuff, Online Tools | No Comments »

A Day in the Life of a College President: Macalester College President’s Day Video

Friday, June 18th, 2010

My College Guide fell in love with this video after it was released – but with one thing and another, somehow, we neglected to bring it to your attention!  We love this insider’s view of Macalester College or, rather Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg’s view (yes, he did compare himself to Batman)!  Now, if that doesn’t make you want to check it out…we just don’t know you at all!

We just had to dig it up and bring it to your attention (just in case you missed it).  As My College Guide has pointed out again, and again, and again – college is not just studying and seriousness.  Sure, learning is important and you will need to work hard – but it’s not all work, work, work.   As you can see in this video (and all over our blog) the people inside a college bring along personality, humor, and a zest for life.  Watch President’s Day at Macalester College on YouTube (or below) for more proof!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Life, Fun Stuff, Social Media | 1 Comment »

Purdue University’s Bug Bowl: Creepy, Crawly Fun!

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Those college cafeteria horror stories must be true, just take a look at what’s on the menu at Purdue University: teriyaki meal worms, caterpillar crunch, and, for those with a sweet tooth — chocolate covered crickets on a stick and chocolate chirpy cookies.  We’re only kidding – it’s all part of the fun at the Bug Bowl,  a part of Purdue University’s annual Spring Fest.

Make Pheromones Not Pesticides

johnnyalive/johnny klemme

Colleges and universities usually have their own fun and unique traditions – and we have to say that the Bug Bowl is definitely original to Purdue!  It all started twenty years ago in Dr. Tom Turpin’s Entomology 105 class.  We went straight to the source.  Dr. Turpin shared, “It was supposed to be an opportunity to see how fast cockroaches could run.  A twist of fate intervened.”

“A radio guy came into my office to get the latest corn rootworm insecticide recommendations (I am a corn  entomologist) and spied the marked cockroaches and asked what was going on. He went back to the radio station and announced that they were having  cockroach races at Purdue tonight and invited the listeners to drop in.  So to our surprise some 150 community members showed up.”

A year later it turned into a community friendly event with an “official” racetrack, the RoachHill Downs, and names for the racing cockroaches like “Fluttering Antennae” and “Seattle Sewer.”   Insect displays, honey tasting, the caterpillar canter (a six legged race – how fun is that!), and insects as food demonstrations rounded out the event – and lured in 1300 people.

The Purdue Bug Bowl joined with the Department of Horticulture’s Hort Show and has since incorporated many other college departments, merging into what is now known as Spring Fest!  Today, the Bug Bowl draws in 30,000 people – and has a host of activities: cricket spitting, robotic beetle battles, an insect petting zoo (haven’t you always wanted to hold an anthropod?), The Insect Follies, and street puppets.

Teriyaki Meal Worms -- Mmm Mmm Good!

Randy Cox

If insects are your “thing,” The Bug Bowl at Spring Fest sounds like a good time – and a great way — to check out Purdue University’s Entomology program, one of the few colleges that even offer an Entomology degree — and possibly grab something squirming yummy to snack on.

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Beyond the Campus Tour: 7 Signs to Look for When You Visit a College

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Photo by Chaval Brasil

Chaval Brasil

As the time to choose a college approaches, you’ll probably want to visit as many schools as possible to get a feel for which one is the best fit for you. But sometimes, visiting a school is more of a distraction than an answer. After all, the tour guide is bound to show you the nicest dorm rooms (which you probably won’t have a chance of getting), but will she tell you which professors are the human equivalent to Nyquil?

To get the true scoop on college life, it’s important to get beyond the tour script and ask the tough questions. When you go, here’s what you’ll want to check out to see if the school’s worth applying to.

Sit in on a class. Don’t just take the tour guide’s word that the professors are fantastic—go sit in on a class in a field that you’re interested in, and find out for yourself! You’ll probably need to get the college admissions office’s approval to sit in on a course, but they should be able to help you find one that coincides with your visit, if your tour is during the regular school year. Check out ratemyprofessors.com to find out what regular students think of your lecturer.

Find out what students do for fun. Is most of the activity focused on-campus, or off? Is the Greek scene a big part of campus life? Does the whole campus go crazy for football, or do the students seem more artsy and independent? Depending on your interests, you’ll want to make sure that the school has what you need to thrive socially.

How’s the food? OK, maybe it’s not the most important thing, but you’ll be eating food from the college cafeteria every day for at least your first couple of years, so you’ll want to make sure it’s edible. Take a swing by the cafeteria for lunch to try it for yourself.

What sort of sports and outdoor activities can you take part in? If you love to run, take a look at the track. If swimming’s your thing, you’ll want to check out the pool facilities—and if you love mountain biking, then see how far you are from nearby trails, and how easy they are to get to. Some schools in beautiful areas, such as Colorado College, offer students the chance to take outdoors excursions every weekend. If you’d be interested, ask a student who’s attended one of the events about what it’s like.

How’s the library? You’ll probably be spending plenty of time there, especially during finals week. Is it well stocked? Is it quiet and comfortable enough to study in? Take a look at the students there—if they all seem incredibly stressed, it may not be the best place to spend four years of your life.

What’s off campus? At some schools, you’ll have enough to do that you’ll rarely want to leave campus—but when you do, what will you find? Is the college located in an interesting city with lots of cheap restaurants and nightlife options? Or are you an hour or more from any place worth seeing? While location isn’t everything, it can play a big part in your college experience, so it’s worth considering. (Check out our list of great college towns for some ideas of places to consider applying.)

How easy is it to get home? Obviously, this isn’t something to ask your campus tour guide—you’ll answer this question yourself when you make the trek there. If getting back and forth between home and the dorm seems like a huge hassle, it may not be the best place to set up shop for four years.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, Housing | 13 Comments »