Dear Juniors:
Spring of your junior year is a great time to start taking
college tours. Although I recognize it
is easy to tour a campus online, there is nothing better than a campus tour
when you are trying to get a feel for the college or university. All colleges and universities offer campus
tours. The advantage to visiting a
college or university in the spring is that classes are in session, which will
give you an opportunity to talk to students.
To sign up for a tour, click the Admissions tab of the college or university you would like to visit
and you will see a link to schedule a visit.
This time of the year, colleges and universities typically offer tours
one Saturday per month. Below are the
links to schedule tours at each of Connecticut’s state universities.
Western Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
University of Connecticut
When visiting a college, follow the steps below:
·
Be
prepared. Research the school’s
programs, faculty-student ratio and educational mission.
·
Read
while you wait. Once you arrive on
campus, check out the bulletins, pick up a copy of the college newspaper and
grab a few brochures from the admissions office.
·
Ask
questions. Be sure to create a list
of questions before the tour and have them available the day of the tour.
·
Talk to
students. Some of your best feedback
will come from the students who are actually at the college! Visit the campus coffee shop or commons and
ask students what the campus is really like.
·
Talk to
the tour guide. Your tour guide will
be an actual student at the college you are visiting, so be prepared to ask
questions.
·
After the
tour. Write down five impressions of
the school. Consider the campus
personality, diversity of the student body, the size of the lecture hall and
student interaction. These little mental
reminders will help you compare colleges later.
Good luck preparing for your senior year. If you have any questions or need further
assistance, please see your school counselor.
Kind regards,
Vikki Carlson
Department Head for Secondary Schools, School
Counseling
