There is more to a college than the education is provides. A key component for a possible students is to look at the campus itself.
One will be spending a lot of time (four years or more) on the same campus, so it’s important to be sure the right decision is made. If a more rural or country setting is preferred, it may not be wise to look at an inner city college or university, and vice versa; if one loves the nightlife and wants to be out on the town on the weekend, a school in the middle of the boondocks may be a tad boring.
A very helpful source for assistance in finding what one is looking for is CollegeBoard.com.
This site has numerous tools and activities that one can complete to help narrow choices and to help one find what one is looking for. It will also take SAT or ACT scores and apply them to the search to find colleges that require a score in that general area, informing one if they have to improve their scores or not to apply where they want to go.
College Board also features a slide show including tips on planning a college visit and getting the most out of it. One of the tips given is taking a personal tour for yourself.This is a time to just take a walk around campus, look around, and explore.
Another tip is to check out the student facilities. Is a swimming pool desired? Does the school have a nice workout facility or a track to run around for exercise? Tour the dorms to see if they are clean as well.
So what should one look for in a campus? It is mostly personal preference, but one should always look for some sort of nature. Nothing makes a campus more attractive than trees and flowers blossoming in the spring or changing colors in the fall. A campus in the middle of a city may not have these things, which could make it look somewhat bland or plain.
Senior Emily Fodel took a good look at the campuses before she decided on which school to attend.
“ I looked for the scenery,” said Fodel. “I also didn’t want it to be in the middle of a bad place.”
Fodel also took a look at the dorms to make sure they were to her liking. “I liked how each dorm had it’s own bathroom, and I chose a suite, so there is also a common room,” said Fodel.
Looking at the students on campus is another important factor in making a decision
It is extremely important to take a look around at the kids who already go to the school. Are they smiling? Are they wearing school colors in shirts or sweatshirts? Are they miserable? These are all questions one should ask him or herself before deciding on a college.
English teacher Katherine Wilt recognizes the importance of checking out the students on campus before making a decision.
“You can tell what kind of interests people have by how they look,” said Wilt. “The people already attending can tell you a lot about what the major groups and interests at the school are.”
One may regret going to a school with students who are the complete opposite of what one is looking for. Obviously, it would be foolish to go to a mostly technical or communication school if one
plans on being a doctor.
Overall, the biggest key in finding a college is that first step on campus, seeing the surroundings, the people, and the environment. Take it all in, and if the school is right, it will be like a slap in the face saying, “Go here! This is where you belong!”
Sources: Collegeboard.org
