college COUNSELING
personal goals / expectations / research / deadlines
THE IMPORTANCE OF
COLLEGE TOURS By Gregg Murray, Associate Director of College Counseling
“I WAS NOT EXPECTING to fall in love with a school in the middle of New Hampshire, but because I visited the school, I got a really good feeling from it.” Quotes like Hannah Martin’s ’17 are often heard in the college process and are indicative of the power of a campus visit. High school students take many factors into consideration when making their college choice. Web sites, social media, printed brochures, interaction with an admissions counselor, information from the college counselor and family input all guide the student, but the campus visit allows them to learn first-hand about the environment and other intangible aspects of the college. The campus visit is the most influential source of information for students during the college choice process. MANY TYPES of campus visit experiences exist to help students find their fit: visiting a class, shadowing a student, STEM tours, on-campus interviews, overnight programs with student hosts, scholarship programs, multicultural programs, admitted student days, summer programs/camps, or even selfguided visits. Nolan Pearson ’15 cited the vast opportunities in stage design, a passion he began pursuing at Viewpoint, at Emerson College as a big part of his decision to attend. A tour can include viewing academic facilities, residence hall rooms, dining areas, student life areas, and of course having interaction with current students. Each campus that provides a tour incorporates different characteristics into it. Tours may vary in length, content, and approach but the goal is similar, to determine if you fit the institution and whether or not it fits you.
46
V I E W P O I N T
M AG A Z I N E
TRADITIONALLY, STUDENTS who want to visit a university sign-up for an information session and tour, offered by the admission office. The tour enables students to see an unedited, filter-free campus and determine if it is someplace where they could envision themselves spending the next four years. On Viewpoint’s East Coast College Tour, students get the opportunity to visit upwards of 15 college campuses from Boston to Washington D.C. Over the course of the trip, they explore public vs. private institutions, research universities vs. liberal arts colleges, urban vs. rural campuses, and develop a strong sense of their preferences. NOTHING COMPARES to a campus visit when evaluating the aesthetics of the campus environment, community/general vibe of the campus, and personal interactions. Callie Kutasi ’16, who now attends University of Wisconsin, shared that her time on campus made her feel at home. Her comfort engaging with students helped her gain confidence in her decision to attend. A student’s connection to a specific environment directly affects their response to the campus visit and tour experience on their college choice. BEYOND RESEARCH, the importance of campus visits was echoed by members from the Class of 2016 at Viewpoint’s Alumni College Panel, held in January. As students tried to articulate the determining factor in their college choice, the common thread was that they knew from the moment they stepped onto campus that it was the right place for them to learn and grow. ■
S P R I N G 2 017
47