How College Visits Can Have A Maximizing Impact
With college admission deadlines around the corner, some of you are packing your bags and getting ready to visit your colleges abroad. Even though it’s not necessary to visit the universities before you apply, it does help with your decision process. Visiting the campus will give you a real sense of the atmosphere, the academic programs, fellow students, faculty, student life, local area, and much more.
Have you prepared your college visit checklist?
Start by doing your homework – once you have identified the universities, make sure you know everything about your program, curriculum, professors, etc. Also, pen down some insightful questions to ask.
Before you finalize your travel plans, contact the universities to find out when official campus tours are offered. The official tour allows you to learn more about the university and go beyond the website. You will meet staff and students and get a genuine feel of the campus. Some universities will require you to pre-register for the college campus tours, and many offer tours at specific times and days of the week. Contact the Office of Admission and the Office of International Student Services to learn more about the possibilities for your campus visit.
Once on campus, make the most of your time there.
• Get a good sense of the student body, classrooms, facilities. Can you actually picture yourself as a student on this campus?
• Ask if you can sit in on one or two of the lectures. This could be a good indicator of the teaching style your program has, how much student involvement is required, and if that matches your style of learning.
• Interact with the admission team, students, and professors who share similar interests. Build a good rapport with them and get business cards.
• If it isn’t part of the campus tour, you will want to visit the Financial Aid Office, , Admissions Office, and the International Student Services Office. Use this time to find out more about admission requirements and scholarship options.
• Also, remember to make notes and take photos; write down your first impressions, what you liked and did not like, whom you met and anything distinct about the University that caught your attention. These notes will come in handy when writing your application essaysand make it very easy to answer why you wish to attend that institution or how you can contribute to the campus community.
Also once you are back home from your trip, don’t forget to send everyone to thank you messages.
Bon, voyage!
The article has been written by Grishma Nanavaty, Lead Counsellor, ReachIvy.
Grishma Nanavaty has completed her MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Warwick, having done her GCSE’s and A-Levels in Hong Kong.
At Carnegie Mellon, Grishma was the President of the South Asian Business Association and a recipient of the prestigious Mary Taylor Mellon Scholarship for Women. Furthermore, she was awarded a merit scholarship from the University of Warwick throughout her undergraduate program.
Having worked with American Express Financial Advisors, Poten& Partners, and The Dow Chemical Company across Hong Kong, New York, and Michigan, her professional proficiency spans futures trading, investment banking, treasury management, and diamond and jewelry wholesaling.
She is fluent in German and has lived in Germany as an exchange student. She is also an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling and absorbing new cultures.
Grishma brings her global perspective on education to ReachIvy and is eager to share her experiences and assist students with their educational endeavors.
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