Make the most of summer by visiting prospective colleges

Advertiser Staff

Many high school students and their families use the summer months to visit college campuses.

A campus visit can go a long way in helping students decide where they will head after graduation.

"Visiting several schools can help students and their families get the true feel of a college campus before making an actual commitment. This is where a student will spend the next four years of his or her life," said Martha Holler, spokeswoman for Sallie Mae, the nation's largest student loan provider. "Summer vacation is an ideal time for students and families to visit prospective colleges."

Sallie Mae's Web site, CollegeAnswer.com, offers tips for college-bound students and families when they visit college campuses:

• Do as much advance work as possible. Decide what you want to learn about the school and put together a list of questions. Use the same list for every school so you can make fair comparisons.

• Save time and money. When possible, bundle school visits geographically with a planned vacation, a visit to extended family or a parent's business trip.

• Schedule visits at least two weeks in advance. Call the admissions office to arrange the visit and inquire about campus tours. Ask if you can sit in on summer classes, eat with students who may be on campus for the summer and use the campus facilities. Allow at least three hours to get a feel for the school.

• Take the campus tour. An escorted tour usually provides more access to the campus and your guide can be a great source of candid information.

• Try to experience the life of a college student. Eat in the dining hall, read the campus paper, take school transportation and, if possible, sit in on classes and spend a night in the dorm.

• Ask a lot of questions. Ask students what they like best and least about the school, what they think about dorm life, what they would change, what the campus is like on weekends, how safe the campus is and which professors are best.

• Take notes. Pay attention to first impressions. Is this where you want to live and go to school for four years? Make notes to jog your memory when decision time comes.

• Send a thank-you note. After visiting a college, remember to send thank-you notes to everyone you met. It is a simple courtesy that could help get you noticed.