You are ready to embark on this journey called the college search, right? You probably have lots and lots of questions.
Here is a little secret about college admission counsellors: they love questions. They have to talk about the colleges search process and the institutions they represent. And they especially love when students ask them questions beyond the basic three: location, size and available majors.
College fairs are the buffet dinners of the college search process: You can taste many different options, but you can only digest a limited amount of information. So what information should you seek? And how?
Take advantage of admission counsellors’ gift for gab! Do not just swing by the table of interesting university to pick up a brochure and smile meekly at the counsellor before shuffling away. Instead, walk up to the table and introduce yourself. If you do not know where the school is located or what type of institution it is — public or private, large or small — ask.
If you know what types of academic programmes interest you, ask if the school offers them. Then, if the school sounds like a viable possibility, ask the fabulous five questions.
Fabulous question 1: How would you describe the student body’s personality?
Each college campus has a personality, revealed through its student body. Of course, not everyone on campus has exactly the same personality, but a student body tends to value certain qualities. For example, some campuses are politically liberal; some are conservative. A student might especially value the arts, or athletics or community service. This question helps you determine if you might fit in well among your potential classmates.
Fabulous question 2: How is this school distinctive?
Each school has a unique story. In fact, most schools have many unique stories. Maybe you will learn about a newly developed internship programme; maybe you will hear about an unusual curriculum or a special programme for freshmen. Because college administrators cannot include every extraordinary opportunity in publications or on websites, this question is one of the best ways to learn about them. If the counsellor mentions a programme or opportunity that interests you, make a note to follow up with an e-mail or a phone call to get more information.
Fabulous question 3: How many students transfer to another school during or after their first year?
This questions offers a glimpse of how satisfied current students are. You obviously want want to attend a school where your peers are generally happy. Sometimes a high transfer rate indicates that students are not finding what they thought they would find at the school; sometimes a high transfer rate is related to a change in curriculum or financial aid. If the transfer rate is high, ask why and listen carefully to the response.
Fabulous question 4: How would you describe students’ relationships with professors?
Chances are, the admission counsellor will answer this question by first telling you who teaches undergraduate courses — professors or graduate assistants. The counsellor might also tell you about opportunities for students to collaborate with professors on research. Or maybe she will mention that professors give out their home phone numbers so students can reach them outside of class and office hours. You will have a general idea about how accessible the professors are – an important part of your college experience.
Fabulous question 5: How do you award scholarships and financial aid?
Colleges and universities have widely different policies about scholarships. Some schools require separate applications for scholarships; some simply award scholarships based an information in a student’s application. A university might offer scholarships for specific academic programmes or for artistic or athletic talent. You need to know not only how to apply for these awards, but also which qualities the scholarship committees weigh most heavily. You also need to know how a college awards financial aid, which is based on your family’s need.
Beyond the fabulous five
The fabulous five will help you determine if you should spend time learning more about a college. As you continue your college search, you will develop questions that reflect your interests and values. One more piece of advice — keep in touch with the admission counsellors who represent schools that interest you.
So stop by a few tables at the college fair and whip out the fabulous five. You will surprise and delight a few admission counsellors, but more importantly, you will gather valuable information for a successful college search. Happy asking! — Agencies
