31 Questions to Ask a Tour Guide

Hi everyone! I hope your week was great and you are on your way to the best 2017 possible!  (Hint: It will be because you're chasing college. 😉)  I know that when you go on visits to college campuses, you aren't exactly sure what you want to ask ... trust me, I've been there on both sides of the tour!

Here's your ticket to bring prepared! I've compiled my list of great questions to ask the tour guides and students you meet while you are on campus! Here we go ...

1. Have you ever had a conversation with the president?
2. What has been your favorite class so far?
3. What has been your least favorite class so far?
4. Where do students spend their time between classes?
5. Does Student Activities host any day trips places?
6. What do your college friends study and do? (**This will help show you if the college is cliquey or if students grow friendships outside of just their major or their sport.)
7. Do most students go home on the weekends?
8. Do students have to pay for tickets to sporting events?
9. How often do you meet with your academic advisor?
10. For students that live off campus, what neighborhood do they typically live?
11. Is there a doctor in the Student Health Center, or do students have to go to a local Urgent Care to be seen?
12. What made you choose to go to school here, as opposed to the other colleges you applied to?
13. What's your favorite spot on campus? (**This is my favorite question - it gives you something special to look out for, especially if it's a hidden secret.)
14. How are faculty and administrators committed to student success?
15. Where do students spend their Saturday Nights?
16. Can every student use the athletics facilities or are they only reserved for team use?
17. What can a student not have in their dorm room? Microwave? Keurig? Scentsy? Twinkle Lights?
18. How do students get care packages or larger deliveries?
19. Do more Freshmen choose their roommate or have one matched to them?
20. What is the winter weather like on campus? (**Even two campuses in the same city can have different weather. It's good to know to plan for just rain boots and good rain jacket or a down winter coat and snow boots.)
21. Are the intramural sports played within teams from the college or do the intramurals only play against other colleges?
22. Would you say this is a more liberal or conservative campus? (**They will most likely answer in a politically correct way [I would tell my student workers to answer very pc], but it is something to ask that could help you find your fit at a school.)
23. Is there a full kitchen with stove and oven in each residence hall?
24. What do students do to relax during the day?
25. Do your faculty and administrators have office hours that students can drop-in for if they have a question or need help?
26. How late is the library and the dining facilities open during the week and on the weekend?
27. Is there a lot of school spirit on campus? Does everyone support student performances?
28. Can you recite the alma mater? (**If you're looking for a college committed to tradition, your tour guide should at least be able to recite a line, if not the whole song!)
29. How do students get around campus? walk? bike? bus? car?
30. How is the relationship between the college students and those who live in the town?
31. Why should I choose this college? (**Don't accept "Because it's awesome," as an answer.)

I hope all of these questions will help you feel prepared for your next campus visit. If you won't be visiting a while, be sure to pin this or bookmark it to come back to for future college visits!

Is there another questions, that you always ask on college visits? Comment below so I can add it to my list! Have a great week!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Celebrating the 6 Month Blog-iversary

Hi everyone!! Today, Chasing College is celebrating its six month anniversary of being a blog! I can't believe it has already been six months, it feels like just yesterday I was sitting down writing that first blog post! I am so happy with how this blog has grown over the last six months and the amount of people who have been impacted by the blog posts! A few weeks ago, I asked you all to send me your questions for a Q&A session to get to know me a little better and so I made a video answering all of those questions! Here it is:

You can also view it on youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKzlIrOsNz8

Thank you all so much for reading my different blog posts over these last six months and for sharing them with your family and friends. I have really enjoyed doing this and I hope I've been able to help you all through your college application and transition process.  Please comment below, e-mail me, or Tweet me with any questions you have, suggestions for blog posts, or advice that you are seeking. This blog is for you all, so whatever you have questions on about the college application and transition process, please let me know! I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to see how else we can chase college in the next six months!!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar 

Using your Admissions Counselor to your Advantage

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break from school and if you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a great day filled with turkey and mashed potatoes! Tonight I want to talk with you all about how you can use your college admissions counselor to your advantage. They are a wealth of knowledge and can provide a lot of wisdom to you!

First things first, a college admissions counselor is someone who works for a specific university to recruit and encourage students to apply and enroll at their college. They spend a lot of time travelling in the Fall and Spring to attend events across the nation to discuss their university. Once they are back in the office, they spend their time meeting with families, reading applications, and answering their students' questions. It is important to recognize what their job is before you start wondering how they can help you in your college search process.  Here are some of my tips:

1. ASK THEM QUESTIONS!!!  I cannot reiterate this enough, if you have a question about the university, about the application process, or about scholarships, then send them an e-mail, call them, or even text them your question. They want the contact with you and want to help you recognize the greatness that their campus can offer to you.  **When I was applying to colleges, whenever I had a question about the university, I would write it on a sheet of paper and keep that in my college folder. When the admissions counselor called throughout the year, I would have my questions ready for them so that I could get all of the answers I needed!

2. GET CONNECTED!!! Ask yourself who they might be able to connect you with at the university. Admissions professionals usually have some power to get things done and to have their students meet with others, so if there is someone you want to meet or talk to, ask your admissions counselor about it. They can usually connect you with athletics coaches, professors, other administrative offices, and students! If you have a specific question and you aren't satisfied with their vague answer, then see if they can hook you up with another resource!  (Admissions counselors know a little about a lot, so if you genuinely want more information than they are giving you, that is completely acceptable. Be up front though and see who else they can get in contact with for you!)

Use your admissions counselor to set up meetings with
coaches and student athletes.

3. CHECK ON APP. MATERIALS!!! So, it wasn't until I started working in the Admissions Department that I realized that students and families can call the office to see if their materials have been submitted to the university appropriately.  Oftentimes students wonder if their recommenders have completed their evaluations or if their guidance counselor sent in their transcript. Now, you don't have to worry because you can ask your admissions counselor. Now, I wouldn't be calling every two days to see if it has been submitted, but have a frank conversation with your admissions counselor to make sure they have the most up-to-date information, including test scores!

4. BUILD YOUR RESOURCES!!! Once you are enrolled at the institution, keep all of the connections that they have helped you make and reach out to those people. If they are students or other professionals, make sure you keep them in mind when you are back on campus at orientation. They may be able to help you make your college transition even more smoothly. These connections may also help you later on down the road in college. (One of the administrators who did my admissions interview, coincidentally, I ended up working really closely with during my years as an Upperclassman RA and as an Orientation Leader. You never know where those resources will lead you, so definitely keep them in a safe place!)

I hope this has helped you all as you are beginning to contact your admissions counselors more and more. Just remember each university is different, so their connection and resource flow may take a little longer than at another. Stay patient and remember if you have something you really want to know about a university, then pursue it!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

When an Admissions Counselor Visits

Hi everyone! Today I am going to talk to you about what you should do when a college admissions counselor visits your high school. This typically happens in the fall and your guidance department may only advertise this for Seniors, but essentially if you are thinking about college and a university interests you, then why not stop by!

So, the set-up of the high school visit varies between each high school and each college that visits. At my high school, all of our visitors used a conference room in the guidance office, whereas at some other schools, a counselor may have a table in a common area or in the lunch room for a lunch-time visit. No matter the set-up, go and visit these counselors if you think you have an interest in their college; trust me, they want you to talk to them!

Typically your high school will announce that an admissions representative will be visiting a few days in advance, so make sure you're prepared. If you need to get a pre-signed pass from the guidance department to go during a class, then do that early enough so that you can also notify your teacher that you'll be missing class. Prepare your questions for them or if there is anything specific you want to discuss with them. Sometimes it is easier to talk with counselors in person, if you have really dynamic and specific questions that you want addressed. Think of thoughtful questions that can help you with your college search process!

In addition, if you know that the visit is happening before the day-of, please dress appropriately. I always say this, but dressing nicely (I'm talking nice jeans and a nice top, not necessarily a dress or a suit) helps make a good impression with the representative and it shows that you take your college search seriously! However, if you have late notice and just see the table the day of their visit, then don't let the state of your outfit deter you from asking the admissions counselor your questions.

My Experiences: 
In the fall of my Senior year of high school, I visited with an alum from a SUNY school in my high school's guidance office. I knew I wanted to apply to a SUNY school, so I researched this specific one and it had all of things I wanted: a Foreign Language and Education department, the opportunity to dance, a hockey team, and scholarship opportunities. So, I prepared my questions and had a great conversation with the alum. The conversation got me really excited about the university and about planning a visit to do a tour of campus!

During my time as an undergraduate, I was able to act as a high school representative and visit my own high school to meet with students who had an interest in the college. I did this twice; my Sophomore and Junior years of college. Being able to meet with the students to discuss my experience as a student and answer their questions about the college was really rewarding. So, whether the representative is an admissions counselor, an alum, or a current student, still visit their table. They can answer all types of questions that you have and may even be able to suggest things for you to do when you tour campus!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. If you have a twitter account, be sure to follow @Chasing_College to stay up-to-date on all of my posts and articles that I think will be helpful to you in your college search and transition into college life!

What to Do at a College Fair!

Hi everyone! Now that school is in full swing, so are all of the awesome opportunities to attend a college fair in your area! A college fair is a great chance to meet with representatives from a bunch of different schools without having to travel super far.

At a college fair, each college has a table with a display set up which provides information on the college's location, their majors, extra-curricular and athletics offerings, and unique opportunities available on their campuses. They also will have some pamphlets and brochures for you to take with you! Here are some tips/suggestions for you to have a great college fair experience!

1. Bring a Bag! You are going to be collecting a lot of materials from athletics brochures, study abroad worksheets, to business cards. It is best if you have something to put all of that information in. Some college fairs provide plastic bags for you, but others don't so you will want to be prepared! My suggestion is either a back pack or a tote bag, that way you can drop stuff in your pockets as you are walking around.
   
2. Wear Comfortable Shoes! You are going to be standing and walking around a lot, so be sure you are wearing comfortable shoes.  Some High School Guidance Counselors suggest you dress up to attend a college fair and if you are going with your school, you should probably follow their suggestions. However, if you are going by yourself, with some friends, or with your family, you can dress nice but still be comfortable! This isn't an interview, it is just a chance to get more information about the colleges! Jeans are fine to wear with your comfortable shoes, but please no sweatpants or yoga pants!!
   
3. Make Stickers with your Information! So, I never knew about this as a High School student, but it saves you a lot of time and effort of continuously writing your name and information on hundreds of recruiting cards. (It probably won't be 100, but trust me, after the tenth it will feel like it!) So, these stickers/labels can be found at office supply stores or even at Walmart. You will want to include the following information:
   
   Full Name and Gender
   Mailing Address
   Telephone and Cell Phone
   Name of your High School
   Intended Major
   Extra-Curricular Activities or Athletics you are interested in
   
   

   You can type the information out and print it on the labels for you to have the day of the college fair. Peeling off a sticker and putting it on the recruiter card will help save a lot of time. If you don't have the access to these or you are short on time, write up an index card with all of that information so that you don't take as much time filling out the recruiting cards. (This will be better than looking at your phone at each booth trying to find your cell phone or home phone number.) This will also give you more time to speak with the representative and actively listen to what they have to say!
   
4. Have a Game Plan! Most college fair organizers put out a list closer to the date of the event of the colleges that are registered to attend. Once you get this list, make a game plan for which universities you really want to visit and what specific questions you want to know. **If you are just starting your college search and this is your first event, then having a game plan isn't necessarily essential. As long as you go into the event with an open mind and a willingness to stop at different tables and chat with the admissions representatives, then it will be successful for you!
   
5. Be Independent! Whether you go to the college fair with your parents or go with your friends, don't cling to them. This is your opportunity to go out there, meet with representatives, and start formulating your future! If you are only going to the tables that your parents and friends want, you may miss out on your dream school's table. I definitely suggest you take your parent's advice on what college tables to visit, but visit some of the ones that you want too!

NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling) holds National College Fairs all across the country during the fall. If you go to this website, you will be able to find a college fair near you! Don't forget to ask your guidance counselor if they know of any local college fairs that you can attend close to home. 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Visiting Campus: Part 4 - 1st Visit vs. 2nd Visit

Hi everyone! For all you upstate New Yorkers, I hope your first week of school goes well! If it is your Senior year, be sure to meet with your Guidance Counselor soon to keep them up-to-date on your college search process!

Today, I am going to be talking about your first and second visit to a college how you should approach each differently. This will help you make your decision to apply to the university, as well as, help you decide where you ultimately want to go!

FIRST VISIT:

• This is when you want to get the overall impression of the college. Find out its culture, what the students are passionate about, what types of programs they have, how their campus is ... etc.
• You can do your Admissions Interview at this point if you want. Mostly this is an opportunity for the college to get to know you and for you to get to know the finer aspects of the college and how they apply to you. **It was in my first visit and specifically the interview that I realized I didn't want to apply to a specific university anymore. If I hadn't visited, I wouldn't have known that it wasn't the right fit for me. 
• Attend during an Open House or a Junior Visit Day. These days are designed for students new in the search process to get more general information about the university. There are a lot of great presentations to give you an inside look at the university, too.

SECOND VISIT:

• This is best during a one-on-one visit, an overnight visit, or during an Accepted Student Day. They can be designed towards your needs and the needs of an accepted student that wants to make their decision. (Check out my post on Overnight Visits here!)
• Insider Tip: If you visit close to May 1st (the National Enrollment Deadline) chances are the university will do anything to make you happy, as long as you give them timely notice to prepare. Use this to your advantage to get to know exactly what you want and need to make your final decision!
• Visit the places that you want to see. Use this one-on-one time to visit the chemistry lab, the video production studio, the squash courts, and the row house across town. If there is a place that is vital to your major, you will want to look at that place at every college in order to compare them when you make your final decision.
• Ask all of your questions on this final visit. You should leave the campus knowing everything you want to know and everything you need to know. Also, if an Admissions Counselor says that they need to ask someone specific about your questions, follow up with them! They know how important it is for you to get answers, so be sure to follow up with them if you haven't heard back in a week to two weeks.

I hope this comparison between your visits helps you, once you get to that stage! For myself, visiting both of the colleges I applied to really solidified exactly why I wanted to apply there. I knew that each university's culture fit my personality, I liked their academic programs, and their campus feel. If it weren't for both of my visits to each university, I wouldn't have known!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Wish I Knew Wednesday

Hello everyone! I hope this week has been treating you well. I wanted to introduce a new series to you today known as "Wish I Knew Wednesday." This is a series that will be published on Wednesdays with what real high school and college graduates wish they had known throughout the college search process and I will provide my tips and suggestions for how to combat these questions/issues early on!

"I think knowing about getting a job on campus to have money would have been nice to know more about." 
Logan T., 24, Afton, New York

When you start visiting different universities and taking college tours, you will begin to make a list of questions/information you ask about at each college campus. If you think you will be needing a job while enrolled in college, that is definitely something to ask the tour guide and an Admissions Adviser about.

Some colleges/universities only allow those students who have Federal Work Study listed in their Financial Aid packet to have a job on campus, while others will allow any student to work. (Federal Work Study usually works so that the money you make on campus will go directly towards your student bill.) While on campus, you can also ask the tour guide where most students on campus work, whether its at a coffee shop in the bookstore or in one of the administrative offices. 

Additionally, it is important to note that students always have the option of getting a job off campus, such as a retail position at a local shopping center. This money will not go directly towards your tuition and will be handled as a normal job at home or during the summer. One important thing to note though is that a job off campus is usually not as lenient as an on-campus job would be when it comes to exams, school breaks, and personal emergencies. Most often you also will not need to rely on transportation if you work directly on campus. 

Working within your college community is definitely important to bring up with your Admissions Counselor when you discuss the issue of financing your degree. They may have more suggestions that specifically fit that college campus too!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. Don't forget the College Week Live Virtual College Fair is tomorrow from 2:00pm to 10:00pm!