I spent the past week on spring break. Normally, we visit family. We did this year as well; however, this year begins the long march to college selection through university site visits for our oldest daughter. A few things jumped out to my daughter and me as we started this journey in Colorado and Oklahoma:
- It’s always best to do a site visit while school is in session. It is a chance to really observe how the general university population reacts to and treats each other and visitors to campus.
- The earlier you start the better. As a sophomore, we thought my daughter might get some weird looks from recruiters and admissions offices. Our experience was quite the opposite. Because of the runway between now and college application deadlines for her, most admissions offices were more than helpful on organizing the key variables in making a college selection. It also took the pressure off the “sales” process when talking with potential schools.
- Getting baseline results for PSAT and ACT in the 10th grade is a good idea. No prep work and no pressure allow for a better understanding on what is a reasonable best score to attain for SAT and ACT in 11th and 12th grades. This information can really help you rank colleges and universities based on their admission requirements and the potential academic scholarships you hope to obtain.
- Size really does matter. We have looked at colleges that are much bigger than my daughter’s high school as well as colleges that are smaller. Being on campus of both types of colleges provided more insight than just checking a box on whether my daughter likes big schools or small schools.
- Great conversation. Watching my daughter interact with student ambassadors, admissions staff, professors, and other university officials was fascinating for me. She thought of questions I never would have asked when I was her age. Further, when comparing notes, I was able to offer insight from my own college experiences that provided context she didn’t think about.
While my wife and I will no doubt heavily influence the financial options for going to college, my daughter ultimately has to make the decision that will best meet her needs for the next step in her academic journey. Being intentional with her on this discovery process opens the door for more conversations about other important decisions she will face over the next 3 years. All in all, a great spring break!
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