Tips For An Overnight Campus Visit

Dear Parent, 

As your student narrows down their prospective list of colleges, keep in mind that overnight campus visits are nice. They allow students to get an idea of what campus life is like besides just taking a group tour with a guide who will take them through well-worn, PR laden tracks. 

There are a few things your child should keep in mind before going on the overnight campus visit. The students who host prospective students are usually hand picked by the admissions office. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There's nothing wrong with young people spending time with someone else who has done a lot of good things in his or her time at college. However, your child should realize that not every student is going to be like this and that they still are prompted to say what the university wants them to. 

That's not to say however, that everyone who hosts overnight students is going to be a perfect angel. Believe it or not, some take pride in bringing the high school kid out for a night. It's important that your child know that he or she can say no, and if they feel pressured in any way, they should report it to their admissions counselor. 

Encourage your child to really look around and ask questions. Their final decision will be their “home” for four years or more.  They’ll want to be sure it is truly a good fit for them. Here are a few things we recommend that your child look for and ask. 

What's the area like? This is very important if the school is away from home. Will your AZ desert kid enjoy the Midwest?  Will the transition be enough to out-weigh the positives about the school? What type of town/city surrounds the school? 

What's open at night? Some colleges have 24-hour dining options while others only offer vending machine fare.  If your student is more of a “night owl”, this is something they will want to check into. 

Be aware of the drinking/drug scene.  Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even if your host is tight-lipped, an overnight stay will give you a good idea of how many students are going out and coming in late. 

Check out the area at night. While the campus might look pleasant during the day, what does the surrounding area look like at night? Schools are required to give out crime statistics to those who ask, but an overnight visit will give your child a chance to look past what's on the paper.  Many campuses have security procedures in place. Have your student ask about it.  It will be important to both you and your student that they feel safe while on campus. 

Be sure to evaluate daytime campus life. The overnight stay is as much about the nightlife as getting a closer look at how the campus functions during the day. Your child should visit the student center, department where he or she wants to major, the recreation facilities, different dorms, and even talk to presidents of clubs they're interested in joining.  Try to cover as much as possible during the visit! 

And, probably the most important thing of all…eat in the cafeteria. While there are no colleges that serve five star meals in their cafeteria, your child might as well know what he or she is getting into! It's also a great place to survey the student body. 

I hope your student will find these few tips valuable in evaluating each campus they visit!!

Until next month…Best Wishes! 

Randy Stoltz, President