Networking and meeting with College Representatives The college information session Campus tour College Interview College Fair

During the information session… A college admissions officer will make a presentation and generally, it is a good idea to have questions prepared for the Q & A portion. Please do a little bit of research about the schools in order to formulate some questions. Some examples: What are the most popular/competitive majors? Which forms are required to be considered for financial aid? How will outside scholarships affect my financial aid package if I am accepted? What is the in-state/out-of-state student ratio? Is housing guaranteed for 4 years? If not, how many?

During the campus tour… Keep in mind that campus tour guides tend to be some of the happiest students that the schools have so they typically won’t talk negatively about their schools. They will, however, be better equipped to talk to you about campus activities and popular on-campus and off-campus activities. Observe other students and don’t be afraid of asking questions. Campus tour guides can typically answer a lot of questions the admissions people cannot because of time constraints.

During the campus tour…(cont.) Sample questions to ask: Are there any particular tensions on the campus? How active is the college in terms of exposing students to internship and job opportunities? What are some social political or academic issues that concerned students last year? How did the administration react? What was the result? Does the college have a career development website and does it host job fairs? How is the food?

The College Interview An interview is a conversation lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour between two people who share a common purpose. Why Have an Interview? To give yourself an extra boost To explain a spotty transcript or discuss any extenuating or special circumstances To gain knowledge of the college and determine whether it is the right fit for you Be Yourself, Putting Your Best Foot Forward Analyze your personality Consider your strengths and weaknesses Assess your academic experience Evaluate your outside interests and activities Examine your value and goals Clarify what’s important to you

How would you answer this? If you were a canned good at a grocery store, why should I pick you? 1. How would you reframe this question? 2. What other variations of this question can you think of?

How would you answer these? What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? Why are you interested in our college? What book would you recommend to me? If you could do one thing in high school differently, what would it be?

At a college fair At college fairs, you have a great opportunity to engage the regional recruiter. The regional recruiter is often the person who will evaluate an application for students in specific cities or states. Ask tons of questions and pick up a business card.