Tips for Effectively Engaging with Colleges
Now that the school year is underway, the college search process is a major topic of conversation among families. Admission representatives are preparing to spend weeks on the road visiting schools, participating in college fairs, and serving on panels and in workshops. With the college admission process becoming more complex and competitive each year, engaging with the schools that interest you is crucial. Here are some tips to engage with colleges during the application process:
Assume every school considers demonstrated interest as part of their application review process
Even if colleges mention that demonstrated interest is not considered during the review process, it is still important to actively and genuinely engage with schools on your potential application list. With students applying to more and more colleges, your engagement shows you have done your research on the school’s academic and extracurricular offerings.
Do not let geographic distance limit your college search
During the COVID pandemic, colleges pivoted how they marketed their colleges to prospective students and their families, most notably in the creation of virtual tours and information sessions. Even today, these options are generally still in place at schools, so now families can experience college campuses hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. Additionally, some schools offer fly-in programs for students for whom traveling to their campus would be an undue financial burden, so be sure to check whether this is available on the school’s website.
Get to know your admission representative
Your admissions representative will be your primary point of contact during the college search and application processes. Typically, these individuals will be assigned based on your school’s geographic location. They will visit your high school in-person or virtually, attend college fairs in your area, and often read your application and advocate on your behalf during the review committee process.
Prioritize visiting campus in person during the school year
If you are able, there really is no better way to visit a college than in person when students are walking around. This allows you to see the campus come to life in real time as well as explore the surrounding area. Ask your regional representative prior to your visit for recommendations of things to do or places to eat close to campus. College is a time of cultural, social, and intellectual growth, so finding a community that supports this growth is integral.
For college fairs, craft a game plan prior to attending
The sponsoring school/organization will generally send you a list of participating colleges with their booth’s location, so mark the colleges that interest you and do some preliminary research prior to the event. For example, know the college’s location, general enrollment size, and whether they offer your potential major or area of study. If you get bogged down waiting in line for a long period of time, remember you can still visit the school in-person or visit with the representative in another capacity (e.g., in-school visit during the school day or as an evening panelist).
