A complete college application consists of three steps: visiting a school, applying and saying goodbye. Visiting a school is the most novel and interesting, while applying is busy and stressful. The form in which you say goodbye to a university depends on each person. In order to get meaningful feedback from the school visit and fully grasp the opportunity of in-depth exchanges with the dream university, we can refer to the suggestions made by Karen Dentler, who has invested in the field of higher education for more than 20 years and is an expert in management education at CMU:
➤行前準備
- Be sure to visit the university during your studies
Visiting a university without active students is no different than visiting its monuments (which may be prettier!), and visiting during your studies is the perfect time to soak up the campus atmosphere. If you plan to make a second visit to the school for interviews or consultations, it would be appropriate to schedule it during the summer. - Plan your trip in advance
I have carefully looked at the calendar of my child’s school from September to May. The climate environment and student life that can be observed when visiting the school during this period are more representative. Choose a suitable holiday, or plan your itinerary on a date that overlaps with your own leave. Pay attention to the school's leave regulations and contact them in advance! - Make a school visit plan
Arrange a day or holiday itinerary according to the distance between schools, and don’t forget to arrange the nearest schools on the same trip. Shop around and visit as many universities as possible. Look for opportunities to visit your dream colleges and alternative schools for early application. It will definitely help with your decision-making! - Make an appointment for a school visit and admissions briefing
After the itinerary and date are arranged, contact the university immediately to make an appointment for the visit and admissions briefing. Relevant information can usually be found on the official website, but it is also a good idea to call or send an email during business hours. After receiving the confirmation notice, please confirm the specifications and print them out. Don't forget to prepare relevant documents, parking passes, visitor passes, etc. - Rehearsal Admissions Interview
If your child is sure to participate in the admissions interview, or plans to have an individual interview with any professor or coach, be sure to be fully prepared and bring relevant information such as transcripts, resumes, and portfolios with you on the day. In addition, some small schools will unexpectedly include meetings with professors or academic administrators during the school visit.
➤訪校當日
- Arrive at campus on time!
Note that parking spaces may not be enough for school admissions visits, and finding them temporarily can be a nightmare. So please contact the Admissions Office before or after arrival to confirm available parking, or to inquire about the nearest car park. - Eat and drink enough
Whether you are getting off the bus to look for food or preparing your own meals, remember to eat before the trip begins. Make sure you can stay focused and comfortable during the entire trip to achieve maximum results! - Listen carefully to the admissions briefing
注意校方強調了哪些面向，又忽略哪些？是否有在讀學生參與了發表過程？說明會的氛圍是偏向輕鬆還是專業？現場人數狀況如何？ 這些資訊會有助於了解學校招生部門的態度與訴求，也幫助我們進行對比。 - Let your children take the lead
Children are the protagonist today! Encourage him/her who is about to spread his wings to register, and take the initiative to ask questions at the admissions briefing.
待在前列，細心觀察。導遊與行程安排本身也是觀察學校的切入點，讓孩子找機會與導遊互動並提問。有些學校會在行程中分開家長與孩子，有些則在導遊們自我介紹後讓參訪者自行挑人──想想這些不同的做法透漏了什麼訊息？ 注意行程中介紹了什麼，又忽略了什麼？宿舍與周邊區域的展示極其關鍵，因為它無非是學生體驗的重心之一。 多留心路上擦身而過的學生們狀態如何，是舒坦放鬆亦或是一臉憂慮？他們有分享一些校園生活的軼事嗎？這些徵兆都能幫助我們解讀一間大學的幸福指數。 - Tourist guide
Are your tour guides adequately prepared? Did you greet the students naturally during the trip? Does he look familiar to the students? You can get a glimpse of the extent of student care and kindness. - Photograph
Taking photos at any time during the trip will help you strengthen your impression of the school, after all they will start to blur and overlap after a few trips. Trust me, you don’t want to be left hanging your head a few weeks later and thinking, “Oh no! Which college is that with all the beautiful cafeterias and delicious cookies?” - Have a taste!
把握在學校食堂用餐的機會！除了菜單提供的樣式、費用與健康程度，藉機觀察周邊學生的體態和表情。飲食生活影響體驗至關重要，找機會與孩子深入討論這點並納入未來決策。
➤訪校行程後
- Let children share first impressions
參訪過後，想必所有家長都有著滿腔意見準備發表。但我以自己的經驗總結，最關鍵的永遠是讓孩子先開口！這既是屬於孩子的旅程，也關乎到他們即將踏上的遙途。趁著印象猶存，傾聽他們的意見並給予支持。 - thank you letter
若在訪校時孩子單獨會見了某位職員，請他記下對方的全名、稱謂與電子郵件，並鼓勵孩子到家後寫一封簡單的感謝信函。
I hope these points can enrich your university visit itinerary, and I hope all parents and children can enjoy this journey to the future together.
