A new school year begins. The excitement is in the air!
Seniors, now is the time to finish visiting the colleges and universities on your list. Virtual tours do not compensate for the actual vibe obtained from visiting a campus in person when the students are back.
These college visits are essential in helping you make the final decision about which schools you would like to apply to.
As you visit or tour a school, be sure to take notes so you are able to easily compare all the schools that you visit. From who teaches the classes (professor or Teacher's Assistant?) and various features of the dorms to athletic facilities, the food and much more. Scroll down to view and download PCCI's College Visit Score Sheet to help you rate your campus tour!
A word about "Reach, Match, Safety"
Students shouldn’t limit themselves to the “reach, match, safety” school conventional wisdom about where to apply. PCCI targets schools where the student fits the range of what that university expects from their incoming freshmen on all or most metrics and the school has all the academics and outside interests that are important to the student. The fit has to work on both sides. Those are the schools that should land on your student's list in the first place, especially if you want to maximize aid. Nobody wants to actually go to their so-called “safety school” and why would you as a parent want to pay for your student to go somewhere they think is “meh” when there are so many great options available. In our opinion, that is not a good foundation for success. The final application list should only include schools that the student would be happy to go to!
Let your student choose.
When it comes to your child’s preference as far as urban versus country versus suburban and all the variations therein, trust your nearly adult child and allow them to choose where they want to be for the next four years even if they gravitate to something completely different than what your preference would be. That’s part of their journey. After all, they are the ones who need to feel comfortable enough to become and remain engaged at college.
The goal is to find the best fit at a school that is academically, socially and financially most appropriate, thereby putting your student in the best position to succeed in college and beyond. Allow PCCI to help set you up for success.
To arrange a complimentary PCCI consultation, simply email me or call 508-622-5250.
Best regards,
Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, Esq.
nod@personalcollegecounseling.com
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