Category: College Tips

The college search process can feel overwhelming, but visiting campuses is one of the best ways to determine the right fit. A well-planned visit can provide insights beyond brochures and websites, giving you a firsthand experience of student life, academics, and campus culture. Here’s how to maximize your college visits effectively.

1. Understanding the Purpose of a College Visit

A college visit is not just about seeing the campus—it’s about envisioning your future there. Instead of treating college selection like a competition, focus on what truly matters to you.

Key Considerations:

• What characteristics make a school the right fit?
• How does the student experience align with your goals?
• What resources are available to support your academic and personal growth?

2. Overcoming Pressures in the College Search

Choosing a college can be influenced by peer pressure and societal expectations. Here’s how to navigate external influences:

• Peer Pressure: Avoid comparing yourself to friends. Choose based on personal fit rather than external validation.
• Environmental Pressure: Understand that everyone’s experience is different. What works for someone else may not be right for you.
• Stay True to Your Interests: Ensure your decision reflects your personal and academic aspirations.

3. Researching Schools Before You Visit

Before stepping onto campus, gather as much information as possible to make your visit purposeful.

Resources for Research:

• CampusReel (www.campusreel.org) for student-made campus videos
• YouTube College Channels for virtual tours and insights
• Admissions Sessions at your high school or online
• Self-Guided or Guided Tours to explore at your own pace
• School’s Vision & Mission: See if the college’s values align with yours

Financial considerations should also be a part of your research. Look into merit scholarships, financial aid, and net price calculators available on school websites.

4. Organizing Information for Effective College Visits

To keep track of your impressions, organize the information systematically:

• Create a Folder for Each College: Store brochures, notes, and photos.
• Take Pictures During the Tour: Capture details that stand out.
• Check Bulletin Boards & Campus Screens: These provide insights into student life.
• Obtain Contact Information: Get in touch with admissions representatives for follow-up questions.
• Make a Note Page: Write what you liked and didn’t like immediately after the visit.

5. Making the Most of Your Campus Visit

While on campus, immerse yourself in the environment to get a genuine feel for student life.

• Eat in the Dining Hall: Observe student interactions and taste campus food.
• Engage with Students: Ask about their experiences.
• Explore the Local Town: Get a sense of the surrounding community.

6. Post-Visit Reflection

After each visit, take time to reflect. Ask yourself:

• Can I see myself thriving here?
• Did I feel comfortable in the academic and social settings?
• Are the dorms, classrooms, and campus layout convenient?
• Does the school provide strong internships, research, and job opportunities?
• What do I still need to know before making a decision?

7. Admissions: The Next Steps

Once you’ve visited and shortlisted colleges, prepare your application materials:

• Transcript & GPA: Ensure you meet academic requirements.
• Personal Essay: Reflect on growth, challenges, and aspirations.
• Activities & Extracurriculars: Showcase your character and leadership.
• Supplemental Essays: Demonstrate your interest in the school.
• Test-Optional Considerations: Remember, test-optional does not always mean easier admissions (www.fairtest.org).

College visits are a crucial part of the selection process. They help you visualize your future, compare options, and make an informed decision. Stay true to your interests, organize your research, and reflect deeply to find the best college fit for you.

Watch Dr. Deborah Hardy’s recent presentation on this topic.
https://vimeo.com/1053003924/a636b1d882?share=copy

For more guidance on navigating the college search process, contact us at (845) 628-0726.

The way we learn is evolving rapidly, and much of this transformation is driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and data. For prospective students, these advancements offer exciting opportunities to engage in a more personalized, effective, and meaningful educational experience.

The Power of Personalization
Imagine attending a university where every course you take, every lecture you hear, and every assignment you complete is tailored to your specific needs, strengths, and interests. This vision is becoming a reality thanks to AI-powered tools. By analyzing data about how students learn, AI can identify your strengths and where you may need additional support, helping to create a learning path designed just for you.

For example, adaptive learning platforms can adjust the difficulty of coursework in real-time. If you’re struggling with a topic, the system provides extra resources and exercises. If you’re excelling, it skips ahead to keep you challenged. This ensures that your learning journey is not only effective but also engaging and customized to your pace.

Smarter Guidance and Support
Choosing a major or planning your career can feel overwhelming, but AI is here to help. Tools like AI-driven academic advisors and career planners use data to guide you through important decisions. These systems can analyze trends in the job market, your personal interests, and your academic performance to suggest potential career paths and courses that align with your goals.

Not only does this save time and reduce stress, but it also ensures you’re making informed decisions about your education and future career.

Streamlining Administrative Processes
AI isn’t just transforming the classroom—it’s also revolutionizing the behind-the-scenes processes that keep universities running. For students, this means easier access to resources like scheduling, financial aid, and even housing. Chatbots powered by AI can answer your questions instantly, no matter the time of day.

This streamlining of administrative tasks means you can focus less on paperwork and more on what matters most—your education.

What This Means for You
As a prospective student, the integration of AI and data in higher education means you’re stepping into an environment designed to help you succeed. Universities are harnessing these tools to create flexible, inclusive, and forward-thinking programs that adapt to the needs of every student.

Whether you’re looking for personalized support, guidance in your career journey, or just a smoother college experience, AI is shaping a future where education works for you.

Final Thoughts
The world of higher education is on the brink of a revolution, and AI is leading the charge. For students entering this new era, the opportunities are endless. By embracing these changes, you’ll be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and personalized support to achieve your dreams.

Reference: Harvard Business Review, How AI and Data Could Personalize Higher Education

Ever since you were a kid baseball has been your life and you practice tirelessly with the hope to one day achieve your dream of getting recruited by a D1 college and then moving on to play in the Pros. Whatever sport you play, you live it, breath it and can’t imagine life without it. You believe you are good enough to play at the next level, but what you don’t know is how exhausting, confusing and frustrating the recruiting process is. Though there is a lot of work involved, if playing sports in college is your goal, it is very possible for you to achieve it.

I have played soccer at a fairly high level for a good amount of my life, including playing in Italy for a talent identification program as well as D1 soccer at Sacred University. Coming from a very competitive family where my brother also plays D1 soccer in Virginia, I am no stranger to the overwhelming process of being recruited to play sports in college. Whatever sport you play and whatever level you are at, you should be assured that there is a way for you to continue playing the sport you love while you are in college.  Whether you play Varsity, Intramural or Club, you will have that total experience with the right level of competition and pressure that suits you.  Moving on to play in the pros, well, that’s another story but for now, here is some advice for those looking to play at the next level.

Before you start on your way to the recruiting process, you should have a conversation with coaches, teachers, counselors and parents to discuss the “right fit school.” A focus on academics is top priority but also taking athletics into consideration along with the ideal location for campus, class size, social environment, cost and available merit money, among other things. The school that you choose will be home for the next four years so it is important to have the conversation and narrow down the options because talking to coaches is even easier when you know what you want and where you will be most comfortable.  Notice that I didn’t suggest “Division” in the initial assessment of “the right fit school”. For the most part, a very small percentage of athletes will move on to play at the D1 level and even fewer will be recruited, or “receive an athletic scholarship.” D1 athletes are usually the top percent in the country, playing at a very high level or with an elite team and are known throughout their sport from a fairly young age. This is not to say that others won’t have an opportunity to try out, but being recruited to “play D1” is not the norm and definitely not the only option.

From my experience with this process, three of the most important things about recruitment are your high school grades and test scores, being organized and being assertive. Most young athletes think that colleges don’t care about athletes’ grades – which is simply not true. In order to play at the D1 or D2 division, grades are critical to being allowed to play. Being organized means knowing the recruiting calendar of when coaches can speak with you and which schools are of interest. All athletes who aspire to play in college should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and learn when the coaches can contact you to learn more about you and when they can make offers. Most importantly, the NCAA posts the sliding scale of grades/test scores and how to tally quality points. Being assertive means helping the coach find you – often times college coaches do not know who you are despite how good you may be. A college coaches’ job is extremely complex, dealing with finances, players that may be coming from overseas, managing other coaches, travel, recruiting, as well as focusing on the current season. Coaches do not have time to search the internet to look for you. Instead they rely upon the recruiting sites, they may ask around to their colleagues, high school and club coaches about any talent in the area that may fit on their team. They also respond to well-written emails and outstanding highlight videos, so, do not be afraid to be persistent with your emails and let them know who you are and why you are a good fit for the school and how you will be an impact on the team. Send a brief introduction about yourself including the sport/position you play and what you like about the school and mention what you would like them to get from your highlight video. Also, if you know about the coach or know of someone who plays for him/her, do not be afraid to say so and ask that person to make a warm introduction. Keep them up to date on when you will be playing your season and any major tournaments, tell them where you’ll be, the team you play for and your number.  Find out when the sport you play traditionally starts to recruit/fill the roster and make sure you have contacted the coach at the schools of interest — if they don’t know who you are, they can’t scout you!

After all the emails and videos you send, what happens when the coach doesn’t respond?  What do you do next? As I mentioned, coaches are really busy and athletes have to realize they are being bombarded by every high school junior and senior who thinks they want to play on that team. Do not get discouraged. If you do not hear back from a coach, do not take it as a “no” unless it is specifically stated they are not looking to recruit you. Stay hopeful on your journey, and know that it is a journey. You are definitely allowed and encouraged to visit schools you are interested in and if you plan on being on campus, let that coach know when you will be there and they may just meet you and talk about what they are looking for in the upcoming recruitment year. Also, now that coach now knows who you are and may look to scout you at the next tournament or game you have.

So I mentioned it earlier, but truly, my most important tip for the HS athlete who is looking to play sports in college would be to choose a school for the academics not just for sport. Although it is entirely possible for you to be the next person to be drafted in the NBA, however, it is not very likely which makes academics even more important because college is the best opportunity to explore what you are interested in and study to pursue it as a career path. The recruiting process is frustrating and often times confusing but be persistent because representing your college or university on the field is a very rewarding experience no matter what level you play.