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Do you have any advice for visiting colleges?



QUESTION: I want to learn more about colleges and plan to visit some. Do you have any advice for how to do this? Signed, Campus Traveler

Dear Campus Traveler: The best way to know what it's like to be a college student is to act like a college student. You can do this by visiting colleges.

Once you are on campus, you can get the basics by taking a campus tour. Almost all colleges offer walking tours given by students. You'll learn about the history, architecture and faculty of the school.

But also try to get a more real experience by acting like a student. Speak with students on campus besides the tour guide, eat in the cafeteria and, if possible, stay on campus. Some colleges will help arrange stays on campus with current students. This is the best way to learn what it's really like to be a student there.

If you have time, meet with an admission officer to ask questions about the school. Also, try to schedule time with a professor or counselor in the department in which you would like to enter. Best of all try to sit in on a class.

Even spending just a few hours on campus can give you a strong impression of whether or not you would be happy there as a student.

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Gen & Kelly Tanabe

Gen and Kelly Tanabe are the founders of SuperCollege and the award-winning authors of 11 books on college admission, financial aid and scholarships. Together they were accepted to all of the Ivy League colleges and won more than $100,000 in merit-based scholarships to graduate from Harvard debt-free.