The transition from home to college can be exciting as well as stressful for parents and their college-bound children. So much is unfamiliar and unknown for both generations.
For parents and students, participating in campus tours is one of the best ways to placate worries and eliminate uncertainties. In addition to allowing participants to see the facilities and to get a feel for the environment, culture and student body, campus tours are invaluable for seeking answers to important questions that are not addressed on a school’s website or on online discussion forums and resources.
Here is a compilation of questions that you can share with the parents of your students to help them consider which questions to ask during college tours. Answers to these questions can help them compare colleges objectively and assist their children in selecting/shortlisting colleges that may be good fits:
- Questions Related to Cost and Financial Aid: Often, schooling decisions are based on affordability. In the excitement of campus visits, students or parents can overlook asking questions about this vital aspect leading to unpleasant surprises at enrollment time. Having a fair idea about ALL the anticipated costs of college will allow parents to plan their finances accordingly. Students can also get a clear idea about the academic requirements they will need to qualify for financial aid.
You can advise parents to visit the financial aid office in colleges and gather answers to the questions below:
- What are the financial aid options available?
- How does the college structure its financial aid awards?
- What was the percentage of students awarded aid in the previous academic year?
- What are the academic and economic requirements to be fulfilled by students to become eligible for an award?
- What is the average year-over-year increase in tuition? When is the next increase expected?
- What additional costs should be anticipated?
- What work-study options exist?
- Questions related to placement support: Statistically, higher education enhances a student’s earning potential. Employment and earnings aren’t the only reason to attend college, but they are an essential factor for students and parents to consider when choosing a college. Schools vary in the degree of placement support they provide to their students. So, the questions below will be pertinent in determining the kind of job assistance students will get from a college:
- What opportunities exist for undergraduate internships and research?
- How many placements were accomplished through campus assistance in the last academic year?
- How many job fairs or employer recruitment visits are scheduled each year for students in the various departments?
- Are there mentorship programs on campus? Are they free?
- What are the retention and graduation rates? How many students graduate on time?
- Are there any academic support centers for struggling students? How accessible are they?
- What is the student-faculty ratio?
- Questions Related to Student Health and Safety: Many college-bound children may be living far from home for the first time. Parents would want to be reassured that their children are physically safe and mentally relaxed in their new environment, and that adequate help is available if needed.
You can encourage parents to talk to current students and admissions staff about the questions below:
- What kind of psychological counseling and support groups are available on campus? What is the average counselor-student ratio?
- Is there a provision for Residential Advisors (RA) and are they available for students round-the-clock? What other resources are available for students dealing with stress, depression, or other emotional challenges?
- What are the campus health and counseling services? What about a 24-hour emergency? What does the college health insurance cover?
- What is the crime rate on campus? Does the school provide escorts for students attending late night study sessions or evening classes?
- How are roommates chosen? Are students free to switch roommates if they have compatibility issues or conflicts with their roommates? How long does this process take?
- What is the communication pattern followed by school authorities to convey disciplinary, health, and academic issues to parents? How is communication between parents, faculty, and counselors encouraged and facilitated? What is the process for grievance redressal?
- Questions Related to College Culture: Life on a college campus is about more than education. Students learn valuable lessons in independence and social skills. Diverse cultural exposure can help some students flower and others uncomfortable. Since parents know their children’s upbringing and tendencies best, they can ask current students of the colleges the questions below and gauge if the culture in a college will impact their children positively or not:
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- Is the level of competition — academic and social — manageable? How many all-nighters are typically needed to cope with the coursework?
- Will their child feel “at home” in the college, especially if he/she belongs to a minority ethnicity, color, race, or sexual orientation? Are there any campus role models or student organizations to guide such children?
- Is the cafeteria menu diverse enough to cater to students from different ethnicities? If not, are there other dining options nearby?
- What percentage of the student body is local vs. out-of-town or out-of-state? Is the campus well-populated on weekends?
- Is there a strong Greek culture or dominance of other groups or organizations on campus? Will their child be easily able to fit in?
Answers to these questions can help parents assess the college options available to their children from an informed perspective. Then, they can help their children to weigh the advantages of each school and feel confident in supporting the colleges their children ultimately select.
Your students can download our FREE College Rating Tool to score the colleges they visit according to a wide variety of factors, ranging from the strength of their academic programs to the comfort of their dorms. This can be especially useful when all of the colleges start to blur together!
Our GEAR UP tour program for middle- and high-school students offers opportunities to interact with college authorities, students, and staff and gather first-hand information about all decisive aspects of college life.
Kathie Boozer is the founder and president of Explore Colleges, a premier college group tour operator. Explore Colleges’ customized tours help students experience the unique cultures, environments, and opportunities on each campus and inspire them to follow their dreams. Contact Kathie at kboozer@explorecolleges.org