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College Visits | Jennifer
Cekus
Jennifer is a
Career Development Specialist for Pittsburgh Technical
Institute, a postsecondary career college awarding associate
degrees and certificates in business, design, computer,
technical, medical, safety, travel and hospitality majors. PTI
has campuses in Oakdale and in Cranberry at the Regional
Learning Alliance. The institution provides personal campus
tours and Student Ambassadors as well as a virtual tour on its
web site. For more information, visit www.pti.edu or call
412-809-5100.
Catalyst
for Change
Planning for your
future is important at any age: in grade school planning the
next few hours of an idyllic summer day, in high school planning
for college, in college planning for a career, in adulthood
planning for retirement. While summer vacation is important at
any age, planning for education beyond high school is a catalyst
that affects all the others.
Choosing the right
postsecondary school can play a considerable role in your career
choice, your resulting success and, eventually, your ability to
retire and enjoy those later years. As you narrow your options,
consider key factors like the school’s size, its academic
majors, location or proximity to home, student body diversity,
housing options and opportunities outside the classroom.
You can obtain some
of this information from brochures available in your guidance
office or by visiting the college’s web site. Some sites even
offer opportunities to sign up for e-mails or RSS feeds that
provide the latest announcements.
If your high school
hosts a college fair, make the most of this opportunity that
brings college representatives right to you. Also take advantage
of the National College Fair; the next one comes to the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center February 28 and 29, 2008. It is a
prime venue to go booth to booth to ask questions and uncover
details that might add or eliminate schools from your list.
If a college is far
from home or if there are too many on your list to actually
visit, you can start with a virtual tour. Some web sites offer
three-dimensional views of campus, diagrams of buildings, and
images of specific locations. Some even have webcams aimed at
high traffic interest areas.
But don’t stop
there. Continue to browse the site for information about your
academic major, the courses you will take, and whether
internship opportunities are available. Look for pictures of
student activities and events that match your interests. Check
out online editions of newsletters or newspapers to see what’s
happening. Determine what student services such as tutoring,
housing programs and job placement are available. This provides
insight as to just what the school is willing to do to help you
succeed.
Once you’ve
narrowed your search, schedule campus visits to the schools that
make the final cut. Remember, web sites and brochures are
designed to show you the best and unique features of each
institution. Only a personal visit can give you a true picture
of what it will be like to be a student.
Try to visit when
classes are in session to get the most accurate preview of
student life. Take a walk around to see if students look happy,
if instructors seem nurturing, and if the environment feels
comfortable. If possible, talk to students for their perspective
on what it’s like to go to that school. If possible, sit in on
a class you’d be taking to see the interplay between
instructors and students.
Probe the
admissions representative with all of your questions, but also
ask questions of the students – your tour guide and students
you encounter on campus. They’re usually more than willing to
paint a real picture for you that includes firsthand
experiences, their likes and dislikes.
On your way home,
while the experience is still fresh, take the time to write down
the pros and cons, important facts, and student comments you
uncovered on your visit. Once you’ve visited several schools,
details like these can become hazy.
It may seem like a
lot of work to research schools, schedule tours, and prepare for
visits, but when you consider the impact your college years can
ultimately have on your life, you’ll realize the benefits of a
little prep time. And most likely, your on-campus experience
will make your decision crystal clear. |
'Tis
the Season
