Ellen Trinklein
Reporter
College. It’s a big deal. But the in-school college visits? Some see the in-school visits as just a way to show interest in a college they may apply to, whereas some are eager to escape the classroom. These visits have been at NCHS for 20 years now, and this year, 132 colleges are visiting our school. The question is: how valuable are in-school college visits?
The high school seems to be split 50/50 when considering the importance of the in-school college visits. “While some people do go to in-school college visits go to a lot, a lot of people don’t actually go to any,” Senior Bridget Maguire said, “The average number of colleges a student visits,” she says, “is anywhere between two and four.”
Sue Carroll, Coordinator at the College and Career Center at NCHS, sees this as a waste. When asked who she would recommend for a college visit, she said “Every kind of student,” adding that, “It is the best use of a free period [a student]could have. With a school that has under 5,000 people, visiting is the most important thing you could do.”
According to Kimberly A. Stolarik, Associate Director of Admission at Muhlenberg College, in-school college visits are crucial in determining whether or not a student gets accepted into a school.
“ In-school college visits help us make decisions because we know who’s dedicated. A lot of times the people that visit [the high school]are the people that read the applications,” Ms. Stolarik said. “So when you show interest, you increase the amount of interest the school has in you, because you have already made a connection on the school.”
Some students are already aware of this. “I don’t think people believe it’s beneficial to go to the college visits just to learn about the college,” Senior Henry Richardson said. “I think they want to get their name down as being interested.”
According to Ms. Stolarik, in-school college visits are about more than just showing up, though. A student’s behavior can be an indicator of interest to a college rep. It is of extreme importance that a student is always on their best behavior to really make an impression on a college rep.
“A rep will think, ‘why are you here?’ if you don’t display interest during the interview,” Ms. Stolarik said. “It can really tip the scales for or against you when applying, especially if the school is under 5,000 people. Reps notice all the little ways you make an interaction and how you talk to people at every step of the way, including how you talk to a receptionist.”
According to Ms. Carroll, however, the little things shouldn’t be overlooked. She said that all students need to know four basic etiquette rules for going to in-school college visits: “Turn the cell phone off, take off your cap, take your hood down, and be attentive. The reps are aware of students’ behaviors- they take notes,” she said
Senior Schuyler Higgins has taken her own notes on in-school college visit etiquette. “At one interview I saw a girl wearing a tutu and neon tights,” Schuyler Higgins said. “For a college visit you do want to show who you are, but you should still keep things toned down a little.”
Ms. Carroll would never advise a student not to go to a college visit, even if it meant missing a few classes here or there. “Especially since this year we have Directors of Admissions coming,” she said, “That’s amazing. That’s the head honcho. They’re coming because they recognize that this is an amazing school, which is a credit to both the faculty and the students.”
