Youthink PS is Western Canada¹s post secondary resource guide for high school students planning on attending university, college or other Canadian post secondary institutions and is distributed to 400 high schools across BC and Alberta.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1147864
SPRING 2019 > YOUTHINK PS > 5 YOUTHINK.CA Your Guide to Visiting Out-of-Town Universities By Spencer Perry A ttending an out-of-town university is a big step after years of high school in your hometown. For the first time, you'll be going to school with thousands of other students from all over the world. It can be an ex - hilarating adventure as well as a turning point in the journey from teen to adult. But before you jump on the next plane out of your city, take the time to do your research and visit prospective schools to get the inside scoop on programs and campus life. Here are some tips for making the most out of your first visit. Book a campus tour This is the most important part of your univer - sity visit. Almost all universities will have regu- larly scheduled hours for tours. If this is not the case, contact the admissions department of your prospective school and arrange for a campus tour. Tours are most often led by current stu - dents, which can give you great insight into the culture of the school. Campus tours offer what brochures cannot: a chance to take in the atmo - sphere of the place and see the facilities with your own eyes. Listen to your tour guide and ask questions Assuming you have booked a campus tour, try your best not to get caught up in the excite- ment of the walk-through and forget to pay attention to your tour guide. They are ex- perts on the school you're visiting. Keep in mind the old "listen 80 per cent of the time, speak 20 per cent of the time" rule and save your questions and comments until the end. Feel the vibe Aside from the educational opportunities a uni- versity offers, the campus community can be a big factor in your decision. Observe the stu- dents walking throughout the institution. Do they look happy to be there? Do they appear to be proud of their school? Spend time exploring these questions and considering the answers. Also, glance at bulletin boards in hallways and cafeterias to see what kind of events are scheduled after classes or on weekends. As im - portant as it is to get an education at univer- sity, knowing what kind of clubs and programs exist outside of the classroom should also fac- tor into your decision. Mee t professors and students Your tour guide may not be a student of the program in which you are planning to study, so phone ahead and ask if any students are available after your tour to answer questions you may have about your prospective program. Profes - sors are also usually quite open to meeting with students who are planning to take their classes (during their office hours, of course). Being proactive and setting up meetings with current students and professors really can make all the difference in your search for the right fit. Sleep on it Choosing which university to attend is a big decision and you should set aside time after each of your visits to really reflect upon the experience. It will pay off in the end. If you follow these steps, choosing the right school should be a breeze. Regardless of your preferences at the outset of the search, be sure to give every institution you visit a fair chance; you might be surprised when you step back and objectively compare the shortcomings of one school to another. Remember — everything looks good in the brochure! • Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash