Youthink PS

Fall 2017

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.

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FALL 2017 > YOUTHINK PS > 15 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. Going away to school can be an exhilarating 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 reg- ularly scheduled hours for tours. If this is not the case, contact the admissions department of your prospective school and arrange for a cam - pus tour. Tours are most often led by individuals who are current students of the school. This can give you insight into the culture of the institu - tion. Campus tours make up for what brochures cannot deliver: a chance to take in the atmo- sphere of the school 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 experts 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 of the tour. Feel the vibe Aside from the educational opportunities a university offers, the campus vibe can be a big part of your decision to attend a certain school. Observe the students 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 take the chance to reflect on the school's atmosphere after your visit. Also, glance at bulletin boards in hallways and cafeterias to see what kind of events are scheduled after classes or on week - ends. As important as it is to get an education at university, knowing what kind of clubs and pro- grams exist outside of the classroom can also weigh on your decision. Meet 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 avail - able after your tour to answer questions you may have about your prospective program. Professors are also usually quite open to meet- ing 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 university. Sleep on it Choosing which university to attend is a big deci - sion and you should take time after each of your visits to reflect upon your experience. Allow for time to think about your visits and study the cam - pus; it will pay off during your decision-making process. If you follow these steps, choosing the right school should be a breeze. Take the time to give every school you visit a fair chance; you might be surprised when you compare the shortcom - ings of one school to another. Just remember — everything looks good in the brochure! • Take the time to tour universities you are interested in attending.

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