YOUNG JOURNALIST
Exploring Colleges With a Visit
By Haley Hershenson
The college application process is an understandably long and stressful one, as there are many different aspects to it. Researching each college’s requirements and planning how you can best present yourself to a given college, are necessary in the application process. Although, deciding where you want to apply doesn’t have to be solely based on numbers, a good reputation, and an almost perfectly crafted and tempting college brochure. In fact, the whole college application process can be made less stressful, and more exciting by seeing the college for yourself! I hadn’t realized this until my first college visit, at least my first real college visit and tour. I had been to many colleges when my brother was applying but I had never been to one for me. I expected it to be a little overwhelming, but even with all the planning that needs to be done, it wasn’t. It almost made the college application process feel more real.
Once you visit a college it allows you to try and picture yourself going there, and determine whether or not it’s the right fit for you. It’s also not easy to get a sense of the college’s community from their website. On my college visit, I was able to talk to a student who attends the college and have them show me the campus. They were the ideal person to answer my questions and guide me around since only a few years prior they had been in the same place as I was that day.
Not only is it useful to check out a college’s campus, but it is also a good idea to check out the area in which the college is located. Putting time aside to see the neighborhood of the college will allow you to see where you could be spending time, and what places are available to you. Maybe even give you a chance to visit a local store, and find some of the college’s merchandise at a reasonable price! Many people will try and tell you statistics and positive facts about a college to persuade you to apply, but in the end it all comes down to you, as you’re the one who’s applying. This is why visiting colleges is essential during the college application process, since it gives you the chance to think for yourself.#
Haley Hershenson is a junior at New Explorations into Science Technology and Math in New York City.
