Visiting universities together
is an invaluable experience for
both parents and students. But
while it is great for parents to
get a sense of where their child
might be spending the next four
years, ultimately it’s the student
who will be attending and it’s
important to keep this in mind
when touring campuses.
‘It’s always good to have
a parent or trusted adult to
provide valuable insight and advice,’ says Mark Weston, Head
of Higher Education Guidance at
the
British International School
Shanghai, Puxi. Weston advises
making sure that students ask
and answer their own questions,
and that you ask for your child’s
impressions first before sharing
your own.
Similarly, Director of College
Counseling at
Shanghai
American School, Pudong,
Mindy Rose says, ‘What’s most
important is that the student
takes the lead in framing
priorities and communicating
with admission officers,
tour guides, professors and
receptionists.’ Have faith that
you’ve done your job the last
16 to 17 years. ‘Parents must
hang back so students can
make their own impression and
opinions, trusting that the work
they’ve done up to this point
has instilled in their children
the values the family holds
dear. If they do that, students
will be more likely to draw
on them for help in shaping
priorities, alleviating anxiety, and understanding these
new environments.’
Ask thoughtful questions!
This is your time to dig beneath
the surface. Students should
draw on the self-knowledge
that you’ve gained throughout
the university process and ask
questions related to the specific
areas that are most important
to you as a learner. Be deliberate
about your approach. ‘A smart
strategy is to identify a few
questions that get to the heart of
your priorities and ask them at
all of the universities you visit so
you can get a sense of how different
institutions handle matters
of significance to you. Create
a spreadsheet and record the
answers,’ suggests Rose. ‘Don’t
be surprised if the answers
change how you see yourself in
the world. Be prepared to allow
your questions to focus and
change as you go.’
Use these campus visits
as an opportunity to speak
with current uni students to
get insights beyond what you
can find in the prospectus.
‘Good questions to ask would
be, “Why did you choose this
university?”, “what do you
wish you had known before
you arrived?” and “what don’t
you like about the university?”,’
recommends Weston.
Sit in on a class
‘Whenever possible, check
in with the admission office.
See if you can schedule a
visit to a class in a discipline
that interests you,’ says Rose.
This is a unique chance to see
the places where you will be
spending most of your time and
see the curriculum in action. It’s
also important to take note of
how the physical environment
of the university makes you feel,
advises Rose. ‘Are factors like
access to sunny weather, nature,
or a metro stop an absolute
deal breaker for you? You may
not know until you visit a few
schools.’ Again, it’s not a bad
idea to take notes and photos
along the way as all the visits
may run together.
Finally, some example questions to ask...
Here
are some examples of questions
that can keep ‘the engine of self-
understanding moving’, as suggested by Rose.
- How much time do students
spend on work outside of class?
- How and how often are
students assessed (exams
and papers)?
- How do students receive
feedback on academic work, and
how often?
- How often and how many
students work on research
projects with faculty? Who assists students
with course selection and
career advising?
- What health and personal
counseling services
are available?
- What career and internship
planning services are available?
- What data is available about
graduate and professional
school admission and the types
of jobs held by alumni, especially
young graduates?
- How are students housed and
what are the different options?
How is housing assigned?
- How are students governed?
- Can I afford it?
