As the dust settles after the first few weeks of school, college admissions officers make their way to high schools all around the world. Their job consists of giving information about the unique aspects of the school that they represent. Throughout September all the way to December, these admission officers make their way to Coral Gables Senior High to inform Cavaliers on how to prepare themselves for the future.
Typically, students research colleges that they would like to visit. In other cases, they receive emails that more often than not end up in the trash. Due to these very reasons, college visits make learning about different colleges and universities more accessible. However, these visits take a lot of time out of a school day. This begs the question: are these college visits worth it?
“The visits are a great chance for students to see what they like in a school. Through them, I found out that my dream school offers what I want to major in, which is great news to me,” junior Ashlee Hernandez said.
Using the application known as Scoir, students are allowed to easily register to attend as many college visits as they would like, al. During these visits, Cavaliers listen to the admission officers talk about what their school has to offer. In some cases, the students are given helpfully detailed brochures that give details about the college in question. These brochures also allow the students to ask specific questions that could pertain to academics, social environment and/or financial concern and allow for an effective session in general.
“I went to the University of Miami college visit and I learned a lot. I feel like learning through the presentations is much better than doing research online because we get to ask personal questions,” junior Elyse Harris said.
These visits are essential for a variety of reasons, from helping students get a better understanding of the culture surrounding the college of their interest to establishing a face to face connection between aspiring attendees and representatives. When determining what college is best fit for someone, it is imperative that the student is aware of the values and the social atmosphere surrounding the institution, which is exactly what these visits allow for.
“I think the college visits are important because I get to learn a lot about the different schools, but I hate missing so much class time,” senior Cinthia Cruz said.
While these meetings are enlightening when it comes to finding the college best suited for an individual, they are very time consuming. Most of the meetings range from 30 minutes to one hour, taking away from the time that students should be in class, putting Cavaliers at risk of falling behind, especially if they attend the meetings often. On top of that, some may argue that these visits put more stress on students than necessary. Choosing a college is a difficult process, and for some, it might be less stressful to remain blind to all the opportunities.
“Attending the meetings makes me more worried about college. I feel confident in myself until I find out what they are looking for and it makes me wonder if I can even get into certain schools,” senior Chiara Ortiz De Rosas said.
Although the meetings may take up a lot of class time, it is important for upperclassmen to be aware of their options when it comes to college. It is also up to the students to determine how many meetings they can afford to attend without affecting their academics. Regardless, it is better to be informed than be unaware of all the possibilities. Additionally, being mindful of what colleges are looking for can relieve students of some stress in regards to their personal college decisions.
When it comes down to it, now is when students need to be preparing for the next step. It is true that missing class can get in the way, but without a doubt, attending college visits is a sacrifice students must be willing to make if they want to be informed. It is important that students know what is out there so they can be well prepared and make the best out of their own college experience.
