Trish McMahon '06 majored in English
is is a reporter for the Ogdensburg Journal. She was editor of our
student newspaper.
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Been There, Done That
Three St. Lawrence students offer their perspectives on various aspects
of the college search.
Up Close and Personal
A visit to a campus can give you a better feel for the place than
anything else can.
By Trish McMahon ’06
Brochures from an admissions office can show you only so much about a campus. They
highlight particular aspects of the school while not necessarily going into
detail on the activities and programs that most interest you, and they can’t
show you how you will feel on the campus. Visiting the college will help
bring some of these things into focus.
A campus visit enables you to see the school in person, meet students and
professors, and get a better understanding of how the campus runs. Then
you can ask the question, “Can I see myself here?” and reach a
more informed and useful answer.
During a tour or interview, you can ask some particular questions about the
school – What extracurricular activities are offered? How do students
interact with each other? What do people do on the weekends?
St. Lawrence offers structured “visit days” in both the fall and
spring semesters. The fall programs are geared more toward giving general
information and encouraging people to look at St. Lawrence closely and apply. Prospective
students and their families can receive a student-led tour, attend student/faculty
panels, meet with representatives from admissions and financial aid, listen
to speakers such as alumni, and—this, most students will tell you, is
the real test of whether you’ll like a college--have a meal
on campus. You can also arrange an overnight stay with a current student,
and visit a class.
The spring visit days are for students who have been accepted and are deciding
among a number of colleges. The activities are similar to those in the
fall, but the information given is more detailed, such as understanding the
financial aid package, or what the first year will be like.
So come with questions in mind, whether you’re attending an organized “visit
day” or just visiting on your own, and be sure to ask any new questions
that arise. Imagine yourself a part of the student body. Make the
most of your visit by getting as much information out of it as you can.
English major Danielle Sanzone'
05 is now a reporter for the Troy Record; she was involved in more
campus activities than we have room to list!
The word “interview” may
bring up images of getting interrogated. This is simply not the
case.
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Interview Protocol
The admissions interview doesn’t have to be scary – just be yourself.
By Danielle Sanzone ’05
OK, so you’ve narrowed down the list of colleges to a handful. You know
what kind of college you want to go to. You just still do not know which one
to choose. A great way to trim the field even more is to go to some of the
colleges on your list and have an interview with someone in the admissions
office.
Now, the word “interview” may sound scary--it brings up images
of dressing up, being in a stuffy room and getting interrogated. Lucky
for you, this is simply not the case for college interviews.
At most schools, an interview is not required, but it is strongly recommended
since it is a good opportunity for you to check out the college and for the
admissions people to put a face with your application. Heck, think of it as
you interviewing them!
A normal college interview might go like so: You arrive at a brand-new place,
surrounded by new faces, sights and sounds. You make your way to the admissions
office, using the helpful directions the college should have provided (if they
didn’t, strike them off your list right now), and take a seat as you
wait your turn to talk to an admissions counselor. Soon, someone will approach
you with a smile and a handshake and escort you into a room, which will not
have four bare walls, a naked light bulb and a hard wooden chair.
So far, so good. If you thought this was where it gets hard, you’re
still wrong.
Actually, let’s get rid of the word “interview” right now
and replace it with “conversation.” First, you will be asked to
talk about yourself: What clubs are you involved with in high school? Why did
you decide to make our college one of your top preferences? What do you think
about the campus?
None of these are all that tough, right? Then, guess what? You get to ask
questions as well. Try to write some down before you go into the interview
(your parents will probably make you do this anyway). Ask if they have clubs
like those you belong to in high school. Ask if they have a jazz ensemble. Ask
if you can start one. Ask what kinds of requirements there are to graduate.
Ask anything your heart desires. That is what the admissions counselors
are there for. Besides, if you ask questions, that will convey inquisitiveness,
and you’ll make a good impression.
An interview is for your benefit as well as the school’s. Just as you
want to make the right decision, so do they. So remember not to be worried
about your interview. Just be yourself and come prepared to answer and ask
some simple questions. Remember, the only dumb questions are those not asked.
Chinasa Iseogu '05 majored in English and works for the New York
State Assembly as a committee assistant to the standing Committee
on Health. She was active in many campus organizations, include our
student newspaper.
Most students will tell you, the real test
of whether you’ll like a college is to have a meal on campus.
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Have a Nice Tour
By Chinasa Izeogu ’05
“Hi, my name is Chinasa. I’m a senior and my major is English.”
Introductions are just as important as first impressions. As you prepare
to tour colleges on your list, remember that after the initial awe of a new
surrounding wears off, face-to-face interactions take place. The only
way to really critique your potential college choice is to have a firsthand
look at the place. One good introduction is through a campus tour. Most colleges
offer one of two types of tours, and sometimes both: group tours, which dominate
most “visit day” itineraries (see related story), and individual
tours, as at St. Lawrence University, which allow for more individual questions
to be answered.
In order to be actively engaged in any tour, and be prepared for the kinds
of questions you can ask, you should have an idea of what you will probably
see:
You should expect to do a lot of walking (proper footwear is a huge help)
and to hear anecdotes of the school’s history and of the students, faculty
and staff. Stopping inside buildings lets you view the organization
of the classrooms, labs and studios and observe students at their academic
work. Seeing the buildings will give you a sense of how the campus is
laid out and what sorts of activities are accentuated. The relative locations
of academic buildings also reveal the interdisciplinary extent of the curriculum—are
the buildings close together, and is there a lot of traffic from one to another,
or are they isolated?
The tour also reveals the locations of residences and student centers and
their proximity to academic buildings. This is important in deciding,
for example, whether having a car on campus is essential or not. Now
would be a good time to ask about such topics as safety, co-curricular activities
and weekend life. You’ll also see the athletics facilities and have a
chance to ask about varsity, intramural and club sports, as well as fitness
opportunities.
Not everyone knows what they will do in college, so asking how the school
advises undecided students would give you a sense of what resources are available
and how accessible they are to you as a student. Ask questions about
advisors, tutoring programs, counseling services, leadership, volunteer opportunities
and career services. Once you are a student, you’ll need to draw
upon a number of these services, so you may as well find out now what they’re
like. If you’re a globetrotter, ask about the off-campus programs and
how many students go, when and for how long.
Taking advantage of the tour to learn the quirky information not written in the
catalog will help you narrow down your list. But don’t forget that the
most important criterion is the feeling of fitting in and belonging. A campus
tour will give you a better sense of this.
