April vacation is almost here, and it’s the PERFECT time to go visit college and university campuses, especially if you’re a high school junior. Classes are still in session, all sorts of events are happening, and warmer weather makes everything more accessible and enjoyable. But what questions should visiting high school students ask? What about the parents? Here are some tips and tricks to make the most out of every campus visit:

• If possible, sign up to attend BOTH an informational session AND a student-led campus tour. Usually, the former is conducted by an admissions officer, so you will learn about a school from the staff and student perspectives. This is helpful, because each person will be able to answer a different scope of questions (for example, the student might not know as much about the application review process as the admissions officer, while the admissions officer will have a harder time responding to questions about the student experience on-campus).
  
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions!!! The biggest problem that I experienced this past February vacation week (when I participated in 10 campus visits) was the silence of prospective parents and students. This is not the time to be shy, and there are no stupid questions. The folks participating in these informational sessions and tours WANT to answer your questions and to share their knowledge about their school, and you’re not imposing. Moreover, chances are that you’re asking a question that is relevant to everyone on the tour or in the audience, so you’re actually doing a service by speaking up.
  
• Always ask about campus security! Specifically, does the campus have an actual police force in charge of safety? Lately, the trend for some schools has been to hire private security firms to be in charge of campus safety, or even to put students working in Residence Life in charge of patrolling campus buildings. This may save money for a school, but it’s at the cost of student safety, since these private security guards do not have the proper training, nor do they carry weapons or have the ability to arrest anyone. A safe school will ALWAYS have its own police force that is qualified, trained, and knows how to address any issue that may come up on campus.
  
• Ask about the curriculum. How many core required courses does each student have to take in order to graduate and how hard is it to get into these courses? What are those courses like? Is there are wide variety of choices available, or do all students take the same track (such as every first year being required to take the same college writing course the first semester of first year)? This is important to know, since you will likely have an opinion about these core requirements (i.e., “Yes, this sounds great!” or “No way am I wasting my time in a course that has no bearing on what I want to do for my major!”). Remember: every school has different core curricular requirements, so don’t assume anything. College X may have a physical education requirement to graduate, while University Z requires that all students complete a religious studies course. This is time to find out this information - not when you’ve enrolled at this institution as a student.
  
• Ask your student tour guide to tell you 2 things: 1) What does he/she love best about being a student at this school? 2) If there was one thing that he/she would change about this school, what would it be? You’ll find the answers to these questions revealing and highly informative. It will also give you a good sense about the honesty of your guides. No place is perfect, but some schools unfortunately prefer to project that kind of utopian image. You want to hear not only about the super-cool parts of a school, but also about what needs improvement and whether or not the students have an opportunity to work with campus staff and faculty towards making positive changes.  
  
• Once the tour ends, feel free to wander around! Specifically, see if you can hang out at the student center or at a local student coffee shop (in other words, go to where students informally gather to chat, eat, or just relax). Just sit, watch, and listen. Do you get a generally positive vibe in this space? Can you see yourself fitting in with the student body here? What are people talking about and does it interest you? Do folks seem happy? Stressed? Enthusiastic? Upset? Spending some time in this kind of unfiltered environment will sometimes tell you more about a school than any “official” campus tour or informational session!

Most of all, remember to have fun! This is the beginning of your college application journey, so use campus visits as a chance to figure out what you like and what you don’t like in a school. You’ll be glad that you paid attention to these visits when it comes time to create that college application list!

The agonizing months of waiting are finally over! You've received your letters of admission, as well as your financial aid packages (hopefully). It's exciting, but it also can be confusing, especially when those letters present a lot information in different ways. How do you choose which school to attend? How do you compare financial aid packages without losing your mind? It's such an important decision - how do you know if you're making the right one? Here are some steps you can take to make sure that you choose wisely:

- First, breathe!!! You know you're going to college in the fall, and that's awesome news! These schools accepted you for a reason - they think you will be a successful student at their institution, and they want you to be a part of their community. Take the pressure off of yourself - your hard work has paid off! Making any important life decision when you’re anxious, worried, or upset is never a good idea, so do your best to be well rested and calm.

- Next, go visit the colleges and universities that have accepted you. If possible, attend the admitted students day on each campus, and don't be afraid to ask questions! This is your chance to find out everything that you need to know to make your decision, so don't be shy. It's the *school's* turn to impress you, and to convince you to choose this place as your new home for the next 4 years.

- Go over the financial aid award letters carefully. Make a spreadsheet so you can better see how the your schools compare. In your grid, be sure to list:

1. The net price of attendance (i.e., what it REALLY costs to go to a school - not just the tuition and room/board, and this is where the school’s online net price calculator usually comes in handy);
   
2.  Travel to and from the school (and be sure to indicate if it’s via bus, train, plane, or car);
   
3. What you *realistically* will be need to spend on things like clothing, shoes, dorm-room items, and “fun money” (i.e., cash for pizza, going out to the movies, etc.);
   
4. The amount of merit aid you’re being offered (i.e., institutional scholarships and grants that you DO NOT need to pay back);
   
5. The amount of need-based aid that each school is offering you (be sure to distinguish  between aid that doesn’t need to be paid back, such as grants, and loans, that will need to be paid back after you graduate);
   
6. Whether or not you are offered Subsidized Stafford Loans (and how much) vs. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (and how much) - the difference is important, since you will be accruing debt much faster with all unsubsidized loans;
   
7. Any other money you will be receiving (for example, an athletic scholarship or an external grant from a local business or a national organization).
   

Often, seeing the numbers laid out next to each other makes it much clearer how much each school will cost you, and how much potential debt you’ll have when you graduate. Seeing these costs may help you make a decision, especially when you’re trying to choose between 2 great schools.

- Listen to your gut. What is it telling you? Can you see yourself attending this particular college and being happy? Does the very thought of being a student at University X make your heart sing with joy? Even if you can’t find the words to explain how you’re feeling, trust that gut! If a school just feels right, it probably IS the right place for you.

Finally, use your time wisely! All applicants must commit to a school and send in their deposit by the national May 1st deadline. Think of this as a good thing - once you send in that deposit, you can spend the rest of your senior year enjoying the remainder of your time as a high school student. Don’t forget to celebrate your amazing accomplishments!