Keys to a Successful College Visit

Advice for parents of high school seniors and juniors

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As the "college visit" season is upon us, keep in mind that the tours are designed to show the campus’ high points, finer points, and best dress. So make sure you dig a little deeper to really find out what student life is like at this prospective new home. The next 4-plus years are going to be spent there and a not-so-small amount of money paid to the institution, so finding out the most you can about a school is the only way to go. You need to look beyond the student tours.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Don’t plan your visit for when the campus is lonely during summers or breaks, instead tour while classes are in session. You’ll get a much better feel for the environment if you visit during regular semesters and your teen will get a better sense of what it will be like to navigate around campus with throngs of other students. She will also see first hand where the students spend time between classes and after a day of classes, and how easy it is to maneuver around campus.

2. The tour is likely to take you through the most beautiful, well-kept areas of campus. After the tour, take another stroll around and really look. Are the buildings is good shape? Is the library well stocked and welcoming? Does the campus look safe and well lit?

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3. If the tour doesn’t include a stop at a typical freshman dorm, either ask to see one or, if allowed, make sure to pop in one during your post tour walk-about. Hopefully you’ll stroll past a few open doors in the hallway and take a glance as you make your way down the hallway so you can see what freshman dorm life is really like, not just see the “show” room that is presented on the tour. Also, note how far it is from the dorms to the classrooms.

4. It probably will be tempting to celebrate this adventure with a meal out at a nice local restaurant, but it would be a good idea to visit the campus cafeteria and have a meal there as well. What are the other dining options on campus? Is the food pleasing and the eating area clean? Is it busy with students or do you suspect that many are eating off campus? Are the hours suitable for early birds and night owls? Pick up a copy of the weekly menu if you can, just to see the options. Are there a lot of choices and if your teen is on a restricted diet, will they be able to provide the appropriate food?

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5. Ask the college admissions office if you can sit in on a typical freshman class, or if your teen already has a major in mind, then a class within that department. If that’s not possible, then take a walk through a few hallways, tarry a bit, and discreetly listen to what is going on inside. If possible, stop a professor, particularly in your teen's preferred area of study, and ask a few questions. If he's not racing to class, he'’ll likely take the time to visit with you.

6. While walking around the campus, politely stop other faculty and students. Explain that you’re visiting the school, trying to get a feel for what it’s like, and in the process of deciding if the school is right for your child. Ask pointed questions, but ask for their opinions as well. Do they enjoy going to school there? Do they like living in the dorms? What should an incoming freshman know? Be sure to ask open ended questions so you don’t just get yes/no answers. If they’re not racing to class, they’ll probably be happy to talk to you or can refer you to someone who can answer your questions.

7. Then there’s the all-important social life. Look at the posters, fliers, and calendars around campus and in town too. Do the events look appealing and peek your child’s interest? Are there a variety of events and programming available? Are there events on the weekends as well? You’ll want to see if there are activities to do on the weekends, if not, it may be an indication that the school you’re visiting is a “suitcase” school, where students don’t stick around. Does the school itself offer social programming? As much as you may want your teen to love her classes and spend a lot of time studying, if she doesn't like the social life on and around campus, then she's not likely to be happy at the school. 

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This is an exciting time in the life of your family. By doing a bit of research before heading out on your college tour, by taking the tour and then doing your behind-the-scenes tour as well, you’re bound to help your child pick a school where she can be happy and thrive.

You Can Do It: Sharpie Seashells

You’ve been to the shore and inevitably you’ve come home with bags of shells that the kids have collected. Here’s a fun and beautiful project that is appropriate for most any age. All you need is a selection of shells (shells with ridges work best) cleaned up and dried off, and a thin-tip Sharpie marker. Take a look at this photo for inspiration, and let your imagination run wild!

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Guided Creativity for Summertime Fun

This month we have a suggestion for unique summertime fun. Guided creativity books provide fabulous quiet-time entertainment.  Nurturing creativity with a series of prompts, these books help to spark imagination, foster inventiveness, and encourage your child or teen to perhaps start looking at the world a little differently.  

Our teen recommendation is a book by Austin Kleon called The Steal Like an Artist Journal. It is an interactive journal, a place to get creative juices flowing and a fun way to keep a log of ideas, thoughts and discoveries. This is not a kid’s book at all, parents might want to purchase one for themselves and explore the prompts that lead the reader to think about things in an all new way, to let their creativity run wild and unfettered. 

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For younger children, Ed Emberley Drawing Books, is a series full of fun items to draw and definitely is not a “color within the lines” experience. You may want to sit next to your child to help explain the various activities, but the books are designed to be easily understood by even the youngest child and are full of activity examples for each exercise. Each book explores a different topic, so parents will easily find a book to suit their child’s fancy.  

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These books are readily available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble or you can find them at your favorite local book shop, so pick one up, store it away and pull it out when school lets out and summer vacation begins!

Amazing Butterflies of New Jersey

There are 134 species of butterflies and moths in New Jersey. 134! The spring and summer months are the perfect time to get outside and take a butterfly ID hike. Bring your camera!

Here’s an interesting fact: the monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do. Unlike other butterflies that can overwinter as larvae, pupae, or even as adults in some species, monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter home in Mexico.

Here are some really beautiful butterflies you should search for:

American Copper

American Copper

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Least Skipper

Least Skipper

Luna Moth

Luna Moth

Monarch

Monarch

Northern Metalmark

Northern Metalmark

Northern Pearly Eye Satyr

Northern Pearly Eye Satyr

Red Spotted Purple Admiral

Red Spotted Purple Admiral

Silver Bordered Fritillary

Silver Bordered Fritillary

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Zebra Swallowtail

Zebra Swallowtail