Open House
A college open house can bring hundreds of prospective students to campus. The event may include an introduction by admissions personnel in an auditorium or lecture hall, group tours of campus, and informational sessions on college admissions requirements, financial aid, and academics. There may even be special sessions just for parents.
Pros: You’ll get a general overview of the college or university without having a personal interview. You'll get to see the big picture. A college open house can offer a good first look at a school.
Cons: Because you will be one of hundreds of visitors on campus, you won’t be able to ask questions or spend time visiting particular areas of interest. Your child may not get a true feel for the campus because there will be many more people on campus than usual.
Group Tour
To make the best use of staff and volunteer tour guides, many schools hold group tours. Visiting students may have private interviews with admissions counselors before or after their tour, but campus tours follow a set schedule.
Pros: Students and parents in the group may ask questions you hadn’t thought about. You’ll benefit from the answers to their questions.
Cons: Because a group tour follows a set itinerary and schedule, you won’t have time to linger in a building or campus area that interests you or your child. Individual requests can’t be addressed during this kind of tour.
Private Tour
While many admissions offices prefer to give group tours, you can request a private tour of campus. You, your child, and a student tour guide will explore campus together and either begin or end your visit with an admissions interview and possibly a meeting with a financial aid representative. If your child has requested it beforehand, he or she may be able to chat with a faculty member, sit in on a class, or eat lunch in the cafeteria.
Pros: This visit is all about your child. Your child can ask the tour guide about things that are important to him or her. You can ask to see areas of the campus that might not be on a standard tour. You may have more time to see the athletic facilities or talk with a professor.
Cons: Shy children may not feel comfortable being the center of attention. Nor will you and your child benefit other people’s questions and comments.
Special Event
Campus events for prospective students with specific interests, such as fine arts, science and math, athletics, or leadership, are similar to college open houses, but they target a particular group. Activities can include participating in classes in the area of interest, meeting with faculty, and listening to panel presentations by students in the majors that are the focus of the event.
Pros: Your child will meet other prospective students with similar interests. He or she will meet faculty and students in the potential major. Your child will receive in-depth information about the school’s program. Parent activities may include information sessions on financial aid, campus life, and academic programs.
Cons: You and your child may not have a chance to ask questions. Also, because the day presents a single aspect of the college experience, you may miss out on other facets of campus life.