College Admissions Consulting 12 Questions to Consider When Visiting High Schools Written by Abigail Andersonon January 20th, 2017 I joined College Coach after working in independent school and college admissions. At the collegiate level, I evaluated thousands of applications and managed more than 20 student workers and 200 alumni interview volunteers. I recruited in, and read applications for, multiple domestic and international recruitment territories, including all of New England and the Mid-Atlantic, Europe, and the Americas. I also worked with and evaluated transfer applicants. Committed to increasing college access and demystifying the college application process, I collaborated with colleagues across institutions to develop free, accessible programming for high school juniors wanting to jumpstart the application process and improve their essay skills. My passion has always aligned with working directly with high school students; I started my career in admissions at a highly-selective all-girls’ boarding school. While there, I recruited students throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and California. I oversaw multicultural and first-generation student recruitment, participated in both admission and financial aid committees, and assisted in residence hall management. Learn More About Abigail high school admissions, middle school, For students considering various high school options, the school visit can be a crucial part of the decision making process. At private and charter schools, visit days are usually intimate experiences; often, much of the day is spent one-on-one with you, your parents, and various administrators, students, or high school admissions officers. While you will be asked a lot of questions and likely evaluated at some point in your visit (formally through an interview and/or informally throughout the day), you should also remember that you are the consumer in this situation—you should be gathering information and asking a lot of questions as well! Here are a few questions you should consider: Academics: In your current school, what is your best/favorite learning environment? How does this school use that style of teaching? What classroom size do you work best in? What’s the average class size at the school you’re visiting? Are classes here discussion-based, hands-on, or lecture-style? How accessible are teachers when a student needs extra help? Are you interested in a specific field (engineering, art, dance) that this school will allow you to explore? What is the overarching learning environment (collaborative, competitive, curious, etc.) at this school? Activities Your interests and passions might change in high school, but does this school offer activities you’re currently interested in as well as new opportunities you’re excited to give a try? Are there requirements to participate in certain activities, like sports? Does the school have restrictions around any activities (skill-level, grade-level, or cuts)? Miscellaneous What is the commute to/from this school? How will that impact your day/your family’s routine? Does this school have certain values that are core to their curriculum (athletics, academics, confidence, curiosity, leadership, community service, religion)—and are you excited about these? Are there friends who help you perform better or who you will dearly miss if you go to this school? When choosing the right high school, think of your visit day as the opportunity to “research” or “shop around.” You’re going to spend four very formative years of your life at this school, likely ending up a slightly different version of yourself than if you had attended a different school. Asking questions will help you decide which high school setting will best bring out your strengths, while also letting you work on your weaknesses. Related Resources Read | Posted on May 8th, 2024 All about Working with College Admissions and Finance Counselors Read | Posted on May 1st, 2024 Types of Institutions: Liberal Arts & Polytechnic; Loud Budgeting Read | Posted on April 24th, 2024 College Recommendation Letters; Focusing on Best Fit Colleges
