After receiving much-awaited college decisions throughout March, seniors have begun to plan college tour itineraries in hopes of deciding which university is most suitable for them.
Senior Anne Rollinson, for example, will be touring North Carolina State (NCS) and University of North Carolina (UNC) during Spring Break, and has already toured San Diego State University. She has been accepted by NCS but was still waiting for a decision from UNC as of late March.
Although Rollinson is fairly certain that she will attend a college on the East Coast, she plans to evaluate the schools based on several factors while touring from March 31 to April 4.
Rollinson will tour when the schools are in session to see if she would fit in with the demographic of students, and consider the size and feel of the campus and the condition of the surrounding town.
Rollinson’s brother Kevin Rollinson, an alumnus of North Carolina State, will be a valuable resource while she is touring.
“He knows his way around and can give me insight on what it's like to be a student there,” she said.
Senior Bita Naimi, who has been accepted to Boston University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, plans to work as many schools as possible into her Spring Break schedule. She plans to visit Boston University for the combined medical program’s open house and UCLA’s admitted students’ day. Because UCLA’s day overlaps with Berkeley’s new students’ day, she plans to visit Berkeley on an off weekend.
“I don't really have a preference as for location just because I don't want to limit my options,” Naimi said. “The fit of the school is the most important for me and many of the other factors are, for the most part, secondary.”
Similar to Rollinson, Naimi has plans to consider the school environment and academic environment, how modern the school facilities are, the location of the schools and most importantly, how she feels when spending time on the campus and talking to current students.
“I'm really looking forward to refining my choices and deciding on a college, something I've been anticipating for a long time,” Naimi said.