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College Q and A

Besides the standard campus tour, what can I do when I visit a college campus?

When you plan a visit to a campus, ask the office that schedules the tour if there are other things you can do while you’re there.  If they offer, consider doing what’s available.  If they don’t, say that you’d like to speak to someone about admissions while you’re there.  Then ask to speak to that person now.  When you speak to them, explain what you want to do while visiting their campus.  Ask if they could please help you set up appointments for that visit.  As long as they’re not included on the tour, choose a couple of the suggestions listed below and ask for the telephone number of someone to contact about doing them. 

• Speak to an advisor or faculty member in your major
• Tour facilities related to your major
• Speak to someone in the scholarships/financial aid office
• Visit/tour/walk through the library, recreational facilities or fine arts facilities
• Speak to current students in your major
• Go to class with a student (this one’s pretty tough to get accomplished, but valuable if you’re able to swing it)
• Speak to a coach and see the athletic facilities, if you hope to become a student athlete

Students – I want you to do this!  I know it’s difficult being assertive when you don’t know exactly what you’re talking about, or to whom you are speaking, but this is a really important skill to have when you’re in college.

Those admission application fees are pretty high, and my family can’t afford me applying to more than one school.  Is there a way to get some of them waived?

Yes.  Not all schools will do this, but it should be a possibility at many.  Call the Admissions Office at your schools, and explain that you are interested in their school, but the application fee is preventing you from applying.  Ask if there is some way to get the fee waived.  Know that they’ll need some form of verification or a letter from somebody like your high school counselor who can verify your situation.

I hear colleges have tons of computer labs, and lots are open 24/7.  Am I going to be okay if I don’t have a computer to bring to college?

Yes.  You will be fine without your own computer.  Schools today have tons of computers available – in academic buildings, the student union, housing areas, and beyond.  Often they’re available round the clock.  Some schools do require you to purchase one, sometimes a particular one, but that is almost always added to the cost of attendance and you can get financial aid for that.  If this is the case, you will definitely be notified about how to purchase the computer.

E-mail your questions to about college to lance@collegeanswerguy.com.  To read previous columns visit www.collegeanswerguy.com.  Also check out collegeprep.okstate.edu.

Next week, “Money for College”