Spring Break Options

It's that time of year again for both high schoolers and college students. Spring Break! I recently discussed early planning for spring break for those of you who are going to be heading to some of the classic and traditional spring break sites, such as beach communities (think Daytona Beach and Cancun, Mexico). Oh, speaking of Cancun, there's an interesting article about how Mexican marines will be strolling the Cancun streets this year to make sure that spring breakers don't self destruct. It will also be helpful to have military weaponry available to fend off any drug dealer gun battles. It's not 1958 anymore!

I started a thread about spring break in Cancun on the College Confidential discussion forum. It inspired a few interesting comments, such as, "I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near that [pejorative] hole." Another poster wrote, "Visiting colleges in MD, VA, and NC here," which provides a convenient segue into my topic of the day: visiting colleges on spring break.

Obviously, making college visits on spring break is a task mainly for high school juniors and their parents. Sometimes even sophomores can get in on the action. The logistics can be complicated, however, because of the need to coordinate schedules with Mom and Dad, who may not be able to arrange their work demands to accommodate several days, or even a week, of travel. Of course, there's always the possibility that a high schooler could coattail on a classmate's venture, if parents are unable to rearrange their work schedules.

Anyway, if you do have the opportunity to do some college visiting during your high school spring break, you and your parents may want to initiate some advance planning. I searched for some tips that parents can follow while anticipating a college-visit road trip and found a long list, courtesy of Sylvan Learning. Here are some highlights:

Strategies for Parents Making Spring Break College Visits

- Start by Casting a Wide Net – If you and your teenager haven't already done so, start by putting together a big list of potential schools of interest – up to 20 schools – for further investigation and research. Carefully consider a wide range of selection criteria, such as, geographic location, rural/suburban/urban campus setting, size of student enrollment, religious affiliation, academic strengths and offerings, and athletic programs, among others. Include a range of “dream," “target" (strong odds of acceptance based on your teen's test scores, GPA, etc.) and “safety" schools.

- Finalize Your Target Tour List – Once you have your initial pool of possible school targets, narrow that list to a more realistic number of schools to visit – schools that meet the criteria for your teen and your family. Fine tuning your list can largely be done by visiting schools' Web sites, reviewing college guides from the library or bookstore and, of course, by working with your teen's school guidance counselor. Other students, friends and family members can also offer invaluable insights.

- Visit While College is in Session – Every family's final “visit" list of schools is different; some travel to 12 or more campuses while others only a handful. Based on the geography of your target tour list, you may in fact wind up making a few road trips – perhaps one over spring break and then one or two long weekend treks. Regardless of how many campuses you visit, make sure to schedule your visits while college is in session and students are attending classes. Don't visit during midterms or finals and avoid weekend visits if at all possible, since classes are seldom held then. Be sure to call ahead and check on tour times, dates offices are closed, and visit/interview policies. If spring proves problematic because your target schools have spring break the same week your teen does, fall of senior year is also an ideal time to visit.

- Remember the 2/2/2 Rule – Two schools a day. Don't try to visit more than two schools a day, especially if the schools aren't close together. Any more than that and you'll never have enough time to really get a fair sense of the school, which after all, is the entire point of taking the road trip.

Two question limit. Given that most teens find their parents embarrassing under any circumstances, they are especially sensitive to mom or dad asking numerous questions on the campus tour. Try to limit your questions to two vital topics. For example, focus on safety and financial aid.

Speak with at least two professors or students from your teen's intended major. Now is your -and your teenager's – time to determine if this learning environment is right for your family. Ask a student, “What is the quality of faculty advising? Which outstanding professors or courses does he/she recommend for that specific major?" Speak to a professor about general education requirements, which classes are most popular and fill up quickly, and which classes should be completed in the first year.

- Ask Questions to Make the Most of Your Visit – Encourage your teen to ask as many questions as possible – and ask different people the same questions to see if you get different answers. In addition to the official tour guide, speak with students, professors, librarians, or other representatives based on topics of interest to your student.

- Go Beyond the Official Campus Tour to Get the “Inside Skinny" – Official campus tours are almost always 30-60 minute student-led affairs that give a good overview of the college, its facilities, academic offerings and student life. They're a good place to start, but by doing a little advanced homework, your family can round out your visit with other campus experiences that can help you and your teen get the “inside skinny" on the school. If any family members, friends, or recent graduates of your teen's school are enrolled, have coffee or meet with him or her. If your teen is an athlete, musician, artist, or has another special interest, call in advance to arrange a meeting with the coach or other relevant faculty members.

- Eat on Campus – What teenager doesn't place a high priority on food? Most schools allow visitors to eat on campus; so eat in the dining hall or other on-campus eating establishments to give your teen a firsthand “taste" of the school's food while also saving money. Likewise, if you need overnight lodging, consider allowing your teenager to stay in a dorm. Even if you don't know a student with whom your child can stay, many schools will arrange for your teen to stay overnight with a current student – if you call in advance. Parents will save money by only paying for one hotel room (or booking a smaller room) and the prospective student will gain an invaluable chance to experience dorm life.

- Create a Photo Diary – Believe it or not, once your family arrives home from your college tour road trip, all those campuses may start to blur together – especially if you visit numerous schools. Use your digital camera to take a lot of photos -even videos – during your visits to create a record of each school. Your first photo of each school should show the college name on a sign or building to ensure you remember which school you visited. You and your teen can create an online folder for each school or print out the photos and keep them in folders with the other informational material you'll pick up on your visits.

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As I said at the end of another post on college visits:

For those of you who have applied Regular Decision or who have been deferred from ED or EA, your acceptances will be rolling in soon. Then you (and perhaps your family) will have to make one of the most important decisions of your young life: where to go to college.

So, be sure to realize the importance of these visits and also be sure to plan so that you can make the very most of your time and money. You'll be glad that you did.

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Be sure to check out all my admissions-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.