Making the Most of Spring Break By Visiting College Campuses

RESTON, Va., March 6  /PRNewswire/ -- Spring break is right around the corner and that means an opportune time for college-bound high school seniors to visit college campuses. In doing so, students and families will get an up- close look at potential schools of choice, helping them to experience college before actually making the final decision.

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"Visiting a college campus will help students and families get a true feel for the school," says Martha Holler, a spokesperson of Sallie Mae, the nation's No. 1 paying-for-college company. "And spring break is a perfect time for these visits to occur."

Holler says that the number of schools visited will depend on time and money but students should try to check out several schools that offer a variety of experiences. For instance, students and their families may want to visit large and small schools, as well as urban and small-town campus settings.

When students and parents make their campus visits, it is important they develop a plan of attack. For instance:

  * Before the visit, decide what you want to learn about the school and put
    together a list of questions. Use the same list for every school so that
    you can make comparisons.

  * If possible, schedule interviews with faculty and/or admissions staff.
    It also is helpful to meet with professors who teach in a student's
    particular area of interest.  Students and parents also should meet with
    representatives from the admissions and financial aid offices to learn
    about entry requirements, costs and financial aid.

  * Take a campus tour. Colleges typically offer guided tours, so take
    advantage of them! Most important, your escorts can be an excellent
    source of candid information.

  * Ask questions. This is your chance to discover things that you cannot
    learn any other way. Ask current students what they like best and least
    about the school, what they would change, what the campus is like on
    weekends and which professors are best.

  * Send a thank-you note. After visiting a college campus, remember to send
    thank-you notes to everyone you met. It is a simple but-often-neglected
    courtesy that can help you get noticed.



To help students and families make the most of their college visit over spring break, Sallie Mae's CollegeAnswer.com Web site offers a host of information and resources at http://www.collegeanswer.com/.

"It is important for students to choose a college where they feel comfortable and have the opportunity to excel academically and personally," adds Holler. "When it comes to evaluating schools to select the best fit, nothing beats a first-hand look." 

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DATASOURCE: Sallie Mae



CONTACT:  Erin Korsvall of Sallie Mae, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.salliemae.com/

http://www.collegeanswer.com/ 



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