As a prospective student, you have several steps you can take to help you figure out whether a certaincollege is worth applying to and what your chances of becoming a student there are.
Here are eight essential tips for utilizing your time as a prospective student.
#1: Research the School More
Even if you think you know enough about a school, it’s always smart to do some more research, if possible—you never know what you might find out!
Look for answers to the following questions for each school you’re considering:
- Is there a required curriculum?
- Does the school offer your desired program of study?
- What kinds of amenities and activities are available on/near campus?
- How selective is the school?
- How much does the school cost, and does it offer financial aid?
#2: Visit the Campus
If at all possible, try to visit the campuses of the schools you’re considering. This way, you can get a better feel for the student life and overall atmosphere.
Some campuses are extremely residential, with lots of students living there, while others are more commuter-style, with students constantly coming and going.
You should also think about what kind of setting you’d prefer to have around campus: do you want to live in an urban community in a large city? Or would you rather be far out in the country or in a suburb, away from all the hustle and bustle?
Lastly, be sure to spend time walking around the campus and seeing what it’s got to offer students.
Doing a guided tour is a great idea, too, as it could show you things you might’ve missed on your initial walk-through and answer any questions you might have about the lifestyle and community.
#3: Attend a College Class
Many colleges and universities allow prospective students to attend a real class to help them better gauge whether the school is a good fit for them. For instance, Tulane allows prospective students to sit in on classes.
- You’ll usually be asked to do the following should you attend a class as a prospective student:
- Arrive five to 10 minutes early to introduce yourself to the professor
- Come by yourself (no family members allowed)
- Stay for the duration of the class
- Silence your cell phone and be an active listener and participant
Note that some colleges might only allow prospective students to attend specific classes, so be sure to check ahead of time with the university or professor about whether and when you may attend a particular class.
#4: Shadow a Current Student
Another option many colleges offer prospective students is the ability to shadow a current student. What this means is that you’ll follow a student around for one day to get a look at their day-to-day college life.
#5: Meet With a Faculty Member
If you have a clear idea of what you want to major in, then meeting with a faculty member in that field can be an excellent way to learn more about how this major works, what types of classes you’ll need to
take, and what the professors can do to help and support you.
You can also ask about what types of students this professor has seen do well in the major and/or the classes they teach.
#6: Calculate Your Admission Chances
As a prospective student, you shouldn’t apply to college without first figuring out your likelihood of getting in. Doing this allows you to determine whether that school is a safety (one you’re very likely to
get into), a match (one you could get into), or a reach (one you’re least likely to get into).
It’s best to come up with a list of around six to eight colleges, consisting of two to three safeties, two to three matches, and two to three reach schools.
While admissions decisions are based on several factors, including your essay and letters of recommendation, you can get a rough idea of your chances of getting in by comparing your GPA and SAT/ACT scores with those of admitted students. Our college acceptance calculator is the easiest way to do this.
Once you’ve calculated your (very rough)
#7: Apply for Scholarships
This is the time to apply for as many scholarships as you can, especially if you’re worried about being able to afford a college education.
It’s OK if you have no idea where you’re going to school yet—you’re still just a prospective student after all! As long as you look for scholarships that can be used at any college, you’ll be good to go.
#8: Decide Whether You Will Enroll
The final task you’ll have as a prospective student is to decide which college you will attend (and which colleges you will not attend). This step comes later in the school year, around March/April, once you get
all your admissions decisions from the colleges you’ve applied to.
If you get rejected from a college, you are no longer considered a prospective student there. But if you get accepted, you’re still a prospective student—now, one who could be enrolling there very soon!dmission chances for every college on your list, you can then decide whether you want to remain a prospective student for each school or remove a school from your list (and possibly replace it with a different one).