Questions for a College Representative

Questions for a College Representative Are you wondering how you could start a conversation with a college representative? Here are some tips thatll help you have a productive conversation with your college representative. Lets get answers to your important questions. College Fair Topics and Questions Ideas First, its a good idea to write out a list of things that are important to you before you go. You shouldnt feel like you have strange priorities or weird questions. Maybe something off-beat is interesting to you. College representatives hear the same questions all the time, so theyll be glad to hear something new. If you wonder about LGBTQIA life on campus, the potential for racial tension, or if youre worried about spiders in the dorms, go ahead and ask about it. Start with Hello, how are you? or Hi, my name is ... for a relaxed beginning to your conversation.Try not to ask a vague question like Tell me about your college, since the representative will have no idea where to start. That can be frustrating for the college representative and the student because the conversation will have no direction.Be specific with questions by saying things like Tell me about class spirit or Can you give me examples of some campus traditions? instead. Questions phrased in such a way will give you a sense of the atmosphere and give the representative something specific to talk about.Ask for a list of majors that you could take with you. You could look over it later.Ask about the enrollment deadline and the recommendations for taking the SAT. Some colleges will need your scores earlier for admission considerations.Ask if subject scores (like SAT II Math or History) are required or recommended.Feel free to ask if the representative can waive your application fee , but know that this usually works best at private colleges. Ask if there are any scholarship secrets. There are many little-known tricks that differ from college to college, but the conversation doesnt always get around to this in a rushed environment like a college fair.You will want to know the admission requirements, of course. You may also want to ask whether admissions officers make decisions on numbers, or if they consider activities. Some colleges  go by scores and grades and follow a formula. Other colleges give greater weight to activities, experience, and interests.Ask if a student leader can contact you to give you a students perspective. If its possible, provide the representative an email address for this.Go ahead and ask about the food. Sometimes there are many choices, and other times there arent. Remember, youll have to live with it for four years.Ask how the food plan works.Find out the safety history of the campus and the surrounding town. Sometimes the campus rests in an area where theres a high crime rate just outside th e area considered the campus. A representative may not mention this. This is also something you should research on your own before you get too attached to the dream. Be safe! Ask how many of the students drop out, transfer away, or how many stay and graduate. College representatives may cringe at this one because student retention is a touchy issue at many colleges. A low retention rate may be a warning sign, though.Ask: Whats the biggest complaint from current students?Is tutoring available?If class size is important, ask about it. Keep in mind, however, that class sizes are less important when good individual tutoring is available.Find out if tutoring is free.Ask for a direct phone number for an admission counselor and a financial aid counselor to avoid getting caught up in an automated phone quagmire at some point. Smaller colleges will be happy to provide this, but larger colleges may not. Its always worth a try though.Find out if the administration listens to student concerns. This is one of the things you might want to ask a student leader.Ask if youll have to pay for parking or if youll have to walk a million miles from a parking lot to your classe s. If you are very conservative or very liberal in your thinking, ask about the political and social climate. This is one of the things that could cause a feeling of discomfort or alienation down the road, so its not a silly question.