While it may seem like a huge life decision you are not ready to make, there are easy ways to narrow down what schools you should be considering. It is always important, while you are deciding which school to go to, to remember that you are in a great position. While finding the right fit is important, a lot of the college experience is what you make of it and you will probably have a great and fulfilling time no matter where you go. Today I will be focusing on maximizing your experience during your campus visit.

Most schools will have a campus day for prospective students who have been accepted. If you have not been to visit the school yet, it is especially important to try to attend this. You will get a tour and the tables will have turned. As opposed to you trying to impress the schools, they will be doing everything they can to get you to attend. Even if you have already been to the school, this is still good to attend because sometimes your impressions will have changed and you will learn much more about the school.

When you are on campus, make an attempt to try to connect with someone you might know at the school. Whether it is a former high school friend who is older than you or a family friend or an alumni connection through your guidance counselor; it is crucial to get honest assessments from as many current students at the school as possible. Everyone is different, so it is important to take into account that while a school might seem great for someone, their experience might not necessarily be yours. Ask them what they love or dislike about their school. Most students around campus will tend to be positive about their school no matter what, so it is a good idea to try to get a really honest take on the school.

Better yet, even if your parents are staying in a hotel, try to stay with a student at the school in the dorms. This is the best way to see the school experience, meet a lot of current students, and see what life is really like at the school. Shadow this student to a day of classes (this might be difficult for some smaller classes but for general lectures you should be fine). At some schools, certain dorms have a specific kind of student that it caters to so remember to ask inquisitive questions to find out what the different types of dorms are to see what would be the right fit for you should you attend.

If you are applying to a specific school within a university or a smaller niche program, try to meet with professors within that program. Contact the department head in advance of your campus visit and ask to shadow a student for a day or sit in on classes.  Many programs will be glad to facilitate you. A lot of professors are way more accessible than you think and you can find their emails through easy website searches.

Remember, prepare for your campus visit as much as possible to maximize how much you learn about the school!!

Here are the rules:

1. Post your submission to the comment section below.

2. Submissions will be be open for 3 days.

The winning submission’s author will:

3. Receive a Cappex cap

4. Be featured on our blog as a guest blogger as well as our Facebook page –> See last week’s winner here!

We know you all have amazing things to say and share with your peers. So here’s your chance.

Today’s topic:

Campus visits

Would you recommend that students visit colleges before they apply or after they’ve heard a college decision? What should you do on a campus visit? When should you take a trip? Etc… etc… etc…

We’re excited to hear what you have to say!

So why is THIS year your year?

Well, it mostly has to do with the new pair of awesome boots you bought on sale in August that will undoubtedly catapult you into a higher social status, but it’s also the fact that you’ve been hustling on Cappex to keep up with your college goals.

So here is why THIS is your year:

1. You have your college search under control
This is your year because instead of fretting over how you’re possibly going to find your perfect college match, you’ve already taken the time to find which colleges and universities suit you best. That frees you up for putting your anxiety where it should be: on your social life and/or homework.

2. You have some scholarships under your belt
Thinking about staying in on Friday nights to save mullah? Too bad. You’ve already saved money by applying for scholarships that you’ve been matched to. That means you have to go bowling even if you don’t feel like it because you have the extra cash (bring your own socks…trust me).

3. You’ve visited colleges or have plans to do so
This is your year because now when your buddies go, “Hmm, I wonder what college is like?” You can be all like, “It’s like this: [insert explanation]” because you’ve actually visited colleges and discovered which ones appeal to you.

4. You have your college future on track
This is your year because you are keeping up with your college goals. You have done what it takes to research which schools you want to apply to, you’ve worked on your essays over the summer, you’ve asked for a teacher recommendation, and you’ve scored well on the ACT or SAT. You have your college future in your hands, and you’re doing well.

Not feeling that this year is yours yet? Grab the reigns of your college search. The more control you have over your future, the better you will feel in general.

Right now you’re in the eye of the storm–so things look nice and dandy with blue skies and beach weather–but, the whirlwind of college essays, 20-page applications, teacher recommendations, ACT and SAT scores will hit you full on come September.

To keep you on track and help ease the unrelenting storm that is the college application season that brews in the fall, we’ve put together a simple to-do list for you:

JUNE
–Finish your school year off strong
–Register for the October SAT if haven’t taken it or want to try again
–Choose which colleges you want to visit during the summer
–Use the easy Campus Visit Planner to help organize trips
–Request information and application materials from colleges
–Schedule an interview for when you plan to visit campus

JULY
–Review applications so you know what you’ll need
–Visit college campuses, take tours and interviews
–Narrow down list of colleges you will apply to
–Start rough drafts for college essays
–Register for September ACT if haven’t take it or want to try again

AUGUST
–Contact friends, or friends of friends, at the colleges you’re interested in to ask questions
–Create a organization system to keep track of the colleges you’re applying to and the materials that correspond
–Keep working on college essays
–Have in mind a couple teachers you would like to ask for recommendations

If you keep up with these things, you won’t be as stressed when you head back to high school as a senior.

Do you have any steps we should add to the list? Comment and let us know!

On that note, we present to you our new series of student-to-student advice, Cappex Real Talk. The subject today? Campus visits.

See what your peers are saying about them:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03GugIusy6I&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]

Do you have any advice you’d like to share? Leave a comment!

And now, planning your college road trip is tremendously easy (and free) with the Cappex Campus Visit Planner™.

Instead of getting lost on the Web visiting multiple college websites and then spending time stringing all the pieces together, the Visit Planner lets you take care of all your college visits plans in one place.

Simplify the process with our college trip planning tool:

• Choose the campuses to visit and find the best route.
• See recommendations of other campuses nearby.
• Let colleges know you’re interested in visiting their campus.
• Get turn-by-turn driving directions.

You can see what the Campus Visit Planner is all about, or even start planning your college road trip, by visiting www.Cappex.com/campusvisits.

And check out the Visit Planner video!

[youtube width="420" height="260"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80qxXz_RdIY&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]