Summary of Lunch and Learn in 5 helpful Tips

Did you miss the last lunch and learn? For those who just couldn’t make the lunch and learn held on Wednesday 9/11, here is a quick review of all the helpful information the counselors generously shared with us.

Tip one: Figure out what you are looking for in a college or university. It seems like a generic statement, but it is extremely important. When looking for that perfect fit ask yourself, “What size school would I like to attend?”, “Do I want to go far away from home, or close enough for surprise lunch dates with mom?” , “Do I want to play sports?”, “Is it really a necessity to have a Jimmy John’s ordering distance for the dorms?” These may seem like silly questions, but it is important to take every little thing into consideration. It is hard to know what you’ll miss until it’s gone.

Tip Two: Attend as many college fairs as offered to you. I gives you a chance to get a feel of what the school is like without actually having to go on campus. It is a great starting step to narrowing down your college options.

Tip Three: Ask questions! The easiest way to find the information you are looking for is to ask the questions yourself. When at the college fair, or even on a visit, make sure to ask a lot of good questions. This brings me to my side tip…

Tip 3.5: Asking good questions are essential when having a conversation with a college administrator. Now you may be asking yourself, “How do you know if it’s good question?” If you bring up anything having to do with parties, male:female ratio, or maid service, I would refrain from saying it out loud. If that is really necessary information in your decision then I would look that up on your own time or ask a student currently enrolled in that college.

Tip Four: Take a visit! Once you have narrowed down your college options, try getting on campus as soon as possible. Getting the on campus feeling will determine your overall opinion of the college or university. The school may sound great on paper, but leave it to the visit to come up with a final decision on whether this college looks or/and feels like your future home. See the campus for yourself, after all you might have to spend the next four years there!

Tip Five: Don’t forget to say thank you! It may seem cliche, but college admissions offices love hearing your feedback. While on the visit, make sure to get the information of the person you can follow up with. After your visit send them a quick letter or email thanking them for giving you a great college visit experience. They will really like it, I promise! Always remember, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Helpful tips are courtesy of the East Leyden counselors and their Lunch and Learns.