Our Counselors Answered:
What do students really think about their school?
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.
What do students really think about their school?
Everything from loving it to detesting it.
Renee Boone
What do students really think about their school?
When visiting campuses, ask students open-ended questions like: What do you like most about your school? What needs improvement? What do prospective students need to know that may not be readily apparent from the website or view book?
Renee Boone
What do students really think about their school?
When visiting campuses, ask students open-ended questions like: What do you like most about your school? What needs improvement? What do prospective students need to know that may not be readily apparent from the website or view book?
Todd WeaverSenior AdvisorStrategies for College, Inc.
What do students really think about their school?
Find out when you visit campuses and take the time to eat lunch in the cafeteria and talk to some enrolled students. Also, sit in on a class and ask the students what they think of the school, professors, career options, etc.
John Happs
What do students really think about their school?
Not sure if the term school is high school or college, and therefore I do not have a good answer.
Zahir RobbCollege CounselorThe Right Fit College
What do students really think about their school?
Ask! Stay after your tour and ask a couple of kids in the dining commons or library. Another option is to check online for review sites. Take all of this information in with a watchful eye and careful ear as you can’t weigh all of your decision on this “candid” information. Weigh it against what you have read and heard on tour and think about all of it as a comprehensive review.
Geoff BroomeAssistant Director of AdmissionsWidener University
just ask
visit schools and ask them. eat in the caf and pull a student aside and ask them. Often times, college websites will have a link under their admissions page to ask students a question. See if the school that you are looking at has one?
Mollie ReznickAssociate DirectorThe College Connection
All you have to do is ask
The only way to know the answer to this is simply to *ask*. I wouldn’t necessarily ask your tour guide or students who work in admissions as they are paid to represent their school. Go in to the student center or dining halls and try to chat up students and find out what their favorite and least favorite things are about their school; they will likely give you a candid response.
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network
What do students really think about their school?
different student may share different experiences from each other at the same school.
sometimes, it is not about the school but the student as an individual.
Cheryl Millington
What do students really think about their school?
Essentially you have to ask specific questions to really discover what students really think about their school. For example, if you ask a general question, do you like X school? You’ll get a general answer. But if you ask specific questions about faculty, programs, residence, etc. you’ll likely to get at what they really think about their school.
Cheryl Millington
What do students really think about their school?
Essentially you have to ask specific questions to really discover what students really think about their school. For example, if you ask a general question, do you like your school? You’ll get a general answer. But if you ask specific questions about faculty, programs, residence, etc. you’ll likely to get at what they really think about their school.
Patty Finer
What do students really think about their school?
That is a very individual question… to be expanded.
Bill PrudenHead of Upper School, College CounselorRavenscroft School
What do students really think about their school?
Ask them. When you make a campus visit do not limit yourself to the official stuff. See if you can sit in on a class where in addition to getting a sense of the academic atmosphere and approach you will also have a chance to talk to the other students and get their take on what life is like at the school. Too, try and stop by the student center to see students in their natural habitat and ask them what they think of their school. Obviously the responses will vary, but you will learn a great deal and get a fuller idea of the range of things that might be both good and bad. The students are the ones experiencing the school on a day to day basis as you will be. See what they think.
Erin AveryCertified Educational PlannerAvery Educational Resources, LLC
Ask the Experts
Ask them. Go to Unigo’s student section and ask the experts: current college students!
Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens
What do students really think about their school?
Sites such as Unigo and College Prowler are great was to collect a students’ opinions. Be careful – though — people who go through the trouble of commenting are sometimes either really happy with their school or really unhappy.
Colleges are microcosms of society in that you will find people with varying degrees of enthusiasm for their circumstances. Some people will rave about small classes. Other will complain about them. Some might bemoan the lack of faculty accessiblity — while others will regale you about having lunch with their professors every day — all at the same school!
So — rather than focus too much on gathering information from others — try and get a good grasp of your opinions about a school — based on solid information. Your opinions count more than others’ when it comes to your college experience.
Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens
What do students really think about their school?
Sites such as Unigo and College Prowler are great ways to collect a students’ opinions. Be careful – though — people who go through the trouble of commenting are sometimes either really happy with their school or really unhappy.
Colleges are microcosms of society in that you will find people with varying degrees of enthusiasm for their circumstances. Some people will rave about small classes. Other will complain about them. Some might bemoan the lack of faculty accessiblity — while others will regale you about having lunch with their professors every day — all at the same school!
So — rather than focus too much on gathering information from others — try and get a good grasp of your opinions about a school — based on solid research. Your opinions count more than others’ when it comes to your own college experience.
Laura O’Brien GatzionisFounderEducational Advisory Services
What do students really think about their school?
The best way to find out is to visit the school and try to talk to as many current students as possible. Read their college newspaper and listen to their college radio station. Peruse the billboards. Eavesdrop on the conversations in the coffeehouse or the cafeteria. Check out the statistics at the NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) website.
Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting
The real truth
It often feels difficult to learn about a college because everything seems biased. The tour guides, admissions staff, websites all put a positive spin on the campus. Yet, you know that not everything can be perfect. Check out the opinion/editorial pieces in the student paper. Hang out late at night when defenses are low and you might hear the real deal. Ask my favorite question: “If you could change anything about the school what would be it?” Read The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, written by current students of each campus. Check out student reviews on Unigo.com. Bottom line, what you think about the school is what matters.
Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting
The real truth
It often feels difficult to learn about a college because everything seems biased. The tour guides, admissions staff, websites all put a positive spin on the campus. Yet, you know that not everything can be perfect. Check out the opinion/editorial pieces in the student paper. Hang out late at night when defenses are low and you might hear the real deal. Ask my favorite question: “If you could change anything about the school what would be it?” Read The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, written by current students of each campus. Bottom line, what you think about the school is what matters.
Nicholas Umphrey
Seeing through the fog
When you get a college tour, in all honesty, it is usually by an admissions rep who is paid to be cheery and say how great their school is or a student ambassador who is the overly positive kid in school who follows suit.
A parent gave me this tip once and I thought it was brilliant. Do the tour, but keep an open mind. After the tour hang out at a local student hang out like a coffee house or pizza place. Observe the students hanging out and the mood they project. If they are as excited as the Ewoks were when the Death Star blew up, then it is a good place. Don’t be afraid to ask these students casually about their experience in that school. This is authentic feedback from regular college students who you will be amongst.
Tam Warner MintonConsultantCollege Adventures
Current students in college
Ask them! You’ll find college students in Facebook groups such as xxx college class of 2013. You’ll find them on Youtube. When you visit, talk to the students on your own and ask them!
Scott WhiteDirector of GuidanceMontclair High School
What do students really think about their school?
Most students I know are happy with their college choices.
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network
public vs. private school
students are not having the same experiences based on the type of the school they graduate. Public school students are less likely to have strong relationships with teachers and private school students more likely to build close relationships with their faculties. that’s very important part of all student’s experiences.