College Visits 101: Essential Tips & Do’s/Don’ts for Parents and Teens

Cathy and Meredith are back with another episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, and this time, they’re tackling the wild world of college visits! From planning the trip to squeezing the most out of every campus tour and, most importantly, figuring out what actually matters once you’re there, they’ve got you covered. Tune in to find out why signing up for the official college tour is a must, which parent-approved tours should really be optional add-ons, and what students should do before stepping foot on campus. They’re sharing the ultimate do’s and don’ts of college visits, why it’s crucial to "pop the hood" on every school, and how to take notes that actually help when decision time rolls around. If you’re a parent gearing up for college tour season, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. Start listening now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:00] We introduce today’s topic of conversation: how to visit colleges.
• [0:02:10] Step one: make an appointment!
• [0:02:45] Our street cred when it comes to college visits.
• [0:04:00] Options for visiting colleges and how to sign up.
• [0:05:20] The type of tour parents think is a good idea, but really should be an add-on.
• [0:06:55] What to do once you arrive at the college for your tour.
• [0:08:40] We share helpful tips for kids to do before they go on college tours.
• [0:12:10] Looking past a bad tour guide: what to look for on your tour.
• [0:14:20] Why we don’t recommend multiple college tours a day.
• [0:16:00] Getting off script and peeking under the hood (of the school!)
• [0:16:30] The importance of making notes and documenting your time on tour.
• [0:18:40] A tip for parents: helping your kid to ask the right questions.
• [0:21:00] Writing “life” observations when on tour (and what is meant by that!)
• [0:22:50] Now that the tour is finished: what not to do, parents!
• [0:25:30] The importance of the exploratory phase of college tours.
• [0:27:45] Getting what you want without strongarming your kid.
• [0:29:00] What you don’t want as a result of a college tour.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

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