I remember looking at colleges and realizing I couldn’t decide where I would go for school on a number scale. Choosing a school was difficult because I took so much into consideration including how I would fare academically, develop professionally, and grow in character.  That is why college visits are so important; it is your opportunity to see if that particular school feels right.

Here are my tips on your campus visit:

Before your visit:

Make the most of your time on campus by scheduling activities and planning to spend a substantial amount of time on campus. Come for a tour, meet a professor, refuel at Starbucks, and stay for a sporting event. Think of some questions to ask your tour guide about their experience (their favorite Butler memory, their favorite professor, what makes Butler different than the other schools they were looking at). Also, think of a few questions to ask your admissions counselor or a professor to get a better understanding of academics (what Butler Alumni are doing now, what they enjoy about working for Butler, what advice they have for you as a high school junior or senior). Remember, this could be the only time you spend on campus or interacting with a student or professor before you make your decision, so you want to have as much information as possible.

During your visit:

Ask yourself this question: Can I see myself here for four years? Ask this early and often.   Butler has the resources to enable you to grow professionally, academically, and inter-personally. Do you see yourself being able to do so at Butler? Do you see yourself getting involved and enjoying academic, professional, and extra-curricular programs and organizations at Butler? Could you see yourself being a member of the community here?  You might even see yourself being friends with your tour guide or the students you interacted with!

After your visit:

TAKE NOTES. Write down your thoughts, additional questions, and what stuck out to you, good or bad. What did you like? What did you not like? Make notes about everything you experienced. You probably won’t remember most of the impressionable things about your visit after looking at dozens of different schools, which is why your notes will help you when it comes to making the final decision.

For me, electing to spend my four years at Butler was initially a “gut-feeling”. My intuition told me to come to Butler and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I hope everyone’s college decision is clear because certainly making such a big decision isn’t always easy. Four years later, I hope that all high-school juniors and seniors experience this same sense of clarity. My intuition told me Butler, which was also the smart choice with nationally recognized academic programs and the compassionate community that I thought I would thrive in academically, intellectually, professionally, and inter-personally. We hope you choose Butler as well!

Carolina G.