Four Things You Need to Do During a College's Open House
If you're in the process of picking which college you're going to attend, you're probably deep into your research, learning about the facilities your chosen schools have, the details of the program you want to take, and all of the finer points of applying to your education. But, when choosing your college, there's more you need to look into than just the information that's online. The most important thing that you can't do online is seeing the place for yourself before you attend. That's why college open houses exist, to give you a chance to look at the facilities. Centennial College's open house, Connect With Centennial, will be happening Sunday, March 26th. Here's why you need to go to events like this if you're choosing your college, and what you need to find out while you're there.
1) You need to see if you like the location
The best program in the world can become difficult if you don't like where it's being taught, which is why you need to see if a college's campus is going to work for you. And I don't just mean if it has the facilities you need, though that's a part of it. It's something a bit more intangible. Do you like the campus? Does the atmosphere suit you? Will you be okay spending a lot of time there? It's an important question, and one you need to be there to answer.
Don't just confine it to the school, either. If you have time, get away from the building and look at the neighbourhood it's in, and see if you like it, and what facilities are nearby. At the very least, you'll find out if you have somewhere you can go for lunch. If you like the location, the program will be easier.
2) Learn about campus services
While you're there, you'll also need to find some practical things out. Do they have a gym? What's it like? Is their library good? Is there study space? Can you work in their study environment? Look for the odd things, too, like legal advice or clothing stores. Open houses are the best time to learn about services like that. Look at the campus culture, too, to see if they have a student association, or any special events or clubs you can take part in when you're not studying.
3) Learn about your program, and the people in it
Most orientations set time aside to let you break out and meet the instructors of your specific program, too, so you can get a sense of whether or not you'd like to work with them. During these events, you can also meet your fellow students. The people around you will be very important to your future success, so it's important to take measure of them, and see who you'll be working with.
4) Take the time to ask some questions
Once you get in front of the right people, it's important to know what questions you need to ask. Here are some examples, some of which will give you the information you can't find online:
To your potential teachers, ask them:
- What's the usual size of your classes?
- How easy will it be to speak to you outside class?
- What's the most difficult thing about the program?
- What kind of academic support is offered if my grades are in trouble?
- How will internships and placements work in this program (if applicable)?
To any students you find, ask:
- Why did you pick this school?
- Do you live on campus, or do you commute here?
- If you commute to school, how do you get here, and how busy is it?
- If you live on residence, how often do you visit home?
- Where do you go to study?
- What do you do for fun on and around campus?
- What was the most difficult thing to get used to here?
- Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew when you first started here?
5) Get some free stuff
Another small bonus about open houses: There's usually free stuff, ranging from simple items like agenda books and water bottles to larger prizes. The year of my college orientation, I actually won an iPod. It's just another extra reason to go. There's even a chance to win $2,000 off your tuition, one of the best prizes a student can win, giving you an even better reason to go. Connect with Centennial is happening this weekend. Be sure to visit us, and learn about how we can connect you to career success.
Anthony Geremia