2013-2014 College Visits

ATTENTION SLHS JUNIORS & SENIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you been on a college visit? Have you checked out college campuses?? How many???

I firmly believe in the power that college visits have on the decision-making of choosing a college. Why? Because I know first hand how beneficial they are. Sit back, get comfortable and enjoy the short story I am about to tell...

Once upon a time when I was a sophomore in high school I had a conversation with my cousin, a junior, who had just returned from a band camp held at an Eastern Iowa private college (name will remain unidentified). She couldn't stop ranting and raving about how great this college was, how the campus is so beautiful, and that all freshmen are given laptops.

WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!

Free laptops? Seriously?! I was sold. Ok, now understand that I started this story with once upon a time meaning this took place a long time ago when laptops were almost unheard of and they weighed a measly 20 lbs., minimum. Regardless, they were the coolest thing since sliced bread and receiving one for free was all it took for me to declare I would be attending this unidentified Eastern Iowa college upon high school graduation. 

For the next year, I broadcasted my post-graduation plans to anybody and everybody. I couldn't wait to attend this college! That is until I became a junior and my parents insisted I go on a college visit to this particular institution. 

Mom, dad, my younger brother and I jumped into the family minivan early one morning and began our 4 hour trek to visit the college of my dreams, I could hardly contain my excitement!

We arrived at our destination, and before we went to the campus we drove around the town/city (I can't say for sure otherwise you'll be able to identify this college I speak of) to check out the surrounding area. First red flag, I wasn't really sure about the location. I was envisioning palm trees and white sandy beaches, houses with pillars and gold siding. Maybe not exactly that, but definitely not what I was seeing in the surrounding neighborhoods. I kept my feelings to myself and kept my positive attitude going forth into the college visit.....and then we parked at the visitor parking lot on the campus and got out of the vehicle. Second red flag, I got an instant gut feeling and it wasn't pleasant. I can't explain why I wasn't overjoyed and head over heels in love with what I was finally seeing, I just knew it wasn't at all what I was anticipating! I swallowed my feelings yet again and my family and I met with the people at the colleges admissions and began our tour of the campus. 

Long story slightly shorter, our tour was intended to take 2 hours and within 20 minutes my family and I were loaded back in our minivan and headed home. 

The End. 

So why do I stress and stress to my students to actually VISIT the colleges they are thinking of attending? Because you have to feel comfortable where you are going to be living for the next 2+ years in order to flourish both personally and academically. It's a key factor in whether or not college will be a positive experience.

So, now for some college visit opportunities!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juniors, seniors, and their parents are welcome to attend scheduled college visits for the 2013-2014 school year. 

Wednesday, September 11th : South Dakota State University 
Friday, November 15th: Cornell College OR Kirkwood Community College 
Friday, March 21st: AIB College of Business OR Des Moines Area Community College 
Wednesday, April 16th: DeVry University OR The Art Institute International of Minnesota 

Sign-up to attend one, two, or all of the scheduled college visits here! 
Deadlines to sign-up are a week prior to the scheduled visit.