Oct
05
Should you visit campus?
Posted in General
Last week was a nice change of pace as I got to stay put in the Admission Visitors Center every day. Now I’m up in Minneapolis, staying at my parents’ house, helping with the Minnesota National College Fair, and visiting my own former high school (GO COUGARS), but we’ll save that for a future blog.
This is where the magic happens.
I really like my office. I recently brought in a nice little lamp, because I have an extreme aversion to overheard fluorescent lighting, and this lamp has made a huge difference. It really sets the mood in my workspace. Not only do I feel more relaxed, content, and productive, but I like to think it puts the campus visitors at ease too. The warm glow from the lamp signifies that my office is a friendly, welcoming space. If you want to talk about The University of Iowa, that’s great, let’s do that. But if you’re also looking for somebody to open up to about your fear of whales or your infatuation with your math teacher, that’s ok too. I’m here for you. The lamp is here for you. [Disclaimer: while I do have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I am in no way certified to diagnose your mental health issues.]
Feeling stressed about college? Just stare into the lamp and take deep breaths.
This brings me to my next point. Perhaps you’re still trying to figure out if you should visit campus at all? If that’s the case, please take this simple quiz I have created for you.
Should I Schedule a Campus Visit?
1. What grade are you in?
A. Just a freshman. I’m not really thinking about college yet. I’m just wondering what’s for dinner.
B. I’m a junior, but my mom keeps pestering me to not procrastinate when it comes to college.
C. CLASS OF 2012 ALL THE WAY!!! The past four years at Samuel L. Jackson Community High School have been great, but I’m soooo ready to move on.
2. How much do you know about The University of Iowa already?
A. Not much. In fact, I’m not even completely sure what state it’s in.
B. A bit. My neighbor’s cousin went there and he told me a lot about it. Mostly that it’s awesome.
C. Everything. I’ve wanted to go there since I got out of the womb. I have a tattoo of the Old Capitol on my bicep, and after I workout the golden dome looks like it’s shimmering in the sunlight.
3. Are you interested in attending The University of Iowa?
A. No, not really. I probably want to go to a super small school where the whole student body holds hands and sings lullabies every night.
B. Maybe, but first I need to find out if your school has a linguistics major, water polo club, and soy milk in the cafeteria. [Author’s note: Yes, yes, and yes.]
C. Definitely. I can’t imagine myself going anywhere else.
Answer Key:
If you answered mostly A’s, then you should think about scheduling a campus visit. Even if you are “just a freshman,” you can learn a lot by visiting colleges, and you won’t feel any pressure to make a decision soon. Whether you have already started thinking about your dream school or not, you might be surprised with some of the things you realize you like about different schools when you visit campus. Unfortunately we don’t have campus-wide sing-a-longs (…yet), but we definitely have a very tight-knit community of Hawkeyes. By the way, we are located in Iowa City, IA, but don’t worry, you are not the only one who gets confused sometimes.
If you answered mostly B’s, then you should probably schedule a campus visit. Your mom is a wise lady; don’t put off the college search process until you feel rushed. Hopefully you have an idea of what you’d like to find in a school, but if not, campus visits can be a great way to determine that. You might have heard a lot about a school already–through pamphlets, friends & family, BLOGS–but you can get a true glimpse into life as a student by stepping foot on campus. That way you can sit down with a linguistics professor, check out the new Campus Rec & Wellness Center pool, and chug a glass of soy milk in the dining hall.
If you answered mostly C’s, then you should just go directly to this website: http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/visit/first-year-options.htm. That’s great to hear that you’re a fan of The University of Iowa, but there are still important things to know about the admissions process! As a senior, you’ll definitely want to be aware of upcoming deadlines and opportunities. Even if you think you’ve already made up your mind, it’s still a good idea to visit campus–and not just IOWA. Check out a few other campuses too; that way you can guarantee you’ve found the best fit for you.
So either visit the above link or call toll-free at 800-553-4692 to set up your campus visit!
If you’re still not convinced, hopefully this will entice you. While you’re in Iowa City, you can stop by Cookies & More for a Crunchy Chocolate Chip cookie! The name is deceiving; they are actually chewy. The “crunchy” comes from oatmeal, coconut, and sliced almonds. I think. I don’t know for sure. But they are aaaaaaamazing.
Chewy + crunchy = CHOONCHY!
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What’s new. I keep looking for something fun to read! Your fans are waiting for you.
You are so clever with your little quiz. And, just when I thought you were going to have a blog post that didn’t include something about food..BAM! a picture of a cookie appears. I love it!