• Current page is 1: Articles

• 3: Parents
• 4: Students
• 5: Educators

Search: 

Jun 24, 2008

There are many important discoveries to be made as children prepare to set out on the road to independence, but not every discovery is made by the child.

Category: General

Posted by: webmaster

By: Debbie Olsen for The Calgary Herald

As I sat munching on a salad and a slice of pizza in the Dalhousie University cafeteria with my husband and our 18-year-old son recently, I couldn't help noticing how much cafeteria food had improved over the past 25 years. I also couldn't help noticing my husband and I were the oldest people in the entire room -- except for the janitor. Some discoveries are better than others.

Even though the college road trip forms the premise for a cheesy Disney comedy, visiting post-secondary institutions with your child is actually a good idea. It's advantageous for prospective students to know exactly what they're signing up for and it's equally good for parents to know where all their hard-earned dollars will be going once their child is enrolled. After all, who wants to commit years of their life and thousands of dollars to a school they've never even seen?

Not to mention the opportunity to combine college research with local sightseeing -- in Dalhousie's Halifax, we could choose from the historic Citadel, the reclaimed piers on the harbour for great shopping and seafood . . . but back to the main event. It's all about education, after all.

Choosing which post-secondary institution to attend can be one of the most important decisions a young person makes, and schools and training institutions today are encouraging prospective students to come for a visit to help them decide. Most schools put a lot of effort into making campus visits fun and educational.

"It's a good idea for prospective students to visit campuses and find out what they have to offer," says Jody Crowe, manager of events and conversion campaigns at the University of Calgary.

"Students don't need to wait until their Grade 12 year to come for a campus visit either. It can be worthwhile for a younger student to visit campus as soon as he or she starts thinking about future career choices."

Although campus tours used to be geared solely towards students, many schools are encouraging parents to check out the campus as well.

"We want parents to visit campus with their kids," Crowe explains. "At our annual open house each fall, we even offer special parent sessions that cover everything from residence and campus security issues to what changes you might expect to see in students as they progress through the college years. The courses are designed to address parents' concerns and make the transition from high school to college go more smoothly for the entire family."

To make it easier to visit campus, most post-secondary institutions have regular organized campus tours that are often led by current students who serve as ambassadors. There are also information sessions and goody bags for prospective students filled with campus logo items, registration materials and other information. Some institutions offer prize draws for prospective students at events such as campus open houses, while others reimburse a portion of the travelling expenses associated with any kind of campus visit.

"We had a draw for some laptop computers at a recent event for prospective students," Crowe notes. "In the fall, we're planning to draw for a semester of free tuition at our campus open house. We want to do all we can to encourage prospective students and their parents to visit campus."

At Dalhousie University, our campus tour included free lunch in the cafeteria, a free pass to the fitness facilities, an admissions presentation, a Dalhousie bag for our son, a discount coupon for the campus book store and meetings with various faculty members.

"Going to university is a lot more than just the classes," explains Mike, a fourth-year arts major who served as our tour guide on campus. "University is an experience -- (and) attending Dal has been a great experience for me."

After a tour of Dalhousie and a quick stop at nearby Kings College, we visited Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, where we had the pleasure of dining on free cafeteria food once again. By the time we were finished, we knew the pros and cons of all three institutions (and their cafeterias) as well as several other institutions we'd previously visited closer to home. Even then, choosing the right school hasn't been easy for our son.

One thing we've learned for certain from our visits to colleges and universities around the country -- unlike the teenaged character in the Disney movie The College Road Trip, our son was glad to have his parents tag along. Or so he said. This journey of discovery isn't quite finished yet.

Seeing the sites

You can make a campus visit even more fun by taking time to visit campus tourist sites. Since these places are there largely to serve the student population, entrance fees tend to be reasonably priced or even free of charge.

Dalhousie had a small but interesting science museum onsite, while Mount Allison boasts the oldest university art gallery in Canada. Be sure to visit the Nickle Arts Museum on the University of Calgary campus and the Palaeontology Museum or the Human Ecology Museum at the University of Alberta. At Mount Royal College, you can take in a theatrical performance or try out the climbing wall.

Look for information on museums and other campus attractions and events by visiting the school's website prior to your visit.

Planning a college road trip

Recommended age: When students start thinking about their future career choices, they may be interested in visiting a post-secondary institution. Campus visits are designed to help students figure out what courses they will need to take in high school to prepare for their potential career choice and what kind of grades they will need in order to be accepted into the program they want to take. It can be a great motivator for some students.

When to go: Most campuses offer tours year-round but spring and summer tend to be the busiest months. If you're vacationing in or near a city that has a school offering a program that interests your child, consider arranging a campus tour.

Research: It's a good idea to check out various universities on the web prior to visiting. Come with questions that you have about the campus, the program, residence, classes or the school experience itself.

Maclean's Magazine publishes an annual guide to Canadian universities, which profiles 67 schools and can be helpful in narrowing down the university choices. The annual guide retails for $19.95 at most bookstores.

Contact: Contact the school in advance and arrange a campus tour. If you let them know what your child's intended major will be, the university may be able to arrange special meetings with professors or admissions counsellors who can give you great information or advice on how to get accepted into the program you are interested in.

Accommodations: If you're visiting during the spring and summer months, you may be able to reserve a room right on campus. Many colleges and universities open their empty dorm rooms up for nightly rental from early May through late August.

The rates are often much more reasonable than hotel accommodations and can be a great option for families on vacation. Most schools have accommodation links on their websites.

Did You Know?

Alberta's oldest university, the University of Alberta, is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. There'll be centenary events including a gardening contest, a photography contest and a homecoming event for alumni. For more information, visit: www.ualberta.ca/ALUMNI/centenary/index.html.

Print

© Copyright 2004-2008 - EducationBoard.ca

Disclaimer | Site Map