Campus Visit Crucial When Selecting a College

Michael Jacobsen of Laurel may have attended a different university if he had not visited Wayne State College and learned that freshmen students were able to work on their own research projects immediately. For Jacobsen, research was one of the key points when choosing a college.

"During my visit, I found out I could start right away in the lab working on my own project idea and interacting with other researchers. Within a week of graduating from high school, I was doing just that at Wayne State College," said Jacobsen, a senior majoring in biology, chemistry and computer science.

Peru State College Admission Director Micki Willis said, "The campus visit is the single most important part of the college search process. You can only learn so much from brochures and videos. Once students spend time on campus, they will know if they can see themselves as a student at that school."

A 2004 research study conducted by Carnegie Communications for the Nebraska State College System indicated that parents were the number one group that influences students when making the college decision. The second was friends followed by teachers and guidance counselors.

"We encourage students to bring their parents or friends along for the visit. This way they all have the opportunity to experience the campus atmosphere and ask faculty, staff and current students’ questions," Willis said.

Chadron State College, located in northwest Nebraska, can be considered remote by some people, according to Chadron State Admissions Director Tena Cook. For this reason, Cook said, "The campus visit is particularly crucial. A student or their family members may have certain feelings toward a college prior to the visit based on outside influences or experiences. During a personal visit, they are able to make decisions based on first-hand experience."

Cook added that a campus visit provides the student with a chance to be a part of the college atmosphere for a short time. Sometimes it only takes one small occurrence to make a college become the place they want to attend.

"One time I gave a personal tour to a student the day before Thanksgiving. Her family was in town for the holiday and couldn’t make it back another time to tour. She later attended Chadron State and told me she always remembered that Wednesday tour I gave her family," Cook said.

Willis added, "Treat discovering the right college like shopping for the perfect car. Make sure to do your research, quiz the sales people, and take a test drive. Without visiting a college, students may end up choosing the wrong college."

The Nebraska State College System serves 8,000 students from Nebraska and surrounding states through three geographically diverse institutions: Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. Combined, the three colleges offer more than 200 degree, certificate, and pre-professional programs that are accessible on the three campuses, via the Internet, and in several satellite locations throughout the state. With more than 250 credentialed faculty members and 50,000 successful graduates, the NSCS provides significant human and intellectual capital that contributes to the current and future economic strength of the State of Nebraska.