The Darien High School Guidance Department strives to provide optimal educational planning through individually guided course selection, personal assistance with the college selection process, student training in study skills, and awareness of summer enrichment programs, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities while providing parents and teachers with information to help in our joint endeavors of assisting the development of the individual student

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Planning Your Campus Visit

Visiting college campuses, though time consuming, is one of the most valuable experiences in helping you to evaluate a university.  Through a visit, you will learn more about the college you are considering. Remember, whatever college you choose will be your home for the next four years, so be sure to do your research.  Campus visits provide “real life” experiences you cannot get from reading a brochure.  

BEFORE YOUR VISIT       

  1. Do your research
  2. Review mail received from the college you are visiting
  3. Visit your College and Career Center to learn more about the college.
  4. Check out the college’s web site.
  5. Speak with current student or alums.
  6. Create a list of questions that you need answered.

YOUR TRIP

  1. If you are visiting more that one college per day schedule wisely.
  2. Make appointments through the Admission Office.
  3. Meet with a student tour guide who can walk you around campus and tell you about their experience.
  4. Take notes and pictures to remember what you liked about the campus.
  5. Talk with professors or coach on campus and try to sit in on a class.

MAKE THE MOST OF IT

  1. Make your connections count on campus by collecting business cards or writing down names of the people you meet.
  2. Meet the admission counselor who will visit Darien in the fall, or the person who will review the applications from DHS.
  3. Get email addresses of students you meet for future questions.

ENJOY!

  1. Follow up visits with thank you letters or emails to the people that were helpful.
  2. Email your admissions counselor expressing your gratitude and continued interest.
  3. Make sure your visits are when classes are in session so that you can experience the college as it would be in the fall or spring semesters.
  4. Speak with your Counselor about your college visit experiences.

QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR:

  1. What type of student is happiest here?
  2. What do kids do on the weekends?
  3. What do you look for in an applicant?
  4. What do students do after graduation?

QUESTIONS FOR THE TOUR GUIDE:

  1. What is your major and how did you choose it?
  2. What do kids do on the weekends?
  3. Do you always get the classes you want?
  4. Why did you choose to come here?
  5. What is the biggest downside to attending here?
  6. Where is the best place to live on campus?

THE INTERVIEW

Colleges go about the process of interviewing students in many different ways.  Some colleges no longer offer interviews, as they cannot possibly interview all of the students who request the opportunity to do so.  Others may conduct interviews through alumni in the local area.  Admissions Counselors may interview students on or off-campus, and on-campus interviewers may be employees or current students at the university.  Regardless, the questions will be somewhat similar. 

In the past year, Darien High School students have been asked the following questions during interviews:

  • Bucknell - Who is your favorite musical artist?
  • UConn - How would you describe yourself?
  • Dartmouth - What is your most significant achievement? - What made you decide to apply to Dartmouth?
  • Gettysburg - What do you think you will contribute to student life?
  • Hamilton - What would you change about your high school? - How will you transition your extracurricular endeavors to college?
  • Harvard - Why Harvard?
  • Johns Hopkins - If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?
  • Pratt Institute - Where do you see yourself after college?
  • Roanoke  - How do you think you can strengthen our college community?