How to Make the Most Out of College Visits at Your High School

Amid the pile of college applications, seniors are often encouraged to attend rep visits—but what exactly is a rep visit, and why should your child take full advantage of it? In this week’s episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, Cathy and Meredith explore how you and your teen can maximize the benefits of college rep visits at their school. They break down why these visits are important, and what to do (and what to avoid) while attending, and Cathy shares one of the most commonly missed opportunities during rep visits. You’ll also hear about the types of questions students should ask, which ones to skip, and what demonstrated interest is, and how it can sometimes play a role in the admissions process. If your child hasn’t mentioned anything about rep visits at school, be sure to check in with them or reach out to the school for more information. Tune in now for all this, and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:03:00] A timely, yet practical, issue that is today’s focus.
• [0:03:25] What we mean by “rep visits”.
• [0:04:00] Why it’s a good idea for students to attend these sessions.
• [0:05:10] We explain what these sessions encompass (from first-hand experience)!
• [0:07:40] What to do when you show up to your scheduled rep visit.
• [0:08:45] What not to do at these rep visits.
• [0:09:23] The main purpose of the rep’s job.
• [0:10:20] A major missed opportunity Cathy has seen in these visits.
• [0:11:00] Our thoughts on the types and range of questions you can ask.
• [0:12:50] Why a little bit of prep in advance is not a bad idea.
• [0:13:10] What questions you should and shouldn’t ask.
• [0:15:30] Showing up to visits in respectful ways.
• [0:17:20] Why email communication is encouraged (for the right reasons).
• [0:20:00] Life as a rep and what makes it just that little bit better.
• [0:22:10] Why it’s not the end of the world if your child can’t make the rep visit.
• [0:23:18] We talk about demonstrated interest and how reps play a role.
• [0:24:13] How demonstrating interests varies but often involves attending formal programs that the school puts on.
• [0:24:46] What demonstrating interest can look like.
• [0:26:00] The types of schools that look at demonstrated interest.
• [0:26:40] Taking note of how reps respond to savvy questions.
• [0:27:15] Checking in with your child about school visits and doing some research on them.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

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