Pack your bags! It’s time to plan one of the most exciting parts of your journey to choose your perfect university: the campus visit.
Don’t be tempted to skip an in-person experience. It’s so important! Although there is a place for virtual visits, nothing can compare with physically stepping foot on campus, feeling the vibe and experiencing life as a student. Connecting in person with the campus community, including students, faculty and staff, will give you authentic insights into the people who will be part of your daily life. It will also allow you to explore beyond slick brochures and curated web experiences. You’ll get to peek behind the curtain and see for yourself what the university is all about.
So, how do you get the most out of your visit? We’ve got several ideas for you:
Plan ahead.
This may seem obvious, but do some research on the university’s website and make a list of what you’d like to explore. A specific academic program? Residential life? Spiritual experiences? Athletics? Internships? Most universities will tailor your visits to your own interests, so take advantage of this. NNU has individual tours, small group tours, and can even arrange a one-on-one coffee with a student. Experience the University your way! You can arrange an individual visit or a group visit. Or, you can escape the high school routine for a day and experience an NNU Friday. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. Check out all your options.
Engage with others.
During your visit, don’t just sit there passively waiting for the university to serve up what they want you to see. Make a list of questions for students, professors, admissions counselors, or other people you might encounter during your visit. Nearly as important as academics is learning how to navigate student life. Learning about finances, dorm life, student government, clubs and academic resources from current students will help you understand how student life works and how you fit in.
Immerse yourself.
Be sure to build in time to explore the campus independently. Wander through academic halls, sit in on a class, experience a chapel service, attend a game. At NNU, if it’s ski season and you ski or snowboard, see if there’s a trip to Bogus Basin you can join. If it’s warmer weather, how about a float trip on the Payette or Boise River? You can even build in an extra half day to fully experience life as a student. Imagine yourself here, eating, living and studying alongside the students. Can you envision it?
Reflect.
Make sure you take time for reflection, both during the visit and following it. What stood out to you? What didn’t you understand? What made you feel welcomed? What might you be anxious about? Go beyond a traditional “pros and cons” list to help you analyze your experience. Write down what you felt while you were on campus. If you are visiting multiple campuses, be sure to do this for each visit. Talk with a parent, trusted teacher or counselor and your peers to help you sort through your experiences.
A campus visit isn’t just about working through a checklist—it’s about finding a home. A place where you can grow academically, personally, socially and spiritually over the next years of your life. If you make multiple visits (which we encourage!), each will help you understand what the school has to offer, and you’ll ultimately make a more informed decision about the best fit for you.
So go ahead. Immerse yourself. Envision in real-time whether you can see yourself thriving here.
