Time is flying by! Due dates feel so close and yet so far. Especially with the end of the first quarter and as a senior those college application due dates feel closer and closer every day. Applying to colleges can be a stressful process, but McMahon offers a lot of resources to help students navigate their way through it. 

One of those resources is in-school college visits. In-school college visits are such a valuable experience for not only seniors but juniors even as they allow us to learn about different colleges without even leaving McMahon. College visits can also be expensive if you want to visit anything out of state so these visits also provide a good information session without splurging on a day trip. 

These visits are an exciting opportunity for students to envision themselves as part of the college community and make informed decisions about their future while also letting colleges branch out to potential applicants in a more personal form. 

Nick Calise, a senior here at McMahon explained the importance of these visits best  “These visits have helped! They provide great information and give me a guide on what I should expect from each school I’m applying to.” 

While these visits help plenty of seniors they also help Admissions Officers determine what students are showing interest in their school and plan on applying, but don’t take it from me this is what the admissions officer for Syracuse University had to say about the matter. “When you apply, visits like these can help us know you are interested and these help you determine whether a school is right for you and a good fit. We (Syracuse) are a medium-sized research school and that’s not for everyone so these visits help you determine whether you should apply or not.” 

These interactions with college representatives help you get a better understanding of the academic and social environment these schools have to offer and how that matches your career goals and your plans. 

For many these visits have helped them make more informed decisions about their future education and career paths including Senior, Michael Ordonez as he explains “They gave me a better understanding of what I’m getting myself into and whether I want to apply to a school. They helped me better narrow down my list with schools that match me as an individual.” 

Matt Plank, an undergraduate admissions director at Sacred Heart University furthers the idea that these visits are nothing but beneficial for students during this stressful process. He explains “It’s helpful to see students show interest to us admissions officers and for any student, it’s useful to hear more specifics that you may not get in a campus tour as these are more one-on-one and can provide a place to ask specific questions.” 

So seniors, if you haven’t gone to any of the college visits McMahon has offered schedule one now! They’ll only help with your college process and will narrow down that college search. Registration for these visits can be found in your Naviance and colleges are frequently scheduling new dates so take advantage of these resources. Good luck to all my seniors with this process! You got this!