How can you and your student make the most of your time on a campus visit? What specific questions should you ask? And who, exactly, should you talk to? Here, several Christian college admissions counselors share advice for how you can prepare for the college visit and ultimately find the best school for your son or daughter.

Before your family visits any campus, sit down with your son or daughter and ask him or her what it is they hope to get out of their college experience. Have your child make a list of their interests and goals, then discuss the schools he or she is drawn to. Encourage your student to speak freely about his or her own needs, dreams and vision for the future. And avoid projecting your own values or priorities onto your child.

"I've seen students clam up when their parents are around," says Bart Walker, director of admissions at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. "The second Mom or Dad leaves the room, though, they'll blurt out, 'Mom's hung up on me majoring in chemistry, but I want to go into business. What's your business program like?' This is why it's important to have those frank discussions prior to the visit—so that you know what's going on inside your child's head."

Amy Holderby, associate director of admissions at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, suggests parents and students discuss what she calls the "non-negotiables."

"For instance, if parents have raised their son or daughter to hold to a key area of belief but a certain university not only doesn't support it but teaches against it, then that's a non-negotiable," says Holderby.

Though matters of belief may be among the non-negotiables, admissions experts say it's a good idea to be flexible about other guidelines.

"Keep in mind that sometimes the most important things at the start of your search don't end up being the most important things in the end," notes Michelle Hammaker, assistant director of admissions at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. "Or perhaps something that your child may have originally viewed as a negative—like a curfew—doesn't end up being that big of a deal when weighed against all the positives the school has to offer."

The bottom line: Examine your own non-negotiables and determine if they really are "hills to die on." If they are, stick to them. If not, let go of them. Encourage your son or daughter to do the same.

Admissions experts stress the importance of doing your homework prior to the campus visit. Get online to peruse college websites and carefully read through the materials the college has sent.

"Having your surface-level questions answered ahead of time keeps you from getting bogged down with the general questions that can easily soak up the day," explains Robert Heil, assistant vice president for enrollment at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. "Instead, you can spend your time digging deeper to get the nuts and bolts of a campus."

Think about how the campus' facilities will accommodate your child's needs. Also, ask focused questions that will help you get a feel for what your child's experience would be like on that campus.

"Let's say your daughter wants to study music," says Walker. "Find out what the music facilities are like. Are there private practice halls available, or will your daughter be driving her roommate nuts?"

Extracurriculars are also worth exploring. Perhaps your son was involved in athletics all through high school. Find out what kind of intramural opportunities are available and how easy it is for students to get involved.

Also, does your child want to volunteer on campus or in the surrounding community? Then talk to someone knowledgeable about these types of opportunities, such as the director of student ministries. Find out about the opportunities in the area (such as nursing homes, rescue missions, Boys & Girls Clubs).

The key is for you and your teen to talk together about what he or she needs academically, socially and spiritually—and then tailor your visit to find out if and how each college can meet those needs.

Since students spend more time in their dorm rooms than they do in their classrooms, it pays to inquire about whether a school makes an effort to interweave living and learning opportunities. This integration can take a variety of forms. Many schools have specific programs and learning experiences that help students develop specific life skills and well-rounded leadership skills.

Abilene Christian University, for example, has created living and learning communities for freshmen and sophomores. In this specialized program, 15 or 20 students from the same residence halls take a cluster of classes together in an area of interest. For instance, business majors may want to explore how faith intersects with the marketplace.

"This set-up invites conversations to spill over into the residence halls and dining hall during the evening," says Heil.

During your college visits, ask current students what the campus does and doesn't do to foster a learning environment. Also, when you're walking around campus, skim the bulletin boards to see what kinds of activities are posted, and skim the student newspaper for stories about creative learning experiences on campus.

Admissions counselors encourage parents to ask questions throughout the process. If you have a list of questions prior to the visit, go online to the school's website and find the admissions counselor that your son or daughter will have (this is often assigned by geographic region) and e-mail that person questions specifically related to your child's needs. The same is true after the visit. Call or e-mail your child's admissions counselor with any follow-up questions.

If you prefer to speak to someone in person, you can hold your questions until the campus visit, but be sure to draft your list of questions ahead of time so you won't forget to ask the things that might not readily pop into your head during the visit. For example, to get an idea of your child's career potential, you may ask questions like, "What lines of work do graduates from this college often go into? What kinds of fields are students prepared for when they graduate? What are graduates doing four or five years out?" That's visible evidence of quality of graduates the school has produced. To get a feel for how well students like the school, inquire about the retention rate. Ask, "How many students return after freshman year? Of those who started here as freshmen, how many actually graduate from this school?"

You also want to ensure that the spiritual foundation you've built for your son or daughter over the past 18 years is strengthened while at college. So ask admissions counselors and other faculty members the following questions: "What do you believe theologically? How does the university prepare young people to know and own their faith? What opportunities do students have to exercise their spiritual gifts (such as missions trips, community involvement, leadership opportunities)?"

But for the most honest, straightforward answers to what life on a college campus is like, go straight to the "real experts"—the students themselves. Holderby suggests asking current students questions like, "How has this college changed you? Has this school helped you think biblically? What programs are offered that have challenged you spiritually? Academically? How strong is chapel? Has this school promoted spiritual growth in your life?"

Finally, take your money-related questions to the school's financial aid officer: "What scholarships might my child be eligible for? How are scholarships approved and accepted? How are payment plans set up? Do you pay per semester or are there 5-month or 10-month payment plans? Do you use a flat-rate tuition (a payment plan where students pay the same amount whether they take 12, 15 or 18 credit hours)?"

And don't forget to ask: "What's included in your financial aid package?"

"Some schools include loans in their financial aid package and it skews the numbers, making the cost appear a lot cheaper than it really is," explains Hammaker. "Parents don't realize that there's a $2,000 or $5,000 loan included in their financial aid package that they weren't planning on."

Nevertheless, don't get too caught up on the cost, whatever it may be.

"Get beyond the numbers and learn everything you can about the value of that school," suggests Tim Hoffman, assistant director of undergraduate admissions at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. "Yes, a school may cost more than you had hoped or planned, but if it's the right school for your child both academically and spiritually, then it's a worthwhile investment."

If you have the chance, it's not a bad idea to go on a few college visits during your child's freshman and sophomore years of high school. This way your son or daughter can get an overall feel for the campus atmosphere so that during junior year he or she will feel more comfortable going on those "deeper visits."

Walker sees parents and potential students walking around campus with video camcorders, digital cameras, notepads, you name it. "They're all trying to capture the essence of the school to help them remember what they saw and how they felt when they were here," says Walker. That's not a bad idea. Holderby says that after so many visits, it's easy for your child's feelings to fade and for campus visits to run together—especially if you've visited a number of schools. So after each campus visit, pick your child's brain. Ask your teen what he or she liked, what he or she didn't like and why. You should also share your impressions.

Pro-and-con lists are never a bad idea when it comes to evaluating and comparing schools. But whatever methods and strategies you use, admissions counselors advise you to pray often, seek God's guidance and search out wise counsel.

"If your family is struggling to make a decision, ask a trusted 'third party,' such as a pastor or guidance counselor, to pose questions about the overall impression both you and your child had of each school," suggests Holderby. "This often helps put things into perspective."

"If a certain school has a nurturing campus life, great opportunities for ministry involvement and classroom experiences that will enhance and promote your child's life socially, academically and spiritually, then all indications suggest that this school will serve your son or daughter well," says Hammaker.

And remember—the school also wants to find a good match.

"We try to really get to know each potential student to determine if they are a good fit with our institution," says Walker. "After all, we're recruiting alumni—not freshmen."

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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