Juniors: Sign up for College Rep Visits at Your High School

Regional representatives from the admission staff of colleges visit high schools throughout the country each year to meet with interested students, both in the spring and fall. These meetings usually take place in small groups for 30 to 45 minutes, to answer questions and provide the latest information about their colleges and admission policies.

Check your high school’s policy about attendance at these sessions. Most schools allow juniors time off to attend, beginning in the second semester. But there may be different requirements. For example, juniors may be allowed to attend only if the session occurs during a free period. Your first responsibility is to your academic work. Check with your counseling department for the college visit schedule.

It’s a good idea to do what you can to sign up for and attend any session for a college in which you have a serious interest. The regional representative may be one of the admission officers who will review your file if you end up applying. In addition, you will have a contact at the college to whom you can address questions in the future. If the college or university is one that considers a student’s demonstrated interest, it is important to attend, since your participation may be noted by the representative. Likewise, your absence may be noticed. If you are very interested in a school but cannot attend, leave a note for the representative with your contact information.

Here’s a sample note a student might leave for a visiting college representative if unable to attend a session:

Dear [Mr. / Ms.] [dean name],

I am sorry to have to miss your presentation today, because I am very interested in College X. We have a test today in AP Calculus that I cannot miss.

[Your name, email address, phone number, school, and year of graduation]

For more information on college representative visits and other resources for finding out more about colleges, please see Chapter 8 of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, "Creating an Initial List of Colleges" and check out the books and links at our website under the Book tab at "Resources."