At first, the college search appeared daunting. Myriad guidebooks, college brochures and statistics off the Web formed a mountain on my desk, growing taller each day. Despite my mind turning numb from reading such vital information, such as the female-to-male ratio at each school, and what percentage of students major in psychology, I formed “the list” – eight east coast schools – that grabbed my attention.
In order to find my ideal college, I felt it was crucial to see each campus up close and find out from the students what the guidebooks won’t tell me.
During my college visits last month, I found out gossip about rival schools, tips about dorm-life and local history.
A common trend that I noticed among colleges was the decreased popularity of the Greek system. My tour guide at Dartmouth, who was the president of the Greek system, made a point to tell us that fraternities don’t dominate the social scene.
Amherst College, in Amherst, Mass., disbanded sororities and fraternities about 10 years ago. This college, along with many others, now offer theme houses, where people of similar interests can live together. African-American House and Jazz House are just a couple.
Williams College, in Williamstown, Mass., offers ice climbing and snowshoeing in the Berkshires.
I also discovered that going to a large campus doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get lost in a sea of students. My tour guide from New York University, the largest private university in the country with 33,430 students, sent me a handwritten note, personally thanking me for visiting the campus.
Each college stop took on a distinct personality within the time I was there. The only commonality was the basic visiting formula: a one-hour information session and a one-hour campus tour.
Columbia University in New York City screamed “academia” from the moment I stepped foot on campus. I sat in a cushy leather chair like other prospective students surrounding a solid oak table headed by the assistant dean of admissions. Eyes of renowned alumni stared down at us from their portraits around the room.
In contrast to such a formal setting, Hamilton College, a small liberal arts school in Clinton, N.Y., held its informational meeting on the porch of a large colonial mansion. We sat in white wicker furniture surrounded by a green, lush campus.
I tried asking at least one student during each visit why they chose their respective schools. The answer almost always sounded the same: “I just fell in love with the place.” They didn’t mention a particular academic program or athletic team.
In the end, choosing a college isn’t as daunting of a task as it initially appears. After visiting NYU, Columbia, Wesleyan, Amherst, Dartmouth, Williams, Hamilton and Colgate, I narrowed down “the list” immensely.
My final decision will be based on where I feel the most comfortable and what my gut reaction tells me. By the way, NYU, Dartmouth and Colgate were my three favorite schools.
Scott Fernqvist is a Los Altos resident and interned at the Town Crier over the summer. He will be a junior at Homestead High School in the fall.
