As any high school senior knows, there鈥檚 ridiculous pressure for students to discover and commit to the best college. With so many options to evaluate and limited time, it鈥檚 tempting to forego in-person visits in favor of virtual tours. But if you鈥檙e willing to take advice from someone who remembers the difficulty of making that decision, consider the following reasons why an in-person college visit will hugely benefit you:
1. A website isn鈥檛 enough!
If you鈥檙e interested in Cairn, a virtual tour will only give you a taste of a full college tour experience. It鈥檚 the difference between seeing a picture of a Philly cheesesteak and eating one. Visiting in person will give you a holistic interaction with Cairn鈥檚 campus.
2. You need to talk to students
On your visit, you鈥檒l be able to ask a variety of students about their experiences. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask your guides questions:
- What is the best and worst part about being a student at Cairn?
- How can students become part of the communities on campus?
- What鈥檚 something you wish you knew before becoming a student?
It鈥檚 important to be able to ask many different students about their perspectives so you can consider whether you see yourself as a potential student.
3. Ability to talk to professors
When I was considering Cairn, I had the opportunity to talk to a professor about the University. Even though this professor wasn鈥檛 in my intended area of study, he was willing to talk to me about why I should consider attending Cairn. He invited me to attend one of his classes when I visited campus, and I was struck by the depth of discussion and student engagement in his classroom. His zeal for education is one of the reasons I decided Cairn was my best choice. Upon attending classes as a student, I discovered a plethora of professors passionate about the subjects they teach. If I had never visited campus, I would not have been able to evaluate Cairn鈥檚 professors in the same way.
4. A chance to walk the campus
Students who come to visit will be able to walk around our beautiful campus and envision whether or not they can imagine themselves as students. The first time I visited Cairn, I remember loving the abundance of trees on campus; the colors are beautiful in the fall, and I firmly believe some trees were created to be climbed. Whatever path you take or trees you climb in your explorations, visiting the Heritage and Manor residence halls is also important. You鈥檒l see what daily dorm life looks like and can see the possibility of your future as a resident.
5. Opportunity to visit the surrounding area
If you visit Cairn, you鈥檒l also be able to scope out students鈥� favorite local areas. Scouting close coffee shops like Johnson Hall and exploring nearby towns like Newtown will help you picture your potential future homework haunts. My friends and I also take advantage of our nearby Dunkin, Taco Bell, Wendy鈥檚, Chick-Fil-A, and Wawa for any late-night necessities. It鈥檚 nice to drive around the area to see how students can spend their social lives outside of class! Moreover, with a train station within walking distance of campus, there鈥檚 also ample opportunities to head into Center City with friends for all sorts of fun.
As a current student who was once in your shoes, I highly recommend visiting campus. It will make your decision-making process easier, and give you a clearer vision of what Cairn has to offer students. If you鈥檙e able to, don鈥檛 hesitate to schedule a time to visit our campus. Visit cairn.edu/visit for more information and to sign up for a visit today!
