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Visiting Campuses

“A visit to the school you are considering helps a lot – whether during an exchange year, a vacation trip, or a sports contest.” – Theater performance student from England.

If you are able to take a vacation to the United States before you go to college, this could be a great opportunity to visit the campuses you are considering. Many schools organize college tours that are led by current students; check with the undergraduate admissions office for further information. Visit the academic and housing facilities, the student union, and the library to get a good sense of the campus. Americans are famous for being friendly, so talk to the students to find out what college life is really like. Some private organizations offer tours of U.S. colleges to help prospective students see first hand if these schools are right for them. Ask your information or advising center if they have further information about such organizations.

Educational Consultants and Recruiting Agents

In many parts of the world, private agents or agencies work to recruit international students into U.S. colleges. There are also private educational consultants who charge a fee for assisting you with the process of choosing the U.S. colleges and putting together your applications. Often these educational consultants and private agents are graduates of U.S. colleges or people who are dedicated to promoting the benefits and advantages of the U.S. education system. However, sometimes they are not, and so it is important to check the credentials and past performance of educational consultants or agents before using their services.

If you have found a recruiting agent or consultant who is helpful, well informed, and dependable, she or he may be very useful in helping you to select and apply to a college in the United States. Be, careful, however, to look for verifiable signs of the agent’s or consultant’s past success stories with students from your country. Ask for a list of names and addresses of students presently studying in the United States who are there because of the agent’s or consultant’s help. Write, e-mail, or telephone some of these students to get their firsthand opinion of the college where they study and the services they received from the agent or consultant. Such precautions are especially important if the agent or consultant is looking for expensive fees for his or her services. Lastly, always check with an unbiased source (such as a U.S. educational information or advising center) to ensure the legitimacy or accreditation status of the college being represented to you.

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