These key points will differ from person to person but at the very least it is a great idea to note which things, both positive and negative, really jumped out at you during your visit.  If you’re feeling extra ambitious you might come up with some categories to fill in about each school, much like the checklist of characteristics I mentioned in my last article.

Other than that, you might note things you want to look up on the school’s website, or other things that you still had questions about after the visit.  Keep in mind, this doesn’t have to be a novel, just some shorthand notes to help you keep track of all of your visits!

I went into school thinking that I was going to be pre-med for sure.  This all changed pretty quickly and I am now an economics major.  Had I chosen a school based solely on its pre-med qualifications, you can imagine I might have been in a bit of  a predicament.  Instead, though, I chose a school that I loved for all of its qualities, from academics to athletic facilities to policies to overall vibe.

Making a list of qualities you seek in a school can be very helpful.  In that way you can see the schools that appeal to you most overall, rather than just based on one thing.  Not everything should be weighted the same, i.e. quality of dining hall might be ranked lower than quality of academics  Try a point system with different categories having different maximum points based on their importance.

Sometimes even if you have the opportunity to live with a friend it might be better to go through the random assignment process. Your best friend may be amazing when you see them for a couple hours a day at school but seeing them 24/7 and having to deal with all of the issues that come along with roommates can be difficult when you have a pre-established relationship.

Lastly, do not judge your roommate based on their facebook page! The first thing that 90% of freshmen with randomly assigned roommates do is to facebook stalk. This can be very dangerous! We have all been taught not to judge a book by its cover and going into a new year with preconceived notions is the worst thing to do. However, trying to get to know your roommate a little in advance can be helpful. Talk about who can bring common items to the room like a mini fridge, a television, a microwave etc. Ask what they like/dislike instead of assuming based on what you see online.

Enjoy the experience!

My name is Brittany and I just completed my Sophomore year at Brown University.  I am from a very small, very quiet town in Massachusetts so living in a city such as Providence for the past couple of years has been an amazing and exciting experience.  The opportunities that have presented themselves over the past two years have been countless and I cannot wait to see what the next two years bring!

I play varsity lacrosse at school and cannot imagine my life without it.  My teammates are my family and my best friends.  The time commitment involved both in and out of season is extensive but it has only made me more efficient and it has taught me the valuable time management skills that I know I will carry with me later in life.  With the lacrosse team I have had the opportunity to participate in a mentoring program with a local elementary school as well as fundraising for both juvenile diabetes research and the Friends of Jaclyn foundation.

Because I was recruited to play a sport at school, my college search and application process were much different than the traditional experience.  The application deadlines for me were pushed up several months and I had the opportunity to go on “official visits” to the schools that were recruiting me.  While this may not be what most people go through, it taught me valuable lessons such as the importance of visiting a school before you make any decisions about it.  I fell in love with Brown midway through my first tour of the campus when before that I had had my mind set on a different school.

Academically, I have chosen to major in Economics and have been taking a mix of economics, biology and various other subjects.  I have had both ups and downs with miserably hard but incredibly interesting classes as well as super easy but terribly boring classes.  I have learned so much about myself both intellectually and otherwise during my first two years of college and I can’t wait to convey to you all how amazing the college experience has been thus far!