Campus tours are an essential part of the college selection process. College catalogs and orientation packets can only give students a cursory look at what a college or university has to offer. And while a school may look perfect on paper, it may turn out not to be a good fit when you finally arrive on campus. By visiting the college or university in person, you will gain a better understanding of the school and of what campus life will really be like. A campus tour also gives you the chance to interact with current students to see what they have to say about the college you are considering. Here are some things to look for in your college campus tours:
Walking Through a Guided Tour
When you schedule your college visit, make sure they offer a guided tour of the campus. While it may seem unusual, some college do not include a comprehensive tour of the campus and facilities. As you are guided around the college, take the time to get a good look at the main buildings and other areas of the campus. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your guide concerning how the campus functions, and what campus life is like for the student body.
campus touring Your visit to the college campus should include a trip through the admissions offices and financial aid
departments, as well as the major classroom buildings and dormitories. There will be a lot to take in on a short visit, but this will give you an idea of how easy or difficult it will be to navigate your way through the college grounds. At this point it is a good policy to question your guide about the state of the campus library, the availability of internet service and the condition of any and all lab facilities you will be relying on when you take up residence.
Photos & Virtual Tours of School Campus Many colleges and universities offer virtual tours via the internet. While these can be helpful at the initial stages of your interest in a particular school, they can not capture the true atmosphere of a college campus as well as a personal tour. Be wary of virtual tours, and use them only as a way of narrowing down your college choices to the the few that you want to definitely consider.
Sitting In On a Classroom SessionMany campus tours offer visitors the opportunity to sit in on a college class. This is a good way for prospective students to get a feel for what the classroom atmosphere is like at a particular university. While you can't judge an entire college's reputation on the strength of one classroom visit, it can be a good indicator of the teaching style, and level of student class involvement, offered by the college. This will help you decide if the college suits your personality as well as your educational needs.After auditing the class, you will have a good opportunity to talk to some of the current students and question them about the school and about campus life. Most students will speak candidly about their experiences at the college, so be prepared with any specific questions you wish to ask. Keep in mind that the students you approach are between classes, so be sure to ask them if they have the time to chat and try to keep it brief.
A Dorm Room Stay Many colleges offer prospective students the opportunity to spend a night in one of their dorms as part of their campus visit. This can be a great chance to see first hand what living on campus will be like. You will be able to see what it will be like to share a dorm with other students, and will get a good feel for what living conditions are like on campus. Remember, if you choose to attend the college you are visiting, this is where you will be living for the next 2 to 4 years. While staying overnight in the dorms, be sure to ask questions of the other students, and make notes about what you like and dislike about the college. These notes will come in handy later when you are comparing the pros and cons of the colleges you have been considering.
Schedule Question Time While touring the college campus, take every opportunity to ask questions of the tour guide, faculty and current students. This will help you gather information on the rigors of class work, the study habits of the student body, what is expected of freshman students and what campus life is like in general. The more you know about the college you are considering, the easier it will be to decide if your personality and study habits make a good fit.
The key to success in college, is to find the school that best meets your needs as both a student and an individual. Gather all the information you can, review it and compare it with other colleges you may be considering, and choose the school that you feel best suits your educational goals. READ MORE...http://www.gocollege.com
Tour: Must-see natural heritage of Croatia: UNESCO National park Plitvice Waterfalls (10-11 hrs tour)
Of all the things Croatia has to offer to visitors, the nature in this country is definitely one of the greatest attractions. And when speaking about Croatian nature the first thing you should see after the coast is the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Once you arrive to Plitvice you’ll understand why this place is protected as a natural value of Croatia. The rich woods, housing numerous species including deer and bear, surround a unique formation of 16 lakes and more than a hundred waterfalls. The unique ecological and geological structure of this place creates a truly remarkable work of nature that is still being shaped these days. It is a wonderful park for enjoying untouched nature as there are nearly no signs of civilization here. You can enjoy walking for days here and each stop will impress you with a new view over a lake or a cascade. That’s what over a million tourists enjoy doing here every year but don’t expect the place to be crowded. Plitvice National Park is so large that getting lost among the beauty of its nature won’t take you long. Still, if you’re worried about orientation, there are convenient walkways and signs spread throughout the park, so you’ll always know where you are.
as we conclude our stay in the park (or before the Park visit), there will also be a visit to one of the local restaurants outside Plitvice that feature genuine Lika region cuisine.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CRUISE VISITORS: Take note that the park is located in 3 hours’ drive from Split. So you will only have the opportunity to visit it in case your cruise ship is docking for at least 12 hours.
Tour price: 1-3 persons: 360 Euros (if you wish, also 4 guests can fit in the car) Minivan (4-8 persons): 490 Euros With your car (guide services only): 180 Euros Prepare yourself for a day of breathtaking natural beauty because there will be so much of it, you’ll never stop looking around with admiration. Our tour will start in Split, and we’ll drive to Trogir and Sibenik using one of the most scenic roads in Europe, which runs along the coastline and gives you a perfect view on the numerous bays, small towns, islands, vineyards and all other magic things Dalmatia is famous for.
As we reach the town of Sibenik, our journey takes us to some of the most magnificent areas in the hinterland - the Krka National park. The beauty of untouched nature, numerous waterfalls, wildlife and small ethno-villages located in the area is simply amazing. And if you’re lucky to visit the park during the summer, taking a short swim in one of the lakes underneath a waterfall will be a great bonus. The Krka park can be explored for days and weeks, and it’s beauty always makes it hard to leave this place. On our way back to Split for a small extra, we will also have the opportunity to visit Sibenik (UNESCO cathedral) or Trogir, an ancient town protected by UNESCO. This place was known as a settlement for thousands of years, and you can easily see the influences from different eras spread around this small town. And speaking of ancient, centre of Split is also a UNESCO Heritage site that boasts an impressive collection of old buildings and important cultural sites, so we can stop for a short tour of Split-Diocletian Palace on the way back too (no extras for Split). So you can choose between the three destinations for a little tour after we visit the Krka National park. READ MORE...http://www.private-guides.com
