by Rob Weaver

With two children beginning their senior year in high school, I've been on several campus visits with my kids recently. We've visited Adventist colleges, public colleges and private colleges, and for each visit we have had our own goals and expectations.

Some visits have been better than others, and as I've reflected on our experiences, I decided to find the answers to two questions:

1. What goals do colleges have when a visitor comes to campus?
2. Can the answers help me and my kids make our remaining campus visits even better?

To answer the first question, I contacted each Adventist college. Here is what I learned.

Finding a good fit

One of the top goals a college has during a visit is to help prospective students figure out if the campus is a good fit. As retention and graduation rates become more important to college shoppers, many colleges are placing less focus on the "big sell." Instead, they want to offer visitors as many experiences as possible designed to help students discover if the campus is a good fit.

Yes, of course the colleges want tuition dollars, but there is more interest in helping students determine if the fit between the campus and the student is strong enough to satisfy the student's needs (and lead to graduation success).

The enrollment professionals at Adventist colleges and universities are also using this student-centered approach. "Providing great customer service while familiarizing students with campus" is the top goal Andrews University has for visitors says Shelly Erhard, guest relations supervisor. "The number one thing we want a prospective student to know by the end of their visit is whether Andrews is a fit for them. Do we meet their needs?"

At Union College, immersing guests in the student experience is a top goal. "We want students to find a place where they belong," says Becky Dewey, guest experience coordinator at Union College.

Washington Adventist University has a similar goal, says Duane Reid, associate director of admissions. "We cover the academic experience, the financial obligation and the campus life experience," he says.

"It's about the right fit," says Chuck Dart, director of marketing and recruitment at Loma Linda University School of Allied Health. Tour leaders at Loma Linda try to help visitors see themselves as a student on campus during their visit and to give them an accurate picture of the reputation of the university. "If they can visualize themselves as a student here then they can decide if Loma Linda University is a good fit for them personally."

JR (Sergie) Ferrer, director of communications at Canadian University College, agrees. "What makes CUC unique doesn't come down to buildings or landmarks, but a sense of belonging visitors can feel when they spend time with students, faculty and staff."

Learning about the details of campus academic programs is part of finding the right fit. "Meeting with an advisor is one of the top goals of a campus visit to Southwestern Adventist University," says Tina Bottsford, enrollment director.

Campus culture and traditions

While visiting the University of Texas with my son in July (too hot!), our campus tour started in front of a bronze sculpture of Bevo, the Longhorn school mascot. Our tour guide shared with us the Longhorn tradition, and then took us to see the football stadium for our second stop. We visited many other locations on campus, but by the time our visit was finished it was crystal clear that the culture and traditions surrounding the Longhorn heritage are a big part of fitting into college life at the University of Texas.

Helping visitors understand the culture and tradition of the school is another important goal of Adventist colleges and universities.

One of the best ways to learn about the history and culture of Washington Adventist University is to take a walking tour of campus. "Students who take the tour," says Duane Reid, "will hear about the history of the founding of the university and our commitment to service both to God and our community."

At Pacific Union College, which was originally established in Healdsburg, Calif., an important academic tradition is ringing the Healdsburg Bell. "For 125 years," writes Julie Lee, vice president for marketing and enrollment services, "PUC has graduated students who are 'thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men's thoughts.' Many graduating seniors ring the Healdsburg Bell after taking their last final exam at PUC." Campus visitors learn about this tradition as part of the campus tour and are allowed to take a picture pretending to ring the bell.

According to Bordes Henry-Saturne, vice president for enrollment and retention at Atlantic Union College, "visiting Founders Hall and the Adventist Heritage room helps visitors understand that Adventism started right here in New England. The spirit of our pioneers — love for Jesus, dedication to the gospel, and service to humanity — is what makes AUC unique."

At Southern Adventist University, "taking a walk through the Garden of Prayer" is the one thing visitors should do when touring campus, says Marc Grundy, associate vice president for marketing and enrollment. "We want visitors to know that God is the focus and the center of everything we do on our campus."

Bottom line: listen carefully, ask questions

Now that I know the answers to my first question, here are my suggestions for making your future campus visits even more helpful for discovering if a school is the right fit for your child:

1. Watch for clues. It may not seem important you, but most colleges put a lot of thought and effort into planning a campus visit that will help you learn as much as you can about the school's focus, culture and traditions. How the visit is structured can give you important information. What is being emphasized? How are you spending most of your time?
2. Get on board. Make sure you get on board for the things the school wants you to know about. Don't skip parts of the tour or miss information sessions. Listen to what the school is telling you about what it values. For example, if you expect the school to be highly academic, but you only hear talk about social events, it might be a big clue.
3. Ask these questions. Don't wait for the end of your visit to ask these questions:
   • What is the number one thing you want me to know about your campus by the time my visit is finished?
   • Is there one thing I should see or do while I'm on your campus to most help me understand what makes your school unique?
   • If I want to take a "souvenir" picture on your campus, and that picture most completely captured what your school is really all about, where should I take the picture?

I don't know about you, but I'll be a wiser and more attentive visitor on my next campus tour. And thanks to my daughter’s ambition, I’ll get to test this approach next month. Stay tuned.