By Texas Tower PR with photos by the mother – daughter teams of Con Mi MADRE.
College. It’s the most exciting and overwhelming point in our lives, especially if you’re entering as a freshman. It’s important to remember that everyone feels this way. One way to calm these nerves is to plan a college visit. This spring, 43 Con Mi MADRE mother – daughter teams toured Texas Christian University and Tarleton State University to learn what each school has to offer and to get a taste of what college life might be on their chosen campus. To make sure your future college visit is a success, check out some tips to help you prepare before, during and after your college trip.
Planning Ahead
- FOCUS on one school at a time. Look at the school’s website, or call, to see when they offer tours on a day that works best for you and your family.
- FAQ’S: A visit to a university website can answer a lot of your questions, but feel free to bring your own questions during your campus visit! Sometimes what’s online is different from what’s heard in person.
- LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Check to see how far the college is from home to help you determine if your visit will be a short car drive or a road trip.
- ROAD TRIP? Some colleges offer bilingual tours to answer questions for both students and parents. Call several weeks ahead of your visit to make arrangements for a bilingual guide.
- SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: Most campuses offer accommodations for those who need help with mobility and getting around campus. Check to see that the one you want to visit is accessible for your needs.
The Day of Your Visit
- Wear comfortable shoes as you may be covering a lot of ground throughout campus.
- Bring a backpack. Not only will this be helpful, it even gives you a hint at what being a college student is like.
- Check the surrounding areas adjacent to campus. Key things to look for include grocery stores, pharmacies, bookstores and clinics.
- Remember those questions you prepared for the day of your visit? Check to see which ones you may need to bring up now that you’re on campus with a guide.
- Spend time talking to current students and ask them what their experiences was were like as a freshman. Your tour guide will likely be a current student and will want to help out any potential student like yourself.
Post-College Trip Thoughts
- You don’t have to decide right away on a school. Choosing a college is a major decision for you and your family. Give yourself time to think over it and discuss it with family and/or mentors.
- Make a list of priorities – pros and cons, of what each college has to offer you.
- It’s highly recommended that if you are interested in attending any college, you should consider applying for the school through ApplyTexas.org, a website that lets you fill out information once and then use it for multiple college applications.
Texas Christian University (TCU)
Texas Christian University is located in Ft. Worth, Texas and is a private Christian University aimed to “educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community.”
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- Current enrollment 10,394 undergraduate and graduate students
- Offers 119 undergraduate areas of studies including degrees in communication, health sciences and engineering.
- Estimated annual cost of attendance including tuition, room and board, books and fees is $55,630.
- TCU, a private university, is the home of the Horned Frogs with school colors of purple and white.
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For a deeper look into TCU’s academics and culture, visit their website and review through their Viewbook.
Tarleton State University (TSU)
Tarleton State University is located in Stephenville, Texas south of Fort Worth and part of the Texas A&M University System.
- TSU has 7 colleges including Education, Science and Technology and Business Administration.
- The estimated cost of per academic year: $19,786.
- An accessible health center is on-campus.
- The University mascot is the Texan Riders and the school colors are white and purple.
If you’re ready to visit TSU, visit the Tarleton State University website to help you get started. Go Tarleton Texans!
We hope you’ll consider these tips when preparing for the next step on your education journey. This significant phase of your life will be exciting with the right college waiting just for you!
To see how much fun we had on our campus visits this spring, visit our photo gallery! For more information about Con Mi MADRE, or to get involved, visit: www.conmimadre.org.
