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The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media

The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media

The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media

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October 26, 2023

    Visiting colleges offers seniors perspective for future

    By Rebecca Neumann
    Staff Writer

    Although the year has just begun, many Coppell High School students are already looking towards college. Some people are enjoying and learning from their trips while others are disappointed by what they find.

    Senior Ashley Faragher is in the process of deciding where to apply for colleges, and her final decision will depend heavily on the visits she takes.

    “A campus tour is extremely important to me,” Faragher said. “On the tours, they would talk about which of the majors they specialized in; that was interesting. In a way, the tour was a great source of information.”

    In August, Faragher visited Oklahoma State University, the University of North Texas and Texas Tech University and is planning on taking a tour of University of Oklahoma sometime this year, but she was disappointed in most of the college she visited.

    “I was really excited to see their [Texas Tech’s] campus but it wasn’t at all what I thought it would be. It has great academics for what I want to do later in life, but the tour didn’t hold up. ”

    For Faragher, OSU wasn’t right either.

    “I didn’t enjoy the tour at all,” Faragher said. “It’s not that it’s too big. I didn’t like how spread out all of the buildings were. And the tour guides weren’t really enthusiastic and they had trouble answering my questions. That didn’t give me confidence in the school.”

    UNT, she says, is where she can really see herself.

    “I loved it. Not all of the student population was there when I visited, but the ones who were seemed pretty friendly and diverse,” Faragher said. “They also went in-depth about academics in the tour and answered all of my questions.”

    She also has some requirements when it comes to the school she picks.

    “I’m looking for a specific kind of relaxed atmosphere,” Faragher said. “To me, that’s more important than the academic achievements of the school. Four years of my life are going to be spent somewhere, and I want to enjoy them.”

    According to Faragher, when visiting a college, it is a must to plan ahead and contact the colleges before traveling. Tours often fill up weeks ahead and making a reservation will ensure a spot.

    Although she feels optimistic about being accepted into her favorite colleges, Faragher still has some anxiety.

    “My mom keeps telling me ‘Of course you’ll get in!’ But I feel like she’s jinxing it,” she said. “I’ll probably blame her if I don’t get accepted.”

    School policy allows juniors to receive one day per semester to visit the colleges of their choice, while seniors get two. CHS guidance counselor Mindy McMinn recommends that students begin going on college visits at the beginning of their junior year.

    Some students may have difficulties finding time to see all of the colleges they want to, but McMinn said that even visiting nearby colleges can be beneficial.

    “Every student should find a college to visit,” she said. “You can always find a school nearby that can give you an idea of the kind of environment and size you want in a college.”

    A&M admissions counselor Luis Rodriguez agrees.

    “It definitely helps to see the school,” he said. “It would be horrible to have never seen a college and then realize as a freshman that you’ve made a huge mistake.”

    Rodriguez also offers an answer for those students that cannot take off from school in the middle of the week.

    “At A&M, we offer one day visits to come and see a general overview of the college, but we also have Aggieland Saturday, which is like an open house. All of the departments open their doors and talk to prospective students about curriculum and financial aid.”

    The next Aggieland Saturday will be held on Feb. 21.

    McMinn also gave some overall advice for students struggling to choose which college to attend.

    “Atmosphere and academics are most important,” McMinn said. “When you visit, try and talk to other students and an administration counselor. But the most important thing to remember is to be true to yourself. No one else is going to be going down this path except for you.”

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