Sallie Mae Offers Advice on Visiting College Campuses During Summer Vacation

RESTON, Va., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- For families with students who are heading into their final year of high school, the summer months provide an excellent opportunity to get a head-start on the college-search process.

"Visiting a college campus over the summer can help students and families get an up-close look at life on a college campus, helping them experience college before actually making the final decision," says Martha Holler, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider of education funding.

If vacation plans allow, students should take steps to visit several colleges and universities, including large and small schools, as well as urban and small-town campus settings. Most important, prior to the actual visit, develop a game plan. For instance:

  * Decide what you want to learn about the school and put together a list
    of questions. Use the same list for every school for comparison
    purposes. Key questions to include: What does the school require for
    admission? What does the school look for in prospective students? And
    what are your chances of being accepted?

  * If possible, schedule interviews with faculty and/or admissions staff.
    Even though it is the summer, and most students are typically away from
    school, there still is activity on the majority of campuses. Also, try
    to schedule face-to-face meetings with professors who teach in your
    student's particular area of interest.

  * Take a campus tour. Most schools offer guided tours, so take advantage
    of them. Equally important, use your escorts as a key source of candid
    information.

  * Ask questions. This is your chance to discover things that you cannot
    learn any other way. If students are on campus, approach them and ask
    what they like best and least about the school, what they would change,
    what the campus is like on weekends and which professors are best.

  * Send a thank-you note. Once the visit is complete, remember to send
    thank-you notes to everyone you met. This simple but often-neglected
    courtesy can help you get noticed when it counts.

"Nothing can replace the first-hand impression you will get by visiting a college campus," says Holler. "Summer vacation is an excellent time to begin this process."

For more information on what students and families can do to make the most of their college visit over the summer, visit Sallie Mae's CollegeAnswer.com Web site at http://www.collegeanswer.com/.

CONTACT: Erin Korsvall, 703-984-5136.