What to Ask on a College Tour

Touring colleges is a quintessential high school experience, and a great opportunity to learn about prospective schools. ​Every college student is able to recognize the starry-eyed high schoolers who swarm campus regularly to explore and follow their dreams. After all, that was them just a few months or years ago. Ultimately, these tours are not extended interviews. They’re often given by trained students, and can sometimes feel a bit like a sales pitch. However, they are great opportunities to learn about the school, and to get real perspectives on what it’s like to be a student there. So, if you can manage to slip in a few words between those of overzealous parents, it might be helpful to think along the following lines: Ask questions that will help you prepare to answer a â€Å"why this school?† essay question. Not every school has them, but being able to demonstrate understanding of culture and fit in other essays is equally important. You should try to absorb information like a sponge, and if you don’t understand something, ask. Don’t be afraid to ask questions specific to your plans. Even if you are a prospective music major, and your tour guide is an engineer, don’t be afraid to learn about what you’re interested in. The worst case scenario is that your tour guide says he/she doesn’t know. However, it is more likely that their training has supplied them with answers related to the school’s resources in your prospective field. Perhaps they even have a friend similar to you whom they could connect you with, or speak on the behalf of. Ask the tough questions. This is your chance to interview the school. You want to decide whether or not to apply or attend. If bad dining hall food is a deal breaker for you, ask your tour guide’s opinion, and find out how you can try it yourself. If you need libraries with plush chairs, find out if they exist. Whatever it is, get to the bottom of it. You won’t regret having more information when it’s time to make a decision. Prepare ahead of time. Research the college/university you’re visiting online before you visit. This way, you have the basic background upon which to build a more advanced understanding, and don’t waste your time asking questions that you can find answers to with a quick Google search. Think about what you really care to ask, and prepare thoughtful questions. It’ll make your visit much more worth the trek. And in order to cover all the basis, check out this fun video of what not to ask. Unlock any of ourpackagesor search ourundergraduate profile databaseto find specific profiles with advice on college tours that can help you make an informed choice about where to apply!

Most vs. Almost

Most vs. Almost Most vs. Almost Most vs. Almost By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders why some speakers write â€Å"most everybody† when what they mean is â€Å"almost everybody.† For example: Most everyone agrees that children benefit from living with two caring parents. â€Å"Most everyone† is commonly heard in colloquial speech but is avoided in formal speech and writing because most is a superlative. Most refers to the greatest part, number, amount, or extent of something: I have finished most of my chores. Most dogs have tails. That’s the most awesome song on the album. Almost is used to convey the idea of something nearly completed or close to being finished: Mr. Henry has almost finished building the bridge. We almost won the game. Almost everyone agrees that children benefit from living with two caring parents. The objection to â€Å"most everyone,† and â€Å"most anyone† is that most applies to quantities capable of being separated. One can say â€Å"Most dogs have tails,† but not â€Å"Most dog have tails† or â€Å"Most dog have a tail.† Apart from surgery or mutilation, dog is not divisible. Neither are words like everybody, everyone, all, and any. The use of most in the following examples is nonstandard because the word is being used to qualify something that is not divisible: Incorrect: Most everyone agrees that cheating is bad. Correct: Almost everyone agrees that cheating is bad. Incorrect: I think most everybody will agree that summer flies by too fast. Correct: I think almost everybody will agree that summer flies by too fast. Incorrect: I feel like most all of my friends are fake. Correct: I feel like almost all of my friends are fake. If you find yourself writing most when what you mean is nearly or approximately, change it to almost. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point ArcDoes "Mr" Take a Period?What’s the Best Way to Refer to a Romantic Partner?