Campus tours prove key to opening seemingly locked doors of college options

For many students, attending a college or university is critical in shaping their future. Higher education is a way for students to study in order to broaden their future career path options or get experience in a specific field of study. But which campus will be the best fit?

Choosing a college is a difficult decision for many students as there are over 5,000 colleges and universities across the country. Touring campuses made this choice easier for West alumni Callie Shwerin.

“I was able to see what campus life was all about,” she said. “I saw the community and was able to see what the student life was really like.”

The atmosphere and people are a major part of the college experience. Without getting a feel for the campus surroundings, the difficult question of where to spend the college years can become even more challenging. Tours can give students information about the school and its programs. Senior Mckenzie Kamholz was able to take a closer look at what she would experience regarding her major.

“I learned about all of the different programs and extracurricular activities that the schools had to offer,” she said. “I want to major either in biology or biochemical sciences and I was able to meet with a biology professor who showed me around a lot of the labs.”

The programs for a specific major are different from school to school. However, through tours, students can get a grasp for what their future major may look like. The programs at possible schools are something junior Claire Garton finds important to consider.

“I’m not sure what I want to major in to be perfectly honest,” she said. “But, when I know what I want to do I want to go to a school that allows me to have the best quality education for it.”

Choosing a major is another momentous decision when it comes to higher education. For some, that major may be a goal they have pursued for a long time, but for some that choice is not so easy. Junior Jessie Kolb, like many others, is considering many options in regards to her future.

“I have absolutely no clue yet what I want to go into,” she said. “I need to look more into it but for me, the location of school is important because I don’t want to go far.”

Some students want to venture out while others would rather stay close to family and friends.

“Even though I don’t know my major yet I know that I don’t want to leave Wisconsin,” Kolb said. “I was thinking about touring schools in Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, and Lacrosse. I know those are good schools with a lot of nice programs and they are far enough where I’ll be on my own but not too far that I’ll rarely get to see my family.”

No matter what a student decides to do, considering the options when choosing the college path has, for some, been made easier through college tours.

“I feel like it's important to tour colleges to find a home away from home,” Kamholz said. “If you don’t feel completely comfortable on campus from the start, the following years won’t be as enjoyable.”

By Sophie Burke

Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue 3

December 11th 2020