To say my 17-year-old was groggy during our 6 am drive to our first college visit in Fort Myers, Florida was an understatement. But, after arriving at the seemingly secluded, beautiful beachfront campus at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Yosef quickly perked up.
A Parent’s View
Our tour started promptly at 9 am SHARP! Staff did not allow fifteen minutes of set-up, introductions, or compensate for any late arrivals. At 9 am, all parents and kids were in auditorium seats ready to let it rip. I LOVED the punctuality.
The guided tour lasted exactly 1.5 hours, led by a current FGCU senior, and featured a combination of walking and riding on a shuttle. On the typical, 100-degree humidity-soaked day, there was some complaining about the walking portion.
We toured classrooms, the athletic arena, sports complexes, wellness areas, the campus’ gather areas, marketplaces, and model dorms. Boy, the dorms are so nice and the campus is so new!
The only box the tour did not check, for me, was seeing the inside of the freshman dining hall or accessing the student wellness center. My son and I would definitely be interested in these buildings.
Overall, I left the campus thinking, ‘FGCU really has things together – they are prompt, informational, and are fun enough without being cheesy.’
I even appreciated our tour guide concluding by dad-joking, “If there are no more questions, we’ll ‘FG-see you later!”
Glorious.
My Son’s View
Yosef took in the school-related information, but was really there for the dorms, athletic facilities, and the “feel” of the campus. Did I mention the jet boat and on-campus beach?
FGCU did feel like a small college. While there are fifteen (I think) NCAA D1 sports’ teams, there is no football (otherwise known as tailgating to a college kid looking to party on Saturdays). That took some luster off for Yosef.
Additionally, my son commented that he’d like to see the school when students were back. There was a eerily secluded feel due to school being off.
Lastly, Yosef really LOVED the on-campus amenities at FGCU – including a speed boat to rent to drive on on the school’s private beach and waterfront (did I mention that?:). If all that wasn’t enough, students ended the walking tour near the resort-style pool that sits in the backyard of the freshman dorms.
(Yes, I agree with Yosef, I could not believe the amenities at FGCU either.)
What We Learned
Our first time on a college campus provided a couple poignant lessons:
First, my son (and, I assume other kids) may not have any idea how to choose between the post high school options they have. Should they focus on how much they like the campus, or financial aid, or major/programs, amenities, or are they not interested at all? I could see Yosef’s head spinning.
Next, campuses are not what I remember. They are destinations – like a vacation getaway and centered on generating a sense of community amongst students. Even if the school your kid visits does not have a boat or beach like FGCU, the school will certainly have TONS of extracurricular opportunities for interested students.
Lastly, the tour guide is important. Our FGCU guide was upbeat, timely, patient, and attentive to any and all students and parents. He offered opinions when asked, information when appropriate, and walked a solid balance of “this is where students go to have fun” and “this is the spot to study”.
So, while the mention of a rent-able speed boat woke Yosef up during our tour at Florida Gulf Coast University, time will tell if he will eventually take it for a spin.
What schools have you visited? Any advice for maximizing your time on campus? I’d love to hear from you!
