A group of ConVal High School juniors recently visited New England College to learn about the admission process and to get a look at college life at NEC. For two thirds of them, this was their first visit to a post-secondary institution because in-person visits were not permitted during the COVID restrictions of the last two years.
The tour included a stop at the John Lyons Center, a modern, 19,000-square-foot academic building. It includes state-of-the-art classrooms, seminar rooms, study lounges, a learning commons, group study areas, faculty offices, and a café.
After the tour, students shared what they had learned about the college admissions process. For many, the visit reinforced the School Counseling Department’s recommendation to start the process early. “The earlier you start, the better,” noted one student. “Start the FAFSA [financial aid process] right away on October 1,” agreed another.
Students also commented on what they observed about college life: “There’s a lot of flexibility in college. It’s easy to meet new people.”
For many, the trip to New England College served as an inspiration to organize similar tours for themselves, planning to visit both in-state colleges and out-of-state universities in the months to come.
