November marks the final month of
college representative visits to PHS in
2024 , concluding three months of
visits from over 200 colleges
and universities from
around the country
and the world.
Students were able to
explore a wide range
of institutions
during school
hours, learning about
the unique features each
college offers.

Nipurna Shah, PHS’s college
counselor begins the planning process
by opening a calendar on Scoir in mid-
August for schools to begin registering
their representatives for visits. This calendar
streamlines the scheduling process,
allowing institutions to coordinate with
other high schools and arrange visits more
efficiently. Currently registered colleges
return year after
year, and many
others show
interest
in visiting
PHS.

“For the most part,
we have a robust
assortment of different
colleges, and many
of them come back
every year,” said
Shah. “They like our
students. They want
our students.”

Adjusting to the bell
schedule each year to squeeze
in college visits requires
a close look at holidays,
professional development
days, and other
school activities.
To minimize
potential scheduling
conflicts, Shah
communicates
with both college
representatives
and the school’s
administration .
However, coordinating
many people’s schedules
is never an easy task.

“Our schedule gets
really full very quickly, and
then some colleges, at the
last minute … decide they
want to come. So I have
to work around existing
colleges to see if I can fit
other ones in,” said Shah.

Shah also considers the
students’ bell schedule,
as seen in her decision to
avoid hosting college visits
on Tiger Day Thursdays
since it is a shortened day
with limited availability.
Unexpected evacuation
and fire drills can also
create complications,
often requiring last-
minute adjustments.

“When we had the
evacuation drill, I had
two colleges scheduled.
The evacuation drill was
scheduled after those
colleges had already
committed to coming, so I
had to figure out another ... time for them
to come,” said Shah.

Despite these logistical challenges,
Shah stresses that visits are a valuable
opportunity for students to learn what
unique programs individual colleges have
to offer. In addition to exploring these
academic options, students gain
insights into how the admissions
teams view applicants. The
representatives who visit PHS
are often the first readers
of students’ applications.
Shah notes that having a
personal connection with a
college representative can be
meaningful in the application
process. Additionally, many U.S.
colleges track demonstrated interest from
prospective students, which can be shown
by attending a college visit.

“It’s a good opportunity
for the students to ask
any specific questions
about programming
or research ... which
they can use ... when
they write their essays
on why [they] want to
go to the school,” said
Shah. “You know they don’t
say that forthcomingly, but they’ll give
you little tidbits on how to support your
application.”

Shah describes college visits as a chance
for students to make more informed
decisions about their future, empowering
them to choose a school or program
that best aligns with their personal and
academic interests.

The Tower

Madeline Levine's Work

The Tower