The DMV FAMU Experience

DMV NSBE, Jr. works to fulfill NSBE's mission by exposing DC Metro Area youth to year-round high quality STEM experiences & mentoring by collegiate engineering & STEM majors.  Early college prep, including college tours, also helps parents & students make the most informed college decisions. Here are 6 reasons why EARLY college prep & tours are important:

• Visualization: Being able to walk on campus & get a feel for the environment is EXTRMELY important. Students can see themselves as part of the community; get an up close look at the buildings like the dorms, student union building, class rooms, lecture halls & gymnasiums. The facilities offered on campus are an important part of the college experience! 

• Competition: Colleges are competing to recruit the best students AND students are competing to get into the best institutions. Taking college trips early in high school (even middle school) puts the student in a position to compete because they can see what goals they are working towards. 

• Account for Costs: You should want to know where your money is going when you pay tuition.  If loans are NOT an option, you also need to know how many outside scholarships your student needs to apply for to cover costs.   Be warned: There will be sticker price shock, but this is good. It allows for families to face the realities of college costs & deal with it accordingly. By going to visit several different schools you can compare & contrast each choice. With the increased cost of college, it is more important than ever to make sure your school provides value for what is being paid. 

• Get to talk to actual students: Your tour guides & admissions counselors will offer friendly assistance, but you want to get the inside scoop. After your standard tour, take a walk around campus & talk to many different students. They can tell you about what goes on at the school, what the classes are like, how the professors are, and their dealings with administration. They are a great source of pertinent first-hand college knowledge, and are the final product of what the institution can produce.

• It’s Fun: High school can have many frustrating moments, but it is a great feeling to know that there is something greater after high school to work towards. It reinforces that doing well in middle AND high school can lead to new and better opportunities in the future. It may feel like high school is taking forever, but rest assured that it will end and new pathways will open.

• It’s a Reality Check: Measure costs & admissions standards (minimum GPA, SAT scores, essays, community service, etc) of each school and compare them with your college goals. This will lead to a firm decision. College visits can help to solidify that decision by learning firsthand what options are available. Part of this process will be the elimination of college choices that are unattainable academically or financially, and the revelation of college choices that are sensible. Then you can focus on a limited number of rational choices that will best meet your needs.

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