Throughout the year, TO provides students with college visits from many schools across the nation. They usually consist of an informational briefing about the school and an open Q&A for students to get any questions they might have answered in person, rather than online. These meetings are held in the College and Career Center in Room D2, with a list on the classroom door of upcoming meetings that students can attend.
“I think this is very important and a safe place for students to ask questions and find out, without worrying,” said Natasha Chan, College and Careers Center Guidance Specialist. “There’s just so much information on the internet, and I think this helps them narrow down the choices.”
Thousand Oaks High School has many great opportunities for students to seek out the tools to help them decide what to do after high school. Whether that be at community college, a four-year university, a gap year or other career pathways, it is the school’s job to ensure that students have a guide to those next steps.
For some, the process may feel scary and stressful, but both the counselors and staff at TO work together to provide as many informational opportunities for students as they can.
In late October, a representative from Chapman University came to teach interested students about the university, including ASB president Maya Campo.
“I found it very helpful because I was able to ask specific questions about what I had been wondering or what I found important,” Campo said. “I was also able to hear from someone who actually went to the school and who knows the school really well.”
The College and Careers Center is bringing in many other schools throughout the month of November. These include the University of Missouri (Nov. 1), UCLA (Nov. 6), and both UC Irvine and UC Riverside on Nov. 9.
Attending these meetings can help improve students’ understanding about the school, and is also a great way for students to have a personalized conversation with representatives who know these schools well.
Tanaz Nourian, who represented Chapman University and serves as assistant director of admissions, had a presentation prepared and touted the school’s academics, study abroad options, student life outside of campus, tuition and scholarship information, as well as the school’s long-standing connection with Disney, which is just five miles away.
“It’s one of those things where you have such an incredible time somewhere and you have a passion for sharing that and you just want students to have that same knowledge and experience that you did,” said Norian, a Chapman graduate.