Representatives from colleges and universities visit Gateway Science Academy during the school day to give presentations about their schools and to meet GSA students and answer their questions. These visits are held in College & Career Composition classes. Most of these visits take place during September and October.
In previous years GSA students had the opportunity to meet with College Reps from:
- University of Missouri – Saint Louis
- Harris Stowe State University
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Ranken Technical College
- Fontbonne University
- Missouri Western State University
- Saint Louis Community College
- Saint Louis College of Pharmacy
- University of Missouri
- State Technical College of Missouri
- Truman State University
- Lindenwood University
- Saint Louis University
- Missouri Western State
- Webster University
- Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
- Southeast Missouri State University
- ROTC – Army
Why are College Rep Visits Important?
Attending a college rep visit is also a good way for a student to gain information about a school he is potentially interested in to see if it would be a good fit for him. This is one way of building or narrowing a college list to decide which schools to visit and ultimately to which to apply.
Students have a chance — in their own town — to meet face-to-face with a rep and ask specific questions.
In many cases, the reps are admission officers from the college, so students have a unique opportunity to make contact with a person who may be evaluating their application in the future. Many colleges keep track of any contact the student has made with the college and factor this into the admission decision because it shows that the student is serious about attending the school if admitted.
Students can let the college know they are seriously interested.
The meeting provides students with a specific contact at the college to whom they can send questions.
Presentations at GSA are more private and interactive than the atmosphere of large college fairs where students move from table to table directing quick questions to a multitude of college representatives.
Sometimes reps, particular ones from state universities, will give an early read on students’ transcripts, test scores, and course selections during their visits. This helps students assess their fit at that institution and figure out what they can do to improve their chances of getting in.