Choosing a residential college is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. Brochures all say the same things, so here is what to look for when you visit — and the answers that should worry you.
Ask to see the timetable
Not a summary — the actual timetable, hour by hour. Look for when students sleep, when they eat, and whether there is time outdoors every day. A college that is proud of “fifteen hours of study a day” is telling you your child will not sleep. Sleep is when the brain turns learning into memory. A tired student cannot recognise patterns, and NEET is a test of recognition.
Ask who is responsible at night
Is there a warden who lives in the hostel? One for the boys’ block and one for the girls’? How often are headcounts taken? Who do you call at midnight? If the answers are vague, the care is vague.
Ask what happens when a child falls ill
Where is the sick-bay? Who decides what medicine is given, and who wrote that rule? Which hospital do they go to, and how quickly will you be called? The best answer is a written protocol, and a doctor behind it.
Ask about the food
Who checks it, how often, and can you see the record? Ask to eat a meal on your visit. Ask whether teachers eat with the students.
Ask to see a student’s notes
Printed notes handed out to memorise are a warning sign. A student’s own notes, reviewed by a teacher, are the sign of a college that teaches students how to learn.
Ask about the tests
How many full-length tests does a student sit in a year — the full syllabus, the full three hours, at the real exam time? And what happens the morning after? A score handed back with no analysis teaches nothing.
Ask about the counsellor
Is there one on campus, or on call? How does a student reach them? Is what they say kept confidential?
Ask about the fees — in writing
What exactly does the fee include? What is extra? What is the refund policy? If it cannot be given to you in writing before you pay, do not pay.
Ask what they promise
Any college that promises a rank, a score or a seat is breaking the law and misleading you. Honest institutions promise the system and the care — and show you their results with every student counted.
Ask when you can see your child
Every Sunday? Once a month? On a published calendar, or at the college’s convenience? You should be able to plan your year around the answer.
Bring these questions to any campus you visit — including ours. We will be glad to answer every one.