Your Guide to Making the Most of College Visits
Visiting colleges in person is one of the most valuable ways to get a feel for a school. While researching colleges is definitely important, seeing a college campus in person and talking to students is essential in helping you discover good fits for you. Here’s how to make the most out of your college visits.
1. Learn about the College Before You Visit
Before visiting, research each school. Look at the college websites and social media pages. Schedule an official tour, and well ahead of your planned visit, as some college tours fill up quickly, especially during school breaks. Some colleges offer opportunities to add on experiences to enhance your time on campus, such as touring a residence hall, speaking with Honors College staff, or sitting in on a class. Maximize these opportunities. Open the emails the college sends you to confirm your visit and so you know where to park upon arrival.
I recommend no more than two college visits per day-the point is not to cram in the visits but to ascertain fit. Is a particular campus and the surrounding area a place you could see yourself at for four years?
2. Take the Tour and Talk to Students
Guided tours give you an overview of campus facilities. Ask the tour guide or other students about academics, social life, and their experiences living on campus. I often ask tour guides why they chose this school over the other college options they had. Always interesting to hear their responses.
3. Prepare Questions in Advance
Think about what matters most to you: academic support, internship opportunities, housing, clubs, or campus culture. Preparing questions ensures you don’t forget to ask important things while you’re on-site.
4. Take Notes and Photos
It’s easy to forget details when visiting several schools. Snap photos on your phone and jot down impressions about each college you visit. These notes will be helpful to refer to later, especially if you need to write a “Why This College?” essay in your senior year.
5. Explore Beyond the Tour
Walk around on your own after the tour. Experiencing the environment outside the official tour will provide you with a more complete picture of campus life.
Explore places on campus you’d actually use: a classroom, the library, the dining hall, the student center, and the building where the department for your intended major is housed.
My children would vouch that we did this and had some unexpected but valuable experiences doing so:
With one son, we met with an academic advisor about his area of interest. Another time, we met with a professor in the major he planned to apply for. These were not scheduled meetings, but happened when we wandered into the buildings where the majors my son was interested in were housed, and office staff offered to arrange impromptu meetings for us (we didn’t ask; they offered).
For the other son, when visiting colleges that were a plane flight from our home in California at the time, we arranged in advance to meet with staff in his intended major, Business Administration. This allowed our son to ask more specific questions and learn more about his major at each of these universities, one of which he matriculated to.
6. Reflect on Your Impressions
After each visit, take some time to reflect on what you liked and didn’t like about the college. Review your notes. What felt like a good fit? What didn’t? Sometimes, your gut reaction can tell you as much as the research. What your parents may key in on will often be different from what you’re looking at. That’s ok. Comparing notes can be helpful.
Keep in Mind
College visits are a crucial part of choosing the right school. Planning ahead, engaging with students, asking questions, and observing your surroundings can help you make a more informed, confident decision about where you’ll earn your college degree.
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