Roadmap to College: Planning Worthwhile Campus Visits

What Kind of Vibe Do You Get When You Visit?

Although there are many objective factors to consider when making an initial visit, there are intangible factors, such as the vibe you get when you walk around the campus. The adage, “you’ll know it when you see it,” really describes why guidance counselors strongly suggest that students visit before they apply to colleges. After visiting, you may decide to take a college off your list, or a college may shoot up to the top of your list.

Many students, encouraged by their families, prefer to attend a college within 250 miles of their home. Some students expand their horizons to consider schools within 500 miles from home, and then there are some brave souls who consider colleges over 500 miles from home or on the opposite coast from where they live.

If a family has the time and financial resources to do so, it is wise to visit colleges that you are seriously considering which are far away from home. If you are within 250 miles of a college that interests you, colleges expect that you will visit. Admissions officers want students to be able to state why they want to attend their university. Many college applications have short essays that ask, “What factors have influenced your decision to apply to our university?” (question from a large state university’s application) and “Describe the courses of study and the unique characteristics of the University that most interest you? Why do these interests make you a good match for our college?” (question from an Ivy League institution’s application). In order to fully answer these questions, you must write about your impressions and interactions during your visit.

When Should I Visit?

If you are starting the college process early (ninth or tenth grade), you can spread out your visits for when it is convenient for you. It is never too early to start visiting campuses, although many students visit schools in eleventh and twelfth grades.

One of the best times to visit a campus is when classes are in full swing; you’ll be able to see the college at its busiest. Optimal times are the fall and spring of your junior year, and the fall and spring of your senior year. If at all possible, visit before you apply. Check each college’s calendar as calendars vary widely from school to school. Make sure you are not visiting during any breaks when schools are closed. Do not visit during midterms and finals when students will be too busy to talk to you. If you visit during the week, many high schools excuse your absence, but check with your high school to make sure. Many students and their families like to visit on weekends, because it is convenient for them. Check with the admissions office to make sure they are open. Except for a few classes that meet on weekends, you will not be able to sit in on a class. You will still have the opportunity to talk with students unless most of them go home on weekends.

If you cannot visit schools before you apply, then you can visit while you’re a senior. After you are accepted to college is another good time to plan a visit for the first or second time to assist you in making a final decision of which school to attend. No matter when you visit, you can visit colleges within a logical geographic area. Students on the East Coast, for example, plan trips to colleges in the Boston area, the Washington, D.C. area, the Connecticut area, the New York area, etc. . . .

Just as looking for apartments or houses can be confusing, looking at colleges is also confusing. The best advice is not to visit more than two colleges in a day, as they all become jumbled together in your mind. Taking detailed notes can also alleviate this problem.

Virtual campus tours, videos, and webcams can serve a purpose, but there is no substitute for a campus visit. The only way to determine if a campus has the right vibe is to set foot on the campus and see it firsthand.

How Do I Arrange a Visit?

It is generally not a good idea to visit colleges unannounced. One way that colleges measure your “demonstrated interest” is whether or not you attend an information session and a campus tour, or if you participate in an ambassador program (staying overnight on campus). An information session is usually conducted by an admissions counselor and you are provided with an overview of the academic programs offered, campus life, and the admissions process. Campus tours are usually given by current students, many of whom walk backward during the entire tour. Watching them walk backward is always a highlight of the tour! If a college offers an ambassador-type program, spending a weekend on campus is often the best way to determine if you can see yourself living there.

One of the easiest ways to make arrangements to visit a college is to reserve a tour online. You usually get a confirmation by e-mail, so you know that the reservation went through. You can call the admissions office, if you prefer. Informal arrangements to stay overnight can be made if you know a previous graduate of your high school who is currently attending a college or a sibling of a friend or acquaintance. You can also contact these students to meet you for lunch or to attend classes with them.