Why Visit Colleges?

Seeing Beyond the Brochure

You hear it from colleges. Come visit! You hear it from your high school counselor. Have you visited any campuses yet? And you hear it from us. But what's the big deal about seeing a college?

You Can't Judge a College by Its Brochure

A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, viewbook, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the school, you need to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.

Get Answers to Your Questions

A visit also gives you the chance to talk to students, faculty, and financial aid and admission folks. You can get answers to questions, such as:

·        What is the average class size, and the student to faculty ratio? Are most classes taught by professors or by teaching assistants?

·        What is the campus meal plan like? How is the food?

·        What is the make-up of the current freshman class? Is the campus fairly diverse?

·        What's the social scene like? What kinds of activities are planned by the college's Residential Affairs?

·        Is there ample space in dorms or does there seem to be a housing crunch?

·        How many students are commuters/residents?

·        Do I feel at home here? Is this what I pictured college to be?

Get Valuable Information

Pick up any official school material you see, such as brochures and financial aid forms. Don't forget to get business cards, too, so you'll have a real, live contact if you have a question about admission or financial aid.

Student-produced material will give you a sense of what campus life is really like. Look around for newspapers and activity calendars. Check out bulletin boards, too, to see what bands are coming to the campus, parties are advertised, internships are posted, and generally what the day-to-day energy of the place is.

Is This College Right for You?

Ultimately, it's your decision. Listen to your gut. Do you feel comfortable walking around campus? Do you click with the students and faculty? Spending time on a campus allows you to determine if a school is a good match.

When to Visit

How to Schedule Your Campus Visits

Schoolwork, your job, your parents... choosing the right time to go on campus visits may seem like a complicated procedure. But when you're planning your trip, just be sure not to lose sight of the reason you're going: to see if the school is a good fit for you. This means you need to see the college when classes are meeting and day-to-day activities are taking place. In other words, go when the college is in session.

How to Pick a Date

There's more than one right time to make campus visits. The trick to picking the right dates for you is to plan well ahead of time.

During the Week

Monday through Thursday is ideal since campuses are generally in full swing. Since junior and senior years can be busy for you, though, it's important not to let visits interfere with your schoolwork. If possible, try to visit during high school holidays that fall on Mondays, when most colleges are in session.  However, if there is a good reason in which to have to miss a day of school, most schools will understand that visiting various colleges is vital to your preparation.

The Best Seasons

Late summer and early September before senior year are convenient times to visit since many colleges begin their fall semester as early as mid-August. But generally, fall through winter and sometimes early spring are the seasons when seniors should conduct their explorations.  The big thing… preparation; contact the college to find out when their normal classes will be in session.

Spring of Junior Year

Juniors who have researched colleges should consider using spring vacations for college visits. Spring is also a good time of year if you play fall sports or are considering early action or early decision with application deadlines in November of senior year.

After You've Been Accepted

Many colleges invite their accepted candidates to spend a few days on campus before the May 1 reply date to encourage them to enroll. This is a good opportunity to make some in-depth comparisons between the colleges that have accepted you.

On the other hand, if you're planning to visit colleges only after you've received acceptances, you may find yourself in a difficult position. Consider that most colleges don't mail acceptance letters before

April

and that the standard reply date is May 1. This means you may have only a few weeks before the reply date to visit.

You could also be in a tight bind if, after visiting in person you find you're not satisfied with your options. Visit before applications are due so that you're confident you'd be happy at any of the colleges on your list.