Five Tips for College Visits

Chances are you’ll have the opportunity to visit at least some of the colleges you are considering. In fact, campus visits can be the most important factor in helping prospective students assess whether a college’s location, academic offerings, atmosphere and community are a good fit. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your college visits:

Try to visit when classes are in session to get a feel for what the campus is really like.

1. Visit at the Right Time.

So you have  an upcoming break from school—that’s an obvious time for a college visit, right? Not so fast. If you’re on vacation for a holiday, the college you plan to visit might also be on break. Before you plan to spend your spring vacation touring colleges, check to see if the colleges will be in session then. Visiting a college when it is in session will give you a far better sense of the school’s community and “culture” than visiting an empty campus. You want to aim to visit a college on a “typical” day, so that you get a more realistic idea of what it would be like to be a student there. If the only time you can visit colleges is during the summer, keep in mind that some campuses might be empty except for staff and other prospective students. You will get to see the physical layout of the campus, but it will be harder to get a feel for the student body and student life. Many colleges host open houses for prospective students. Such “Visit Days” usually include some type of program introducing visitors to the college. Since there could be hundreds of visitors on those days, you may get more of a sense of the other prospective students than of the students at the college you are visiting.

2. Plan Ahead. 

Once you’ve determined a good time to visit a college, do some research about the college’s visit program. What do they offer for visiting high school juniors? Many will have information sessions, often led by an admissions officer; most will have tours of the campus, typically led by a current student who is skilled at walking backwards. See if the college offers interviews or overnights for juniors. If you plan to interview during your visit, be sure that you are prepared to talk about your interests and experiences, as well as why you are interested in that particular college.

3. Go Behind the Scenes. 

What you really want to do is get a sense of whether a college offers the kind of academic opportunities and community that you are seeking. The tour and information session are just the starting points. Go out and explore—order a Chai tea in the coffeehouse, get a copy of the student newspaper to see what the buzz is on campus, ask if you can see the music facilities or the chemistry labs. Read the notices on the bulletin boards—what kinds of concerts, lectures, sporting and club events are advertised? If you have a strong academic interest, you can consider the option of meeting with a faculty member in that department. This would need to be arranged prior to your visit and you’ll want to make sure that you have something to talk about with the professor. Check with the Admissions Office to see if you can sit in on a class (this is typically detailed on the website) or eat in a dining hall (some will provide free or reduced-cost passes)—the homemade chocolate chip cookies may seal the deal.

Visiting a campus can truly help you decide which school is the right fit for you.

4. Use Your Imagination. 

Try to picture yourself hanging out in a courtyard, participating in a small class discussion, rooming with someone like the student who led your tour. Remember that if you are looking at a residential college (versus a university where most people commute), it is a place where you will be learning and living for four years. You will likely find that students currently attending the college are your best resources. Ask them about their experiences—what they like and don’t like, what they feel the “climate” is like on campus, whether the classroom experience is what they hoped. You may be able to tell right away whether a school feels too big, too small, too isolated or too impersonal. Pay attention to your instincts.

5. Take Notes and Evaluate.

The more college visits you go on, the more you will be able to identify the factors most important to you. Jot down notes after each visit about anything that stood out—whether the students appeared happy, the professors seemed accessible, the campus seemed conducive to learning and reflection. You have plenty of time to narrow down your college list, but when you do so, you will be making informed decisions. 

By Margaret Nilsson