Visiting colleges

Why visit prospective colleges?
Visiting colleges can give an added dimension to a college that a website or brochure cannot capture. You can see students walk to class, socialize at events, check out your housing options, and sit in on an actual class in session. By visiting the colleges you may want to attend, you can narrow down which colleges you most want to attend and which you don’t.

When should you visit?
Plan your visit when class is in session so that you can see the buzz of students on campus. Try to schedule your visit as soon ahead of time as possible. If you’re applying for the fall, where application deadlines vary from November to March, the fall semester is the perfect time to visit.

Since many colleges begin around August, you can plan your visit any time after that. For spring applicants, you will be applying to college around October to January. Scheduling your visit any time before October can help you determine which colleges are a best fit for you.

Avoid visiting school during holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas break, summer, and spring break. Although this may be the most convenient time for you, it isn’t the best time to visit. You want to see the campus while it is in session so you can get an accurate feel of the campus. Also avoid going during midterm and finals, as you will not be able to sit in on a class.

To save time, many people choose to visit the campus after they are accepted. The purpose of visiting colleges is to weed out the colleges you wouldn’t want to apply. Although visiting after acceptance is fine, the time between getting accepted and formally accepting your admission sometimes leaves you with less than a month. So, schedule your time wisely if you choose this option.

What should you do at a college visit?
At a college visit you will be given a tour of the campus. This is your time to see the college atmosphere, ask questions about the faculty, admissions and financial aid. You will get brochures and forms that will give you any information that you need.

Checking out the interaction between students and seeing the activities and social life on campus will give you an insight that brochures can not depict. Talk to students about any questions you may have. The best thing is to ask questions because you will have the right people to answer them.

Visiting the college is worth the time spent because it will make deciding which colleges to apply to that much easier. Seeing the college firsthand can help you get an idea of what you can expect when you attend. Ultimately, the visit will give you an insight into what you want in a college.