College Visits

College Visits Country And Abroad

I visit colleges throughout the country and abroad so that I can give my students and their families a more robust picture
of what various colleges offer. Here’s a list of colleges I’ve visited since 2018:

2018	University of Virginia	VA, USA
2018	Elon University	NC, USA
2018	Duke University	NC, USA
2018	University of NC – Chapel Hill	NC, USA
2018	University of Vermont	VT, USA
2018	Middlebury College	VT, USA
2018	Norwich University	VT, USA
2018	Northern Vermont – Lyndon	VT, USA
2018	Vermont Technical College	VT, USA
2018	Northern Vermont – Johnson	VT, USA
2018	Landmark	VT, USA
2018	Bennington College	VT, USA
2018	St. Joseph’s College	VT, USA
2018	Southern Vermont College	VT, USA
2018	Castleton College	VT, USA
2018	St. Michael’s College	VT, USA
2018	Champlain College	VT, USA
2018	Georgia Tech	GA, USA
2018	Ringling College of Art and Design	FL, USA
2017	University of West England	England
2017	University of Bristol	England
2017	University of Bath	England
2017	University of Bath – College of the Arts	England
2017	University of Falmouth	England
2017	University of Exeter	England
2017	University of Plymouth	England
2017	Royal Hollaway – University of London	England
2017	University of Bournemouth	England
2017	University of Bournemouth – College of the Arts	England
2017	New College	Florida
2017	Beacon College	FL
2017	Northeastern University	MA
2016	Florida Southern	FL
2016	Southeastern University	FL
2016	Barry	FL
2016	Lynn	FL
2016	Keiser	FL
2016	Eckerd	FL
2016	University of Tampa	FL
2016	Rollins	FL
2016	St. Leo	FL
2016	FIT	FL
2016	Stetson	FL
2016	Embry-Riddle	FL
2016	University of Jacksonville	FL
2016	Flager	FL
2016	Texas Women’s University	TX
2016	Elon	NC
2016	Greensboro College	NC
2016	Bennett	NC
2016	Guilford College	NC
2016	Wake Forest University	NC
2016	Salem College	NC
2016	High Point	NC
2016	Livingstone College	NC
2016	Catawba College	NC
2016	Wingate University	NC
2016	Cabarrus College of Health Science	NC
2016	Pfeiffer University	NC
2015	University of Vermont	VT
2015	Simmons College	MA
2015	Goucher College	MD
2015	Loyola of Maryland	MD
2015	Stevenson College	MD
2015	McDaniel College	MD
2015	Hood College	MD
2015	University of South Florida	FL
2015	University of Central Florida	FL
2015	James Madison University	VA
2014	Dickenson College	PA
	Miami of Ohio	OH
2014	West Virginia University	WV
2014	University of South Carolina	SC
2014	Indiana University	IN
2014	Towson University	MD
2014	Frostburg	MD
2014	Blue Ridge Community College WV Rider University	NJ
2014	Princeton University	NJ
2014	State College of Florida FL Quinnipiac University	CT
2014	University of Dallas	TX
2014	Texas Christian University	TX
2014	Salisbury	MD
2014	UMES	MD
2014	Dean College	MA
2014	School of the Museum of Fine Arts	MA
2014	Edison College (now FL Southwestern)	FL
2014	Embry Riddle FL Emmanuel College	GA
2014	University of Alabama	AL
2014	University of New Haven	CT
2014	Gulf Coast University	FL
2013	Shippensburg	PA
2013	New College	FL
2012	University of Maryland	MD
2012	UMBC	MD
2011	Marshall	WV
2011	Liberty University	VA
2011	Hollins VA Bluefield	VA
2011	Sweet Briar	VA
2010	Rensellear Polytechnic University	NY
2010	Mount St. Mary’s University MD Gettysburg College	PA
2010	American University	DC
2010	Georgetown	DC
2010	George Washington	DC
2010	Penn State Mount Alto	PA
2010	Shenandoah VA Shepherd University	WV
2010	Harvard University	MA

Keys To Successful College Admissions

One of the keys to successful college admissions is for a student and family to visit colleges. I myself visit at least 15-20 colleges per year so that when I put a school on a student’s list, I know that the school and the student would be a good fit.

Think of it the same as purchasing a home. You wouldn’t spend that kind of money without walking through the home and asking yourself if you can see yourself there. Visiting a college before going there, to me, is the same as purchasing a home. A student who, if at all possible, walks the campus, samples the food, checks out the dorm, and talks to a professor, is more confident in their college choice than a student who decides on a college simply by checking out the website.

Don’t just take my word for it. The quoted remarks here are from a few of my current seniors, after they have visited colleges:

“I really thought I’d like this campus. It has been my #1 dream college since I was a kid. My dream clashed with reality. It was dark. The rooms were old and dark. The classrooms were dark. And, no one smiled. Take this off my list.”

“I really liked this school. It felt clean to me and very well put together. The school has great internship opportunities. My Mom and I talked to the head of the cafeteria like you suggested and they definitely can accommodate my diabetes needs. I also liked that I didn’t need to be majoring in Dance in order to participate in the program. I definitely want to keep this school on my list.”

“I really didn’t think I’d like this school. I thought it would be too small and wouldn’t have any school spirit. Mom and I decided to visit at the last minute and I LOVE it. Definitely want to keep it on my list. The opportunities available for internships blew me away. All dorms are suite style, which looks great. We even got to attend a basketball game. The school spirit is off the charts. Definitely want to keep this one on my list.”

In my 30+ years both as a school counselor and an independent college counselor, I have fielded many questions from parents and students about visiting colleges.

What’s the value of a college campus visit?

Touring a college campus gives students and parents the opportunity to really get to know all aspects and opportunities that this school has to offer, above what can be learned on a college’s website or visiting Reddit. I recommend that students come prepared to get the most out of their visit by reviewing the website and social media pages and writing down any specific questions that they want to be answered while on the tour.

Bottom line: visiting a college campus takes away any doubt that either the student or parent may have.

How many college campuses should I tour?

That’s a great question. All of the students that I work with have their college list solidified by May of their junior year. My best advice is for parents to plan their summer vacation around touring colleges that are farthest away from home. Try, if possible, to tour two schools a day. The schools that are within two hours from home can easily be visited on a weekend in September. I do recommend, if possible, touring any schools on the list prior to October of senior year. I recognize that with budgetary and scheduling constraints, that isn’t always possible. If the student hasn’t visited a school yet but has applied and been accepted, then a college visit is definitely required before making the final decision on May 1.

How do I schedule college visits?

Simply, go on the college’s website, click on Admissions and then Visiting. Click on the drop down calendar for a list of dates and times to visit and tour the campus. Then, follow the prompts to sign up.

Can anyone walk through a college campus?

Prior to the pandemic, I would have said “yes” however, security on many college campuses has increased, due to COVID safety concerns. If you want to walk a college campus, but your schedule doesn’t permit taking an “official tour.” my recommendation is that you call the admissions office and ask them if you can.

I would also ask them this question: “Does your college keep track of demonstrated interest?”

If the answer is “Yes”, then I would explain your scheduling concerns to the admissions office and see if, together, you can find a time to ‘officially’ visit.

Demonstrated interest is where the colleges keep track of any student who has visited, which supports the student in gaining admission to the school.

If the school doesn’t keep track of demonstrated interest and allows you to walk the campus, you can download a pdf document of a walking tour of the campus through Google.

What can I expect from an official college campus visit?

You will begin your visit, usually, at the Admissions Office where you will be given materials on the school and specific, and usually new, programs the school wants to highlight. You will then sit through a 30-45 minutes informational session with an admissions representative, where you will learn about the admissions process and requirements. Following that, you will be sent out on a 60-90 minute tour with a current student to tour the campus and get any of your questions answered. These tours usually end where it started, in case you have other questions to ask

How long are college tours?

Each college tour usually lasts about 3 hours.

Questions to ask on a college visit or college tour?

I strongly recommend that students create a list of questions based on your research of the college’s website and social media sites. Parent’s should also generate their own list prior to touring the campus.

Topics for questions could include:

Specific questions about the major, including;
- Study abroad
- Internship opportunities
- Research opportunities
Specific questions about extracurricular activities,including:
- How to get involved
- Weekend activities on campus
- Sponsored weekend activities off of campus

During your college visit, be sure to:

Eat in one of the cafeteria’s
Pick up a newspaper or the QR code for the paper. When reading the paper, pay particular attention to all that happens on the weekend. You probably won’t have a car. Can you keep busy on the weekends? Are there opportunities to meet new friends?
Talk to a professor who teaches your major. Many admissions counselors will set that up when you register to visit.
Parents, be sure to talk to the financial aid office about their timeline for awards and scholarships

What to wear on a college tour?

Great question. I have seen students wear everything from a 3 piece suit or dress with 4 inch heels to a tee shirt, shorts and flip flops. Unless the college is very small, it is doubtful that anyone in admissions will remember what you wore during your visit.

My best advice is to dress comfortably, sensibly and for the weather. You will be walking for up to 2 hours so wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes that look good and are comfortable without being revealing.

How I can help you make sense of the college tour process?

As your individual college counselor, I am available to guide you through the entire college tour process and answer any questions you may have. I have forged relationships with many admissions counselors. If I know ahead of time, I can let the counselor know you are coming and what specific questions you may have.

As a former special education teacher and school counselor, my knowledge of the college campus tour process is extensive, having toured more than one hundred US and UK campuses in my career. Contact me at dianne@launching college success.com or 240-285-1920 to explore how I can support both you and your student through this process.

Get In Touch!

Do you need help understanding the college admission’s maze? College is NOT what it was 20 years ago. Let us show you the ropes so your kid has a stronger chance of getting into college with less stress and less anxiety.

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me on my calendar or click the “contact us” button and I will get in touch with you. I look forward to connecting with you soon.