As a college admissions advisor, I believe visiting colleges in person is a vital step for parents and students before their senior year. While the college experience is undoubtedly a significant investment—both emotionally and financially—it is crucial for students to make well-informed decisions about their home for the next four years.
Balancing Your College Visits Expectations and Exploration
With the pressure of advanced coursework, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles, students often find it challenging to carve out time to visit colleges. Nonetheless, exploring college campuses in person can help them understand the academic, social, and cultural opportunities each institution offers.
This article will guide you through various aspects of the college visit experience, including preparing for in-person and virtual tours, making the most of your time on campus, and reflecting on your experience afterward. By following these recommendations, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the college search process and choose a school that aligns with your preferences and aspirations.
The Financial and Emotional Investment of College
Choosing a college is akin to purchasing a home—a substantial financial commitment for families. After all, as parents, you would never consider purchasing a house sight unseen. A home is probably the biggest expense you’ll ever undertake. I remember when I bought my first home, it was so important that I thoroughly inspected the house from top to bottom.
The same can be said about visiting colleges. This will be your child’s home for the next four years and can be nearly as costly as a house. It’s essential to ensure it meets your family’s needs and preferences.
Exploring The Benefits Of In-Person Visits
In-person visits can help you determine whether a school’s resources, campus environment, and student life meet your expectations. By investing the time and effort to explore colleges thoroughly, you can make informed decisions about your future.
Colleges typically offer an hour-long information session led by an admissions counselor, covering academic majors, buildings and grounds, and sports and extracurriculars. This is followed by a student-led tour, allowing you to explore the campus, classrooms, dorms, and cafeterias. While 2.5 hours may seem brief, you can gain valuable insights with prior research.
Before your visit, do your research. Explore the college’s website to gather facts and information about its size, majors, extracurricular activities, and other aspects that matter to you. Jot down any questions you may have to discuss during the tour.
During your visit, consider the following:
- Attend the information session and student-led tour. Tours are usually available on weekdays and occasionally on Saturdays.
If you are applying to a school that requires an interview for admission, try to arrange to go on the tour before the interview (questions will arise which you can then discuss in the interview). If not sure about whether an interview is required, call admissions and ask.
The student guide is a good source of information, so ply him/her with questions. If you do NOT hit it off with the tour guide, try not to judge the entire institution negatively—try to talk with as many other students as possible.
- Engage with students other than the tour guide to gain diverse perspectives.
Ask people walking around or eating lunch why they chose that school, what they like and what they would change about it.
- Read the student newspaper, either in print or online, for insights into campus life and what the issues of concern are to students.
- Time permitting, eat a meal in one of the dining halls. This allows you to not only sample the food but to also “people watch,” peruse the bulletin boards, and observe the campus environment.
- Explore the surrounding town to discover off-campus activities and transportation options.
You’ll want to leave campus sometimes. What is there for students to do nearby? Are students allowed to bring cars on campus? How easy is it to get around? Is it a walking town or must you bring a car?
- Make sure that you have given your name to the admissions office, so that they have a record of your visit.
If time permits, consider the following with prior arrangements:
- Attend a class to gauge class size and student engagement. Notice if they’re just taking notes or if students are actively participating.
- Meet with a coach if you’re interested in playing a sport.
The coach can give you an idea of your chances of playing on that school’s team and will be an invaluable resource during the admissions process.
Evaluating Your College Visit Experience
After your college visit, take a moment to reflect on your experience. Consider these questions:
- What did you like most about the education and campus experience?
- If you had the option to attend another college, where would you choose, and why?
- What factors led you to choose this school over others?
- Which types of students do you think would thrive here, and which might struggle?
After you leave the campus, jot down your answers to the following questions:
- What do you like best about your experience and education here?
- If you could attend another college now, where would you go, and why?
- Why did you choose this school? What others did you apply to?
- What kinds of kids do you think are happiest here? Which ones are least happy?
This will help you to remember what you saw and learned while on tour. Discuss with your parents, friends, and college counselor.
Making the Most of Virtual College Tours
Although visiting a college, walking the campus, and getting a feel for the students is, I believe, the best way to learn about a school, sometimes it’s impossible to fit in a college visit. Most high school students’ schedules are filled almost to capacity with AP and Dual-Enrollment expectations, after school activities, weekend games, and volunteering.
Fortunately, virtual 3-D tours have become more widely available since 2020, offering an alternative way to explore campuses from the comfort of your home and they can still provide valuable insights and a sense of the college’s atmosphere. In my professional opinion, you must prepare for your virtual tour much the same way you would if you were visiting in person as many of the above tips still apply:
- Research and prepare questions in advance
- Engage with the presenters during the online information session
- Explore available online resources
Pros of Virtual College Tours:
- Accessibility: You can explore schools anywhere in the country without the need for travel.
- Money Saver: Virtual tours eliminate expenses like gas, hotels, and airfare associated with in-person visits.
- Time Saver: For students with packed schedules, virtual tours are an efficient way to gather information on various colleges.
Cons of Virtual College Tours:
- Limited Information: Because a lot of these virtual tours are produced by the colleges, they are sharing only the information that will support them in filling their freshman class.
- Limited Experience: Although the tours do give you an idea of the campus, the student population and the majors, you don’t have an opportunity to have a personal experience.
Remember to stay open-minded and ask questions throughout the process. Your college visit, whether in-person or virtual, is an essential step in finding the best-fit school for your family.
Whether you visit online or not, my best advice for visiting colleges is to try to fit in an in-person visit at least once before you and your student have to decide in May of their senior year. Check out the virtual admission tours ONLY if you can’t visit the school before you apply. Definitely visit the school in person before you make that final decision.
In summary, make the most of your college visits, whether in-person or virtual. Research beforehand, engage with students and staff, and reflect on your experiences afterward. This thoughtful approach will enable you to make well-informed decisions about your college journey.
Are you concerned about the college process? Do you have a high schooler who could benefit from my guidance, organization and support during this stressful process? If so, get in touch with me. I can be reached at 240-285-1920 or dianne@launchingcollegesuccess.com. I have over 30 years’ experience supporting students and families through all aspects of the college admissions experience, from grades and classes, to testing, essays and applications. I’d love to help.
