One of the most important steps in choosing a college is visiting the college itself. While doing online research and reading guidebooks is helpful, touring the campus is the best way to see what it would be like to actually attend. You can walk around the buildings and town, interact with students and professors, and experience the feel of the campus. Make the most out of your college visits with these tips.
It’s common to begin visiting the schools you may be interested in attending during your junior or senior year of high school — but consider starting even earlier! The more colleges you visit, the more information you will have about what options are out there and what you prefer in a school.
When scheduling your college visits, try your best to visit the campus when school is in session. This lets you see what campus life is like day-to-day. If you visit over the summer, you won’t get to experience the feel of real life on campus. Try planning some college tours over spring break, which typically falls at a different time for high schools versus colleges. To make the best use of your time, plan to see several nearby colleges in one trip.
If a school you’re interested in hosts an open house in the fall or spring, plan your visit around those events if possible. Another great time to visit is after admissions offers are sent out when many schools host an “admitted students” day or weekend on campus. If one or more of the schools you are deciding between offers this, try your best to go. The information shared during those events, as well as your on-campus experience, could be the deciding factors in choosing to attend that college.
Before you travel to any college, be sure to check the school’s website for guided tour schedules and information sessions, and register in advance if necessary. See if there are classes you can sit in on during your visit or if it’s possible to schedule an overnight stay with a student. You may even be able to conduct your admissions interview while you’re on campus.
Contact professors in your area of academic interest to set up a time to learn more about their departments. If you’re planning to play sports in college, make a plan to meet with the coaches for your sport or to observe a team practice.
The first thing to do when you arrive on campus is to sign in in the admissions office. Colleges often count these visits as “demonstrated interest,” which can help your admissions chances. The admissions office is likely where your campus tour will begin or where your information session will take place, so it’s the perfect place to start.
While you’re on the tour, use the time to ask your tour guide questions that will help you learn more about life on campus directly from a student. Ask them how they spend a typical weekday or weekend, what classes they’re currently taking, or what their favorite restaurant is nearby. If you have questions about financial aid, AP credits, or the student body ratio, direct those to the admissions department, as those employees are more likely to have insight into those specifics.
Visit important areas of campus where you’d likely be spending a significant amount of time — the library, the dining hall, the dorms, the athletic center — either on your tour or on your own. Spend time in the student center or on the quad to get a feel for the atmosphere among students. Grab a student newspaper or check the bulletin boards around campus to get a sense of what the students are interested in and what activities are popular.
Be sure to keep notes about what you like and don’t like about each college you visit. Use a simple rating chart like the one created by the College Board or jot your thoughts in a notebook. You’ll most likely be touring colleges over the course of several months or even years. Your notes will help you remember your feelings about each school when decision time arrives.
Sometimes, it’s not feasible to travel to see every school you’re interested in applying to. Luckily, many colleges now offer virtual tours via Zoom. These virtual tours enable you to still interact with current students and see campus highlights — and they still qualify as “demonstrated interest” to admissions officers. Most colleges also have tour videos on their websites that can provide you with an overview of campus.
You should learn more about the college by checking out all of their social media channels, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. See if the schools you are interested in have an online community dedicated to connecting high school students with current college students and join in. Register for a virtual event or a meetup that’s taking place near you.
With so many colleges and universities in the United States, figuring out which ones to spend your time visiting can feel daunting. Let us help you narrow the selection down to the schools that are the right fit for you.
For over 20 years, we have been guiding high school students through the college application process. We’ll take the time to understand your goals and listen to your interests, then work with you to decide on your college list. In addition to preparing you for visits and interviews, we’ll advise you on completing your applications in a way that showcases your best self to the admissions committees.
Contact CAPS today to learn more about how we can help you on your college admissions journey.