Getting Ready for College Visits

Spring break and summer plans may be in the planning stages. Many families with high school juniors will plan vacations and getaways based upon colleges of interest. 

 Whether you are attending on-campus or virtual tours, visiting schools is a crucial part of the college admissions journey. Many families use this opportunity to jump start the college conversation.

 While exposing the student to college atmosphere is critical, some careful planning will make this exercise lot more meaningful. Recognizing and accepting what your child needs to thrive academically and socially, will allow you to create a college list (and your subsequent visits) that is centered on them rather than a compromised fit.

Do you need to visit every school on your list?  No. I do not recommend visiting more than 5 schools because you will find it will be repetitive and you may experience burnout before applying. Money, time, and energy are finite resources. A good place to start is to choose your current first choice college and then schedule other visits that are in close proximity to make a long weekend or if you are on vacation and you can stagger visits over a week-long period.

I like to use college visits as a research tool. After students work through a self-discovery phase to determine their needs and wants. Our research phase begins in looking at all the preferences associated with choosing a college that matches their profile. A student can envision themselves on a large campus majoring in business but the actual preference does not take shape until they physically place themselves on that Big 10 campus. They may be surprised to find that the setting, size, or “personality” of a school appeals or doesn’t appeal to them, contrary to what they had expected…so then their narrowed list of possible schools should reflect any new-found preferences.  

If I don’t schedule an on-campus visit?

Do not underestimate the advantage and experience of virtual tours and informational sessions. A college’s website will have the following options for prospective students found under the Admissions menu tab:

• Schedule either a live or pre-recorded virtual tour, which is usually led by a current student. Live virtual tours are usually 45 minutes-1 hour in length and feature key buildings and campus destinations.

• Schedule a virtual information session, which is typically led by an admissions officer or Dean of Admissions. Topics covered may include essay writing, the admissions process, financial aid, extra-curricular, and campus life.

• Schedule a virtual student panel in which students will answer questions about campus housing, food, extracurricular activities and even majors.

 Since visiting every campus on your list is not practical, finding the balance between which ones are worth visiting is important. This is where your research and self-discovery comes in. I have found if students start with a college name or college reputation, they often feel lost and disenchanted during the notification period. It typically stems from their lack of authenticity and theme in their application.

On the other hand, students who can reflect and easily talk about their experiences on the campuses will rise to the top in the application pool. Colleges use demonstrated interest, interviews, and essays to determine a match and yield for their next class.

ED will not guarantee an admission if your application lacks substance and authenticity.