When should we do college visits? Should we do official tours? What time of year should we aim to go? Do we go to all colleges before applying?
Like many things having to do with higher ed, the answer is “it depends.” It depends on a student’s age and where they are in the process, and what they are hoping to accomplish.
In general, there are three “best times” to visit campuses and distinct goals for all three.
1. Visiting campus for general exploration and knowledge building
As a freshman or sophomore, or even early junior before you’re really into the heart of actual research and list building, there are tons of benefits to even stepping foot on campus. Start locally and go informally to build your knowledge base about different types of colleges. Small liberal arts, vs. mid-sided suburban, vs. large public, urban, or research universities. All of these are great options and all have a totally different vibe and focus.
2. Visiting campus during junior year as part of the research. Answering the question “do I want to apply here.”
Now as a junior, you are working on strategic research to build a balanced list of colleges you will apply to. Using campus visits as a part of this research can help you make the call about whether or not you want to apply. This is a great time to take an in-person campus tour so you can go deeper into learning about that particular college and what it offers. Check out a dorm, cafeteria, library, ask to go see buildings in your broad interest areas–dance studio, computer lab. Sit on a bench and grab a coffee. Watch folks walking around–how diverse does it feel? How friendly does it seem? And be sure to save some time to drive or walk the area around the campus, too, so you can better understand the neighborhood. This is also a good time to go by admissions and introduce yourself–start building a relationship and demonstrate interest for why a particular college likely fits you.
3. Visiting campus during senior year after apps are in, to answer the question “do I want to GO here.”
You’ve applied, been accepted, and now you are deciding where to attend. It is likely that you did some campus visits in phases one and two, and it’s unlikely that you got onto all campuses before deciding to apply. So now it’s time to visit the remaining colleges you are considering and really try on if this is the place for you. Go deeper with your visit and really make the best use of your time. Ask questions you are legitimately wondering, be proactive in carving out the opportunities that will really help you decide. Sit in on a class, spend the night in a dorm, request to meet with a professor in your major area, take time and do what you can to immerse yourself into the culture of the campus and surrounding area. Pay attention to the travel process too! In fact, I advise students to plan this trip on their own. Research flights and rental cars. Learn about shuttle services and drive times. Remember that students will likely be making this trek on their own in the very near future, so this is a great time to practice!
Pack your bags and have some fun!
