College Visits Part 1: Planning
Good planning of a college visit keep logistics from getting in the way of your opinion of the college, so the following are some tips on how to set up the upcoming trip for success:
Don’t plan on visiting more than two colleges in one day. Information overload will cause the schools to blend together and fatigue could result in an unnecessarily negative view.
Check the college admissions website for available campus tours and info sessions. Colleges usually offer both morning and afternoon sessions so that you have options for travel and the ability to officially see two schools in one day if time and distance permit. Sign up for the sessions immediately - availability can be an issue, so it’s better to secure your spot and adjust if need be.
Check the admissions website for recommendations on nearby hotels and make a reservation at a spot that allows you to wander campus on your own.
Plan to have a meal in a dining hall (ask admissions for a voucher), student union, or one of these restaurants recommended by students to get a feel for the kind of students that attend the college. Do some research in advance so you know where these spots are.
Have your student reach out to the department of the major they are interested in to see if you can meet with a professor or student to ask questions and get a feel for the academic program. Schedule this as soon as you have scheduled your admissions tour.
Allow time at the end of your visit to find the campus bookstore if college merchandise is within your budget. Pro tip for parents: if/what they choose can give you some idea of how they felt about the school if they are tight-lipped;)
Prepare for your visit: review your Scavenger Hunt document to see where you’d like to get more details
