Planning college visits

Juniors: Time to Plan your College Road Trips

Juniors, now is the time when you and your family should sit down and plan when and where college trips are going to occur. Time, distance, and cost are all considerations for families making college visits. But planning ahead is another element of approaching the application process wisely by being organized enough so that you and your parents are not constantly nagged by doubts and concerns.

With some dates in mind for visits, then check the website of each of the colleges you plan to visit to obtain dates and times for tours, information sessions, interview availability, and other opportunities. Make a reservation if required. Do this as far in advance as possible so you can get a spot on a date that works for your family. Some schools may not require you to reserve a space for info sessions or tours but ask you to let them know in advance that you’re attending. Do this.

If the college requires or strongly suggests an applicant interview, arrange an appointment for when you are on campus. There are usually a limited number of time slots for interviews, available on a first- come, first- served basis.

Juniors: What to do if time and money are considerations in scheduling a college visit

While extremely important, visits are not a possibility for every applicant. If scheduling or cost may prevent you from visiting or if you must be selective about which schools to visit, consider the following strategies:

  1. Visit online. Many schools offer online tours -- via the web or an app. Check the websites of the colleges on your list to see what they offer. And also check out Collegiate Choice (their videos are unauthorized but give you a good look at campus life); eCampus Tours (360-degree tours of over 1200 campuses); and Campus Tours (their database has thousands of virtual tours, interactive maps, and video). All these resources are at no cost.
  2. If you have to pick and choose which campuses to visit, see the solid schools on your list where you are most likely to be admitted.
  3. If you can visit only once, visit after you've enrolled.

Schools understand not all students may be able to visit and it should not have a negative impact on your application. However, if you live within a reasonable driving distance, the college may expect you to visit. Keep that in mind as you make your plans.

Juniors: Start your Planning for College Visits

Juniors, now is the time when you and your family should sit down and plan when and where college trips are going to occur. This is another element of approaching the application process wisely by being organized enough so that you and your parents are not constantly nagged by doubts and concerns.

With some dates in mind for visits, then check the website of each of the colleges you plan to visit to obtain dates and times for tours, information sessions, interview availability, and other opportunities. Make a reservation if required. Do this as far in advance as possible so you can get a spot on a date that works for your family. Some schools may not require you to reserve a space for info sessions or tours but ask you to let them know in advance that you’re attending. Do this.

If the college requires or strongly suggests an applicant interview, arrange an appointment for when you are on campus. There are usually a limited number of time slots for interviews, available on a first- come, first- served basis. We’ll have more advice about interviewing next week.