1. The campus visit Everything to know about visiting colleges

2. About the Visit Visiting a campus with your family is one of the most powerful things that you can do during your college search. It allows you to get the “feel” of a campus - the personal impression that you can’t get from websites, brochures, and college fairs.

3. About the Visit It often allows you the chance to meet individually with faculty, academic advisors, and athletic coaches and get your questions about the application process, scholarships and financial aid, and campus life answered by the admissions staff. What’s more, you can talk to current students and get a first hand view of campus life. Think of your visit as your “test drive” of the school.

4. Where should you visit? Decide what’s important to you, and then narrow your list down to the schools that meet your criteria. Here are a few key ones to consider before scheduling a visit: Does the school meet my academic profile and is it the type of school that I’m looking for? (2 year, 4 year, technical, etc.) Is it close enough to (or far enough away from) home? Does it have the academic program or major that I want? How big is the campus and student body? If you’d like to play a sport in college, does the school offer it?

5. WHEN should you visit? Summer is great for an initial visit - you don’t have to miss school and the weather is usually nice. However, campuses feel different during the summer: there are far fewer students on campus and it can be more difficult to meet with faculty or sit-in on classes. In terms of opportunities and access, there is no better time to visit a campus than on a weekday when classes are in session.

7. Plan ahead! No matter what, SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT AHEAD OF TIME. A good rule of thumb is to schedule your visit at least 2 weeks beforehand, especially if you are going to be requesting any special meetings or appointments. Registering for a visit is not only courteous, but it also ensures that your trip won’t be in vain – there’s no guarantee that a school will accommodate you if you walk-in unannounced. There are certain times of year that you will be unable to (or at least discouraged from) visiting a school. These include major holidays and the finals week at the end of each semester.

9. What else can you expect? A common visit type involves a group presentation in which your family and several others will be given information about applying, scholarships and financial aid, academic programs, etc. Another type of visit will involve a more intimate meeting with an admissions counselor, where you and your family can get your questions personally addressed before going on tour.