Make the Most Out of Your College Visits
Planning to visit colleges in the near future? Visiting campuses can provide a sense of a college’s spirit and culture in a way unlike other marketing materials. By preparing in advance, and making the most out of your time on campus, you’ll discover an incredible amount of information that can provide a sense of what life would be like at different schools. Here are a few tips and considerations to help plan a successful college visit.
Conduct research before you visit. There are many ways to research schools and we suggest starting with the resources embedded in College Planner Pro (such as the school profile, Fiske Guide, Niche, and link to College Navigator stats). We also encourage students to follow schools on social media, watch admission videos, and explore college website pages that pertain to your specific interests. Also, take notes as you conduct your research so you remember what you found later on.
Customize your visit. Are you interested in a specific major or playing a sport on campus? Will you be utilizing academic support services or behavioral health resources? Consider your needs and interests, then look into stopping by specific centers or offices where you can learn more while on campus. Many clubs even post students’ contact information online so consider reaching out to a club officer to meet up before or on your campus visit.
Ask thoughtful questions. Spending time on campus is a wonderful opportunity to get answers to some of your questions that can’t be answered online, so prepare a few questions in advance.
Be observant and talk to students. One of our favorite activities is talking to current students about their college experience, and feel free to approach students before or after your tour. We also recommend visiting dining halls or cafes to observe students interacting with each other and you might even overhear some interesting conversations that provide a better sense of the campus happenings.
Explore the surrounding areas. Include time on your visit to walk around or grab a bite to eat off campus in the nearby vicinity. Many colleges will even provide a list of their favorite local dining options and activities.
Read announcements and school newspapers. This is one of the best ways to get a sense of unfiltered news and hot topics through students’ perspectives. Student newspapers can often be found in heavy traffic areas like student unions or outside dining halls.
Prepare for your visit.
At least 1 month in advance: Plan to sign up for campus tours with enough time in advance to make sure your desired visit date doesn’t fill up. Also, we suggest having the student use their email address to sign up as this is a way to track a student’s interest.
2 - 3 weeks in advance: Make sure you’re aware of any COVID policies, if these are in place. Also, consider reaching out to a current student at the college to meet for coffee or a snack before or after your campus tour. If you don’t know anyone personally, check with your school’s college counseling office as they might know of alumni from your high school.
A few days in advance: This might seem obvious but check the weather forecast and plan accordingly! Most tours still take place in the rain so dress for the local conditions and bring an umbrella if needed. Look into parking options and plan to arrive early (we recommend at least 30 minutes in advance)… the last thing you want is to feel stressed out or arrive late and miss your tour or information session.
After your visit, make sure to write down your impressions and details (both good and bad!) to help you remember specifics later on. We have a College Visit Worksheet you can complete to help organize your observations and to refer back to later on.
About Glasofer Educational Consulting
At Glasofer Educational Consulting, we are focused on demystifying the admissions process and helping families find the right-fit school for each applicant, with as little stress as possible.
We employ insights and strategies from our experience conducting numerous school admission interviews with applicants to Grades 6-12 to help candidates prepare—but not over prepare—for an enjoyable and effective interview.
Dina Glasofer, founder, and Dale Seabury are former admission and marketing professionals who worked together at The Pingry School. As former members of the School’s admission committee, both Dina and Dale understand what personal qualities resonate with admissions officers and they work with clients to present themselves in the most authentic, polished way possible to bring their candidacy to life and maximize admissions success.
