College Visits: Go Beyond the Tour

Get to Know Potential Schools on a Deeper Level

As colleges and universities around the country are reopening to students and live classes, they are also beginning to offer prospective student tours again. This is great news! Visiting the schools you’re applying to is a fun and educational rite of passage. It’s unfortunate that so many of your peers had to miss this opportunity last year, so if you are able, take advantage of school visits before you commit to a top choice.

Before you go, or if you’re exploring some schools that haven’t yet started offering tours and visits, take a look at my blog on remote college visits. Not only will you learn how to get the most out of seeing schools from home, but it has some valuable tips for preparing for in-person visits as well. While it’s incredible that we have so much virtual access to campuses these days, nothing beats an in-person visit for truly understanding what a school has to offer.

Get to Know Campus Life

You know from all the beautiful brochures you’ve received in the mail over the past year that colleges pride themselves on maintaining picturesque campuses. Students will call these grounds home for the next four years or more, so it’s important that they feel comfortable in the lifestyle. As you explore campus, check in with your gut instincts often. Don’t try to force yourself to connect with a campus that doesn’t fit your personality. If you are unhappy in your environment, it will affect your ability to make friends, do well in classes, and take full advantage of all of your support and services.

Now, you don’t have to find a college that matches your actual home environment, but drastic changes may create more challenges than you should be considering at this time of transition. For example, if you live in a rural setting, but you’re convinced an urban school is the best choice, do what you can to visit large cities between now and when you leave for school. Visit the campus for an overnight stay if possible to get a true sense of urban campus life. If you can request a student host who is from a region like your own home region, ask a lot of questions about how they acclimated to this big change.

Don’t forget to explore off-campus life as well. I offered insight about this topic in a previous post. It’s important to get a feel for the surrounding region so that you know what to expect when you leave campus to explore the community.

Explore Classes and Academic Departments

Take full advantage of the campus experience by visiting with professors in your desired major and shadowing a student for a day. If this kind of visit is available, you’ll get to sit in on classes, eat with students in the dining halls, spend significant time in campus housing, and get a genuine student experience.

Try not to be overwhelmed by the academics you experience during your visit. Remember that you’re getting a sample, and the real experience will be less of a contrast to what you’re accustomed to in high school. Try to take in more of the whole experience than the details. You aren’t going to be tested on what you learn in the classes you visit! Pay attention to things like the professors’ speaking and interaction styles, how engaged the other students are, how full the classes are, and how manageable your host’s schedule appears to be. Can you imagine yourself in this environment, taking these classes, and managing this workload?

Don’t forget to tour the resources that you might need to access once you are a student. While this includes the library, writing lab, and career services office, think beyond the basics. Do you have a disability or medical condition that requires accommodations? Will you use specialty advising services? You’ll want to explore the athletic, theater, music, religious, political, or social offerings that catch your interest. If studying abroad is on your radar, visit that office to learn about the program requirements. Is joining a fraternity or sorority something you’re considering? If so, find out more about the school’s Greek organizations.

Enjoy Your Visit 

While I’ve given you a lot to think about for planning your college visits, don’t become overwhelmed. There’s a lot to take in at any school you visit, but the main thing is to pay attention to how the campus and people make you feel. I recommend jotting down some brief notes in a notebook or using the notes app on your phone. What were your three biggest takeaways? What did you like best? What do you still have questions about? And most importantly, can you picture yourself in this place?

Beyond that, have fun with your visit, buy a t-shirt, and keep the perspective that your journey is mostly dependent on how you handle all the circumstances that come your way.

Planning for college is exciting, but it can be a bit overwhelming, as well. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I’ve helped many students comb through all the information, narrow down their choices, plan their visits, and then apply to the schools that really are the best fit for them. Contact me for an initial consultation to see how I can help you enjoy the fun parts of choosing a college.