Making the Most of College Visits

Julie Murphy, M.A., Founder, Waverly Educational Consulting

February 16, 2023

Is it really important to visit colleges before I apply? 

Yes! There are so many reasons why visits are an important part of any successful college search. Here are a few:  

• Visiting in person remains the best way to get a feel for if a college "fits" you. Glossy brochures and pre-recorded campus tours shot on beautiful, sunny days don't compare to the experience of having your feet on the sidewalk and seeing, hearing, smelling, and experiencing the campus first hand. You will get a sense for how you will likely be treated as a student when you interact with the college as a visitor, and you’ll learn if that college will be a place where you can likely find your people.

• Your application to that college will improve. You will be asked "why this college" on nearly every application. Having first hand experience and easily accessible - and genuine - answers to that question will make your application much stronger (and will be less stressful for you).

• You’ll prove to colleges your sincere interest. This "demonstrated interest" as it is called in admissions speak, can give you a boost in admissions decisions and/or scholarship decisions at some schools. Some colleges will even pass up highly-qualified applicants if they don’t have reason to believe that they will choose their college over others.

• You’ll get a test run in traveling to the geographic area where the college is located. For many students, the trip to and from home becomes a well-worn path throughout college. Make sure that your destination is worth the trip. 

But aren’t they just going to tell me what I want to hear and show me only the interesting parts of campus? 

Not if you plan your visit thoughtfully and ask good questions! Check out this In-Person College Visits guide to help you prepare. I encourage you to read these tips before you schedule your visit, and bring the worksheet along with you to take good notes. Future you will be grateful for detailed notes of your experiences and impressions, when it comes time to apply.

When and how often should I visit? 

That depends on your goals and your resources, including time, money to travel, etc.

• Sophomores - Sophomore visits are especially helpful to start to contextualize different types of campuses and how they fit your priorities (or not). Even 2-3 early visits in sophomore year, to local colleges and universities of different types can help students start to narrow in on what they are looking for. For example, check out one large, public university, one pre-professionally focused university, and one liberal arts college. If possible, visiting a friend or family member who is a current college student, can give sophomores a behind-the-scenes look at what college is like, and a sense of what they are working toward.

• Juniors - Visiting as a junior can help inform your college list and the schools that deserve your attention come application time. For students considering lots of colleges far from home, consider dividing the initial list of colleges into “must visit before applying” and “will visit after admittance”. If you haven’t visited colleges before Junior year, that’s OK, but it’s time to get started.

• Seniors - Visiting as a senior can help you narrow your list, make a final decision, and demonstrate your serious interest to admissions staff at each college. For students who are considering applying to a college via Early Decision (binding) deadlines, that level of commitment should be met with equal effort to visit the college multiple times and be absolutely sure that it is the right college for you. Many colleges will offer unique visit options for admitted students and in some cases, students will be invited to campuses for interviews or special program invitations (honors, scholarships, etc).

Are all times of the year equally beneficial for college visits?

Any visit is better than no visit. However the best time to see a campus, to get the truest sense of a campus, is during the academic year, when classes are in session. This means avoiding any of the college’s fall, winter or spring breaks, and visiting on a weekday. Consider planning campus visits for when your high school has days off (e.g. President’s Day, parent/teacher conferences), or talking with your high school about excused absences for college visits. Campuses tend to be very busy with visitors in late March through the end of April, as seniors are making their final decisions. Sophomores and juniors would be well-served by avoiding these months as well.

Any final tips for planning a great visit?

• Plan ahead! Campus visits tend to fill several weeks in advance at many colleges. Visit the office of admissions websites of the colleges you want to visit, and note what options exist. Then, consider what you really want to see when you’re on campus, whether or not it’s advertised on the visit website, and reach out to the Office of Admissions at the university to ask for what you want. This may include sitting in on a class, seeing a residence hall room, arranging a meeting with the honors program or a specific academic major, etc.

• Leave time for casual observation. Student unions, dining halls, and nearby coffee shops can be a great place to spend an hour or so, observing students in their regular interactions.

• Divide the workload with a friend. College visits can be time consuming and expensive. Consider coordinating your efforts with another family or two, and carpooling to campus visits together.

• Have fun! College visits should be a time for you to imagine new opportunities in a new place. Do your best to relax, be yourself, and have some fun!