A How to Guide for College Visits
Long before you consider visiting colleges, you and your child need to have researched them and come up with a top 20 list. HOW MANY??? 20. At least. The class of 2012 is the largest incoming freshman class ever in the United States. Competition even at the "B" rated universities is on the rise. The next few years will continue in this trend. If you spend the time doing a bit of upfront research, you will have a clearer road to the final choice. What you need is a guide; a checklist to help you survive those college visits. What you need is this lens!
Today, I will help you create your "to do" list. By covering the things we did that helped us get ready for the college visits. From the point my daughter finally made her top choices in order to plan the visits to the things that helped us survive the university visits, but also gain insight to each campus, understanding of the admissions process and a glimpse of the personality of each university. Most importantly, that top 20 became the favorites list for applications.
I will target the process we went through that brought us to the top 20 visit list. Believe me, it may seem like a lot of extra work, but planning for college visits in advance will pay off when you get on the college campus.
It can be a wild, exhausting but above all, educational ride. Don't be afraid. Take a deep breathe and jump! I promise YOU WILL survive!
Today, I will help you create your "to do" list. By covering the things we did that helped us get ready for the college visits. From the point my daughter finally made her top choices in order to plan the visits to the things that helped us survive the university visits, but also gain insight to each campus, understanding of the admissions process and a glimpse of the personality of each university. Most importantly, that top 20 became the favorites list for applications.
I will target the process we went through that brought us to the top 20 visit list. Believe me, it may seem like a lot of extra work, but planning for college visits in advance will pay off when you get on the college campus.
It can be a wild, exhausting but above all, educational ride. Don't be afraid. Take a deep breathe and jump! I promise YOU WILL survive!
I know, you are still stuck back on that line that said your child should have come up with a list of AT LEAST 20 colleges.
"You, mean my child should have researched colleges before we visit?" You say.....
Never fear, just look below and I can help you with that too!
First you have to come up with the list....but how?
OK, a bit of self promotion here! If your child hasn't yet started the college search, start with my lens- Searching for the Perfect College. I promise you will be glad you did!
- Searching for the Perfect College
- For most of us, the idea of finding the perfect university for our child is like finding the Holy Grail. The possibilities seem endless, the costs prohibitive. They are, and...they are. But with a little effort, there will be "the right" college for your child too!
OK, you say- we have 4 years. Plenty of time. Words from the now wiser. Start now. Make lists. Ask questions. Read, read, read.
They will change their minds multiple times, but the basic choices will remain the same.
Visiting Campuses is VITAL in the college search process.
Don't believe me?
"While a college's catalog and web site can provide valuable information about a college, they are not sufficient sources of information by which to choose a college because they are marketing materials that schools use to get you to want to attend.
By visiting, you can quickly find out how comfortable you are on campus. Campus visits allow you to better rank the pool of colleges you are considering based on personal impressions."
From : www.go4ivy.com/collegevisit.asp
You have the top 20+ "list" of colleges. Now get a binder!
Ah, THOSE 20 colleges!
Let's review.
In order to get to the top 20 list, your child should have written to each of the college admissions advisors for the region you are from . They did? Great! The job is going to get easier....
Go buy a binder and divide it into 20 sections or however many colleges are on the list .
In order to get to the top 20 list, your child should have written to each of the college admissions advisors for the region you are from . They did? Great! The job is going to get easier....
Go buy a binder and divide it into 20 sections or however many colleges are on the list .
- On the divider page write all of the pertinent information about the university.
Name
Address
Phone number
Name of admissions advisor
Email addresses - If the school is having any special information days, weekends or recruiting days, put those dates on the divider page as well.
- IF- your child has had any email from the school, they should print it out along with their replies and put it with the appropriate school.
- When creating the binder, have your child put the colleges in sections according to their rank of favorite to least favorite.
- If the university has directions and a map, print it out and add it. You will find this information in the "Visit Us" section of the web site.
- The same "Visit Us" section will often have links to local hotels. If you are going to be visiting from out of the area, print this list as well. And you've got it.....add it to the appropriate college section!
- If you have done all of the above, pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
- You will be adding to this binder later on, so make sure you know where you put it! From here on, refer to this binder as, "THE BINDER" !
Another reason to have a top 20 list
Since counselors are telling kids to APPLY to 10+ colleges, that means a lot of visits in order to get to a top ten to apply to. Of the 17 colleges my daughter saw, she could only see herself at 4. The tougher the admissions at the schools, the more your child should apply to.
OK- We have "THE BINDER", now what?
I am so happy you asked me that! The next step is to get or make a calendar. First mark the school holidays and any other important dates. Tournaments, exams, drs. appointments.....Now get out "THE BINDER", and look at the special visit dates for each college. Mark those on the calendar. If a campus is closed or in testing make sure to put that on the calendar as well.
In the next 2 sections below, I have added an excerpt from collegeboard.com about the best time to plan campus visits along with a note for people unable to visit during the school year.
You should start getting a strong sense of the times that is it will be easiest to visit the schools. If you are visiting schools in your area, this will be easier to plan. If you are going to have to make a road trip or fly, this will help you determine "when" much easier.
Time now for some more communication between your child and the school. Have them write to the admissions counselor again and tell them they are planning to visit. They should tell them when they are hoping to go but also ask if they could recommend any other time that would be better. They should request an "informational" meeting if the college does not require an interview or set up an interview date/time. If they plan to go out for a sport/theater or something requiring auditions, they should find out who to contact and make appointments for the same time. As soon as they hear back and confirm a date/time, print this email and add it to the binder. Add the visit date in RED to the front divider page for the college.
Mark it on the calendar in RED. If you will need to travel, start looking for hotels from the links provided by the college "visit us" page. Book cheap flights if you need to travel by air. This is the advantage in planning ahead. You can get much cheaper fares by booking in advance.
When is the best time to visit?
*from collegeboard.com please see below
... When you're planning your trip, just be sure not to lose sight of the reason you're going: to see if the school is a good fit for you. This means you need to see the college when classes are meeting and day-to-day activities are taking place. In other words, go when the college is in session.There's more than one right time to make campus visits. The trick to picking the right dates for you is to plan well ahead of time.
During the Week
Mondays through Thursdays are ideal since campuses are generally in full swing. If possible, try to visit during high school holidays that fall on Mondays, when most colleges are in session.
The Best Seasons
Late summer and early September before senior year are convenient times to visit, since many colleges begin their fall semester as early as mid-August. But generally, fall through winter, and sometimes early spring, are the seasons when seniors should conduct their explorations.
Spring of Junior Year
Juniors who have researched colleges should consider using spring vacations for college visits. Spring is also a good time of year if you play fall sports or are considering early action or early decision with application deadlines in November of senior year.
When Not to Go
Check specific dates with each college so you don't arrive when the campus is deserted.
* When colleges aren't in session:
o Thanksgiving weekend
o Christmas week
o Winter and spring breaks
o *Summer( if you live overseas, this may be your only option)
When classes aren't meeting:
o Reading period
o Exam weeks
o Saturdays and Sundays
* When the admissions office is closed to visitors
excerpts from an article at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/college-visits/27829.html
Start your travel planning now!
Once you have that calendar marked in RED and have committed to travel times, make your travel plans. Then add the information to, "THE BINDER" so you don't lose it!
Save money!
When booking a hotel for out of town visits, don't forget to ask if the hotels offer a discount for visitors of the local college. We got an addition 10-20% off more often than not!
What if we can ONLY visit a campus in the summer?
It is different visiting the campuses when all the kids aren't around. You don't really get the full impression you would if you visited during the school year. Without the students, you have a campus, but not the "community".If you simply can not make visits during the school year, and by the numbers of people on tours with us, there are many....you can be successful in the search with some pre-planning.
Since we were living in Malaysia, visiting colleges was only possible in the summer. Planning is much different for an Expat kid, but summer visits may also be the only option for others as well. In this case, it is even more important to have done a lot of research before visiting the campus.
Universities usually have a different counselor for "international" students, so make sure they are contacting the right person.
Where we could, we planned college visits around visiting friends and family so that it broke up the stress of the visits.We started 2 days after we landed in California, then we did Florida and up the SE coast. We made it part of the vacation taking the opportunity to visit Savannah and Charleston and then ultimately the Virginia Beach area.
Even if you aren't living overseas, you may be living on the other side of the U.S. Make the visits part of your summer vacation. Just remember to throw in a lot of "fun" along the way!
I always like a few books for reference.
I always like to have at least a couple of books to help me along the way. Here are 3 books that will make the planning easier.
Campus Visits and College Interviews: All-New Second Edition
Amazon Price: $9.32 (as of 11/11/2009) 
Guide to College Visits: Planning Trips to Popular Campuses in the Northeast, Southeast, West, and Midwest (College Admissions Guides)
Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 11/11/2009)
Campus Pursuit: Making the Most of Your Visit And Interview
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 11/11/2009)
You can never have too much information
Here are some sites to help you with your visit plan.
- Guide to visiting Colleges: campus visits, interviewing on campus, information sessions, campus tours, attending a college class
- Make the most of your college campus visit with advice on interviewing on campus, campus information sessions, campus tours and attending a college class on campus from College Admissions Services.
- College Visits: Tips
- College Search Article: Making the Most of College Visits.
- College Campus Visit Reports
- College Confidential Campus Visit Report System
- Petersons
- AES free college planning site. Choose a career, perform a college search, find scholarships, education loans and financial aid information at EducationPlanner.com
- College Visits
- %uFFFDNothing comes as close to helping you decide if a certain college will be
right for you as a visit to its campus.%uFFFD Depending on the scope of your
geographic search for colleges, visiting some or most of the colleges to which
you apply could be difficult for you and your family.%uFFFD But,
BINDER (check) - CALENDAR (check) - APPOINTMENTS (check)
NEXT....................
By planning ahead, you will have time to figure out how to make the most of the campus tour. Believe me, just showing up will NOT give you the answers you are looking for.Research, research, research. Get books. Check out links. Much as I recommended in my lens: searching for the perfect college, the more information you have, the easier the process will be down the line. Check as many web sites as you can. Print their advice. Highlight things that are important to you. Once you have your resource material, put it all in a folder and slide it inside "THE BINDER" for reference. Keep any books you have purchased in the same place.
If your child is studying for SATs, ACTs or any other test along with general school work, I suggest keeping the binder in a place you know will be found later, NOT in their room!
IF you have done everything far in advance, you have a bit of time to play with. No matter how much time you have, it is time to start the next phase. You will be creating your own version of, "EVERYTHING I WANT & NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.....
You Aren't Done Yet!
Once the appointment are made and the travel plans set you can take a break and congratulate yourself for being so organized.
But,you aren't done yet! Now you need to make two more lists.
1)A one page check list or form to fill out after the tours
and
2)A list of questions you want answers for!
FORM? Now I need a form too??!!
Hey, I am just trying to make it easier on you once you get there....the form should answer all your "burning" questions about the college. This will be different for everyone according to what is important to them, but here are some ideas to help you along with the links above.Name
Town
Campus Size
Boy/Girl Ratio
Condition of Buildings
Condition of Grounds
Dorms size and condition
Cafeteria and other food options
Clubs and activities...list the ones they are interested in
Off campus entertainment
Transportation
Safety precautions
Rating on a scale of 1-10 or 5*
First reaction
Last reaction
Favorite thing about the campus
Least favorite thing about the campus
Biggest surprise
Biggest disappointment
Can I imagine myself living on this campus?
COST!
See, it isn't so hard once you have gathered all your resources. The idea here is to keep it to a simple 1 page.
One More List!
OKAY, I hear you...this is the last list, but it could be the most important list. These are the questions in more depth that the simple visit form.
Create these questions based on details, not the simple answer. If you have asked for an informational interview, make sure you have true questions to ask about the campus. I would ask to speak with someone after the tour when the questions are much easier to come by.
If you have to have an interview as part of entrance, make sure you are ready with some answers about yourself. They really do want to know YOU, not the standard essay you. You may need to have recommendations or a portfolio or even possibly audition material for performing arts. Make sure you have appointments for those extras as well as materials and supplies.
BE PREPARED!!
Create these questions based on details, not the simple answer. If you have asked for an informational interview, make sure you have true questions to ask about the campus. I would ask to speak with someone after the tour when the questions are much easier to come by.
If you have to have an interview as part of entrance, make sure you are ready with some answers about yourself. They really do want to know YOU, not the standard essay you. You may need to have recommendations or a portfolio or even possibly audition material for performing arts. Make sure you have appointments for those extras as well as materials and supplies.
BE PREPARED!!
- What makes this campus different/better than another?
- What special programs do you offer for my intended major?
- What if I can't afford this school?
- I really like...soccer, theater, dance.....what can I do if I am not good enough for the competition team?
- What percentage of your students finish all 4 years?
- What percentage of your students finish IN 4 years?
- What is the student teacher ratio?
- How many classes are taught by Teaching Assistants?
- How difficult is it to get class choices?
Are you ready for the road?
Make sure you are ready for the trip! Start with the atlas to get you there. Make sure you always have a full bottle of water. Take pictures, or even use a flip video camera for a video diary!
AAA Road Atlas 2008 (Aaa North American Road Atlas)
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White) OLD MODEL
Amazon Price: $199.00 (as of 11/11/2009)
Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Amazon Price: $269.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Amazon Price: $807.00 (as of 11/11/2009)
"Are you seeing multiple schools on one trip? Take fun side trips between tours to rest and recoup!"
College Campus Video Tours
Get an idea of what a tour is like. Check out these YouTube videos!~
curated content from YouTube
No high-heels!
Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes, have a hat for the sun and a good pair of sunglasses
The "Original" No Headache Visor
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Henschel® Breezer Hat with CoolMax® Band Khaki
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
crocs Mammoth Clog
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Betula Licensed by Birkenstock 2 Strap Sandal
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
X Loop Sunglasses Wrap X1 Style UV400 Lens Unisex Frame for Cycling, Golf, Kayaking and All Active Sports
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
While you are on the CAMPUS TOUR
Many times you will feel like you are on a cattle drive when you go on a tour. Here are some tips to help make the tour as productive as possible.
- Stay toward the back of the tour group and observe reactions from other families. Positive or negative it all helps in the final decision process.
- Pay attention to the way the student represents the college.
We experienced the best and worst of tour guides during our 7 week kamikaze tour.
If the guide is telling the kids that they don't have to study (we heard that) or that nobody stays on campus on the weekend (we heard that too), compare that to what they are saying in the information session.
If they say the dorms are horrible, ask why. - Notice how the campus is maintained inside and outside of the buildings. We went on one campus tour where the grounds were immaculate. After the tour we wandered in and out of other buildings and saw an entirely different side to the campus.
- Take pictures. Believe me. You won't remember half of what you have seen when you leave the campus. You won't remember 10% after you have seen 20+ campuses.
Make it easy. Have a list (another!) and take the same pictures at each campus for an easy comparison.
Classrooms, grounds, student union, dorm, library, athletics buildings. Tailor this to what is important to your child.
When you get home put this pictures on one page and add it to your binder. - Ask questions. Once again, have a list of question your child feels are important. If they aren't answered in the information session, ask them during the tour.
Ask the tour guide the questions you feel the info session may not be quite realistic about. Food, dorms, teachers, classes...... - Watch how students treat each other and how they are treated by administration. Respect at all levels is pretty easy to identify. If the campus store people seem unhappy as a rule, it may be a red flag.
- Make it fun! Try to take the morning tour and have lunch right after to talk about things. Fill out your *form right away.
"Tour day reminder....
Wear comfortable shoes, take pictures and bring water!"
Remember, it is THEIR college visit.
If you love a campus and they have a completely different impression, keep your lips closed. Now is the time to let them spread their wings a little more. You may be surprised that you learn a little more about your child than you expected!
OK- This is NOT what I thought the campus would be like.......
I don't know about other kids, but my daughter had almost instant reactions both good and bad on a lot of campuses. If she wasn't interested after listening to the beginning info session, we didn't stay for the campus tour. With that said, there were times she did not have an initial great impression of the campus as we drove up, but decided to stay for the tour after the info session. I told her to trust her instincts and in her case it worked. See the campus again on your own
After the general informational meeting, the tour, and hopefully the informational or standard interview, take the time to wander around on your own. Walk into open buildings and see how they are taken care of or stop by departments that are of specific interest to your student. If your student really likes the university, stop by the book store and pick up a souvenir! Like the school? Get a shirt!
Of the 17 schools my daughter saw, I knew she had found "the school" that was for her when she asked to buy a t-shirt at the student store. This was the last school and the first she wanted a t-shirt from.
For my daughter, having the shirt was a confirmation of her instincts later on when she started to panic that perhaps she didn't see enough schools or if her top choice school was really as great as she first thought.
Take the morning tour!
If you take the morning tour, take the time to eat off campus but nearby.
When we were out eating near the campus, we always tried to get input from the "locals" or students.
In Savannah, without exception, the population practically worships SCAD. Information like that is invaluable. It helps create a much more realistic picture.
It isn't just the campus that counts!
Make sure to take time to visit the town the campus is located on. Check out the shopping, the dining and things to do in the area.
Is the campus near town? Is there transportation to the town?
If your child will not have a car, how close is the airport, train or bus station?
Put Your Feet Up and Rest Awhile
Try to make sure you have built in time for a quiet and long lunch. Get out your notes and talk about your observations. Fill in your "campus visit form" as well as the "question" list. Then file it back into "THE BINDER". If you took pictures, print them on 1 page and add to the binder after you get home.After you get home, give it a few days and have your student reorder the binder in their revised preference order. If you have visited colleges that are an absolute NO, now is the time to start purging the binder. (You may want to keep the information for future use if you have other children,friends or neighbor who will be searching soon)
The goal is to have created the top 10 choices in order of preference by the time the last college has been visited.
If your child has done the campus tours in their junior year, they can often do an overnight on a campus in their senior year to get an even better feeling for the campus and a true idea of life from the students. Save this option for the top 3 choices at the most. These should be the colleges that your student will consider doing early action or early admissions to.
Say THANK YOU - It's the Polite Thing to Do
Make sure the kids follow up with thank you notes and continued contact if they are ultimately interested in applying to the school. Even if the college does not have an "interview" as part of the admissions process, they will remember your child when their application comes in if they have had contact throughout the year.
There's a lot of information here! E-Mail it or favorite it for reference!
What is your top college visit tip? Let us know. Or just stop by and say hi.
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
My oldest son just graduated from USC, but my youngest is currently attending a two-year college. He will be transfering in another year. He will be attending USC like his brother. We'll be making trips up there but it will be easier this time around. We know what to expect.
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy
Posted June 08, 2009
annetteghallowell wrote...
in reply to spirituality Thank you for this blessing! This lens was close to my heart since it is such a daunting experience to go through.
Posted May 06, 2009
lravidlearner wrote...
Thanks for the thorough, excellent advice on college visits. I've lensrolled it into my lens on college planning.
Posted January 19, 2009
The easy way out!
If you just don't have the time or energy to commit to planning the college visits on your own, you can try this site, which will take the pain away!
- College Visits
- COLLEGE VISITS offers the college bound student a first-hand look at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Because of our experience in working with a multitude of higher education institutions, we are able to obtain meetings with admissions representatives, student led tours, and campus housing. This helps to take the hassle and worry away from the student and parents in organizing a family visit. COLLEGE VISITS tours cover all aspects of college life. We tour small, medium and large schools, rural and urban, and public and private schools. Our tours cover almost every region of the U.S., so if there is a particular school or region you are interested in, chances are COLLEGE VISITS goes there.
by annetteghallowell
Mom of gorgeous, talented, kind incoming college freshman!
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