College visits are an extremely valuable tool. I have had countless experiences where I and a student I’m supporting have gleaned deep and important insights after touring a college. Nearly all the students I’ve supported have clarified their definition of fit as a result of an information session and/or tour. College visits bring to life (or not) what schools share in their print and digital marketing. Afterwards students and families walk away with:

• Unique insights about the school,
• A feel for the environment and community,
• A reference for how far away from home a school is,
• Knowing how “good” the food really is, and
• An helpful network of students, faculty, staff, and admission officers

With that in mind, students and families often wonder when they should embark on college visits. Truthfully, folks can start at any point. Yes, a 9th grader can get just as much value out of college visits as a 12th grader. That value, however, comes with the appropriate expectations and goals.

What Are College Visits?

So I have written several articles on college visits, like this one here…and this one…oh, right, let’s not forget about this one too. First things first. Let’s be sure we get on the same page with WHAT college visits actually are. They are any kind of experience where a prospective student has the opportunity to engage with a college and/or one of its representatives. Essentially, college visits is an umbrella term meant to encompass the wide array of in-person and virtual experiences colleges offer. Things like high school visits, college fairs, campus tours and information sessions, open houses, and admission events/receptions. Regardless of the form they take, it is an invaluable tool in determining whether or not a school is the “right fit”.

“I’m in 9th grade, college visits are extra!”

Hmmmmm….not really. Students in 9th grade can definitely get something out of even cursory college visits. I will concede that it’s too early to be conducting thorough and evaluative college visits–there is still much a student can learn. At this stage of the journey students should consider college visits as strictly educational as they can help students:

• Understand their likes and dislikes,
• See how a state school differs from a private institution,
• Compare research universities to liberal arts colleges,
• Learn what a suburban, urban, and rural campus is like, and
• Discover how small school is different from a large one.

You don’t even have to set up “official” college visits. Sometimes you can learn enough just by driving through or walking around campus. Another approach is to participate in a summer enrichment experience at a college.

“I’m in 10th grade, college visits are slight”

Erm..no. In all seriousness, this is one of the moments where I respond saying: “it’s hard to know what direction to go, if you don’t have a destination in mind”. Just as I mentioned in the 9th grade section, college visits don’t have to be evaluative. That said, college visits can still be deeply insightful experiences even for sophomores. If students haven’t answered some of the questions in the 9th grade section, that’s a great place to start. If they have, then students can focus on going deeper into defining fit for themselves:

1. What subjects am I interested in studying?
2. What kinds of classes do I do well in (lecture, discussion based, etc.)?
3. Do I like being around a lot of people?
4. Are there extra/co -curricular actives I want to continue pursuing?

My biggest recommendation would be to definitely focus on attending some kind of enrichment experience on a college campus. Often these kinds of programs will build admission tours and information sessions into the program–even if it doesn’t, students can set that up on their own by simply contacting the admission office. It’s a great way for students to go deeper into their interests, while learning about the college experience.

“I’m in 11th grade, I’m sooo behind on college visits”

Truth be told, this is normal. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, I would be…well let’s just say I would be living very comfortably. I admit that this is not an awesome feeling, though it is very normal. I am sorry if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Best thing to do? Make a plan!

The reality is that you are not behind. Students still have lots of time to conduct college visits. Here is a laundry list of things they can do:

1. Pay attention to announcements from the secondary school counseling office about what colleges will be visiting (this is usually posted electronically too),
2. If they have identified a specific college, contact the admission office to find out how they can visit them,
3. If students have defined fit for themselves, try to find 1-3 schools that match, then contact the admission office to learn about visit opportunities,
4. Search for enrichment programs on college campuses
5. Attend a college fair

“I’m a senior, should I still go on college visits?”

YES! It is never too late to visit a college. As I mention in the opening, this is a critical tool in determining where students want to apply to. How they conduct college visits merely depends on where they are, on this journey. If students are at the very beginning, then start at the beginning:

1. Define “fit”
2. Complete a net-price calculator
3. Find schools that match the definition
4. Schedule college visits to those schools

The important step for any 12th grader is to reflect on the college visits as they happen. In my experience, students often start adjusting and honing their definition of fit after college visits. Afterwards they understand the various fit criteria look and feel like.

Oh, and for feeling behind in the process. It just doesn’t go away until it’s all done. Take some deep breaths and keep moving forward!

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