Visiting college campuses is a critical step in the process of honing a balanced college list and setting goals for the college admissions process. Seeing a school firsthand allows students to assess its academic offerings, campus culture, and their overall fit with the institution in a way that online research alone cannot replicate. At the same time, students and parents should note that what you get out of college visits is directly proportional to the time and effort you put into them—both while you’re on campus and as you prepare beforehand. With this in mind, families should begin planning college visits well in advance to maximize the brief time they have to explore campus offerings.
When should you visit colleges?
The spring of junior year is the ideal time to conduct college visits (though many students benefit from visiting campuses in the spring of their sophomore year). At this point in their high school career, students have taken standardized tests and therefore have a sense of which schools on their list are matches, reaches, and safeties. They should also have a general idea of what they intend to study. Spring break offers extended time away from academic responsibilities during which students can plan to visit multiple campuses at a time. Whether during spring break or over a long weekend, students should plan to go when campuses are bustling with activity, allowing them to observe classes, interact with current students, and gain a realistic sense of daily life. If possible, students should avoid going on college visits during the summer months, as the summer session rarely reflects a school’s campus culture.
How can you plan for college visits?
Students who intend to visit campuses this spring should begin strategizing now to maximize each visit. If you’re looking forward to visiting college campuses during the coming months, here are five actionable recommendations to help you navigate the process of planning college visits:
1. Select the Schools You Want to Visit Strategically
Harvard may be your dream school, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be at the top of your college visit list. Instead of simply visiting their favorite or most selective institutions, students should aim to see a variety of schools, both in terms of campus styles and in terms of their odds of admission. Include schools that differ in campus size and student population (small, medium, or large), setting (urban, suburban, or rural), and culture (more traditional versus experimental academic environments). For example, students planning a college tour around the tri-state area would benefit from visiting NYU (large private institution, urban campus), Rutgers University (large public university, college town campus), and Barnard (small liberal arts college, urban campus), rather than Columbia, NYU, and CUNY, all of which are similar in size and location.
In addition, ensure that you visit a balance of reasonable reach schools and matches. While it’s natural to want to visit your dream schools, dedicating all your resources to schools where your GPA or test scores fall below the 25th percentile of accepted students is not advisable. For example, if your academic profile makes Harvard or Princeton a long shot, you may want to allocate more time to schools where your test scores and GPA align with the median for accepted students.
Finally, combining multiple visits or planning to visit a college while traveling for family vacation or a basketball championship can cut down on the cost and hassle of the process. When planning your spring visits, begin by grouping the colleges on your list by region and then create itineraries that will allow you to see multiple colleges located within driving distance from one another. As you begin touring colleges, you may choose to visit various colleges that are near institutions on your list, even though you are not necessarily interested in attending them—for instance, while you may not dream of going to Emory, it’s worthwhile to compare the feel of a small, private liberal arts college to Georgia Tech’s large, public campus while you’re in the Atlanta area. Doing so may help you determine whether other, similar schools on your list are still desirable to you.
2. Sign Up for Admissions Events and Info Sessions in Advance
If possible, visit a college when you can attend information sessions, tours, or other prospective student events hosted by the admissions office, as it will allow you to get a comprehensive sense of the campus community. Register online for these events in advance, as they tend to fill up quickly, particularly during the weeks when most students are on spring break.
If you cannot attend a formal event, plan to reach out to the admissions office or your regional admissions representative in advance of your visit to inquire about activities that you can join while on campus. Conduct thorough research about the classes, professors, student organizations, and campus clubs that might appeal to you. When you contact your admissions rep, offer some specific details about what you would like to see or do while on campus—“I am really interested in Professor XYZ’s work on environmental sustainability. Will they be teaching a class that overlaps with my visit?” “XYZ Club seems like a great space for me to get to know other students interested in genome biology! Is it possible for me to meet a member of the club or attend an event while on campus?” “The new robotics lab has been a significant factor in my interest in the program—would it be possible for me to arrange a tour of the facility with a current student?” Making these arrangements in advance will allow you to explore the most relevant and important aspects of the institution and help you determine your fit. This will enable you to write compelling supplemental essays in which you show demonstrated interest in and depth of knowledge about the university when the time comes.
3. Schedule Virtual Visits for Schools You Can’t See In Person
While in-person visits are ideal, students rarely have the time or budget to visit every school on their list. After making a strategic plan to visit a variety of schools you are interested in, plan virtual visits to other schools you won’t be able to tour in person. Many Ivy League and other top schools offer robust virtual tour options that can provide valuable insights into their campus cultures and academic offerings. Harvard University, for example, offers immersive virtual campus tours through YouVisit, as well as virtual Q&A sessions. Columbia University offers live virtual info sessions and Student Q&A events on a range of topics from first-gen students to STEM to community and traditions, enabling visitors to engage directly with current students. Dartmouth College also provides live virtual tours led by students, allowing you to explore the campus in real time from the perspective of a current student.
Beyond the official school websites, platforms like CampusReel offer student-guided virtual tours of numerous college campuses. These resources can give you a glimpse into the student experience, from dorm life to dining halls.
4. Plan to Explore the Broader Area
Students should keep in mind that choosing a college is not only about finding the right educational fit, but also selecting the place they will call “home” for the next four years. It is therefore important that they take the time to get off campus and explore the town or city in which the college is located. For instance, students visiting Princeton should make a point to walk down Prospect Avenue; visitors to UPenn can pop into the White Dog Cafe for lunch; prospective students at Northwestern should check out the Lakefill. Though these sites are not a part of the schools themselves, they can tell prospective students a lot about the campus culture and student life.
While on campus, ask tour guides or current students where they typically hang out off campus—what restaurants, coffee shops, local community centers, museums, or sights are most popular with the campus community? Do students typically socialize and hang out on or off campus? What is the relationship between the campus and the local community? You can also ask friends and family members with connections to the area for recommendations before your visit.
5. Prepare Questions in Advance
College visits offer a valuable opportunity to gather insights that aren’t always apparent in brochures or on websites. To make the most of your visit, prepare thoughtful questions in advance. As you conduct research on the schools and program websites, take note of questions that you have or subjects you would like more information on. Bring a notepad to jot down your impressions, unique details about the school, and answers to your questions.
Consider asking questions about the school’s academic structure, such as how majors are declared and how students typically fulfill core curriculum requirements. You might also inquire about support systems, such as tutoring services, advising resources, and mental health support. Finally, asking current students questions about campus life—Greek life, club sports, or community traditions—can help you gauge whether the school aligns with your personality and interests.
Finally, students should prepare themselves for a range of reactions when visiting colleges—the anticipation leading up to a visit can be exciting and exhilarating, and students are often left discouraged and deflated if their visit doesn’t go as planned or a college they expected to love is not the fit they hoped it would be. Before stepping foot on campus, remind yourself that any response you have to a college is useful data if you approach it with curiosity and self-reflection. If you find yourself disliking a college, pay attention to the specific reasons for your reaction: was the campus culture stuffy and buttoned up? Did you feel that the student body wasn’t welcoming? Perhaps you realized that an urban campus wasn’t right for you after all. While ruling a college out may not be your anticipated outcome, it can help you narrow your college list and better articulate what you want out of the next four years.