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Feb 2, 2024 · This checklist is a comprehensive guide to careful planning and active engagement, ensuring prospective students maximize their campus visit experience. Here are strategies to help prospective students make the most of their time on campus: 1. Conduct Preliminary Research. Before setting foot on campus, students should thoroughly research the ...
Dec 21, 2023 · Home. 14 Tips for an Effective College Visit. Visiting a college can help a student determine if he or she wants to spend the next four years there. By Ryan Lytle and Cole Claybourn. |....
What are 6 things you should do on a college visit? One of the most useful things you can do on collegiate trips is to ask questions of current students. You'll likely get honest answers that will give you valuable insight into the school and its opportunities.
- Things to Do Before A College Visit
- What to Do During Your College Visit
- What to Do After Your College Visit
- Why Is It Important to Plan A Campus visit?
- Are College Tours Worth It?
- What Should You Bring to A College visit?
- What Month Is Best For College Visits?
- What Should You Not Ask on A College Tour?
- What Can I Expect on A College visit?
- Need Help Preparing For College?
1. Do a little research on colleges of interest
The first item on your college visit checklist is to research some schools of interest. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to put together a shortlist of about five to 10 schools that you think you might like to attend and that would support your career goals. Explore their websites, review any promotional materials they send you, and talk to your high school guidance counselor about your options.
2. Choose which colleges to visit
You might not visit every college on your shortlist, especially if that list is longer. First, talk to your parents about college visits. How many visits will they be able to accommodate? What are their geographic restrictions, if any? Do you need to limit your visits to schools within driving range or is a flight or two possible? Once you know what your parameters are, you can decide which campuses to prioritize.
3. Sign up for official tours
Now that you know which campuses you’re aiming to visit, the next item on your college visit checklist is to decide when you’ll be able to get to each. Depending on geography and your school schedule, it may make sense to cluster a couple of campus visits together into one long weekend. After planning the travel logistics with your parents, visit the school websites and sign up for official tours on those dates. It’s also a good idea to reach out to the admissions offices and ask about schedu...
6. Dress in office casual attire
If you have an interview on campus, you should wear or bring business casual clothing, such as a shirt and tie with slacks or a skirt and blouse. Otherwise, you can dress a little more informally. Khaki pants and a polo shirt or a sundress are both appropriate outfits. Try not to dress too casually and avoid showing too much skin.
7. Take the official tour
Although it’s also a good idea to wander around on your own, you should also plan on taking the official tour. Your tour guide will almost certainly be a current student. They will show you all of the major points of interest, such as a dormitory, academic building, library, student center, and dining halls. Do note that the official tour will likely not include older or outdated parts of campus; the college wants to put their best foot forward, just as you do. It may also not include all of...
8. Pay attention to where the students are
As long as you aren’t visiting the campus during the summer or another school break, there should be plenty of college students roaming around. Making a note of where the students are can tell you a lot about the campus culture. If the library is jam-packed, for example, it’s a safe bet that the school prioritizes academics. Similarly, seeing a lot of students relaxing in the sunshine on the quad could indicate that the school is relatively laid back.
23. Reflect on your visit and adjust your shortlist accordingly
Your college visit checklist isn’t quite complete yet! There are also some steps you should take after your visit. Spend some time thinking about the experience. What did you like and dislike about the school? Do you have any concerns or follow-up questions? Consider whether you should rank the school higher on your shortlist or perhaps downgrade or eliminate it.
24. Send thank you notes
Even if you aren’t sure whether the school is the right one for you, it’s always a good idea to send thank you notes. Send a thank you email or written note to the admissions officers and other reps you may have met. This will help you make a good impression and it’s always nice to be polite.
25. Reach out with follow-up questions
If you do have any follow-up questions, you can include them in your thank you emails to the admissions officers. Even if you didn’t meet with an admissions officer during the visit, you can send a quick, polite email to the office with your questions. Mention that you recently visited the school and then type a brief list of questions.
It’s hard to know if you’ll like a car enough to buy it before you test drive it. College campus visits are similar. They serve as a test drive, allowing you to get a feel for the vibe of the campus and the rigor of the academics. Up to this point in your life, choosing a college will be one of the most significant decisions you’ll make. It’s impor...
Our experts have worked with thousands of college-bound students over the years. Many of them have mentioned that campus visits played a major role in their decision. College tours are absolutely worth the time and expense because you’ll be able to make a decision more confidently.
You don’t need to pack as if you’re going on a week-long hiking excursion, but you should bring a few items to help you get the most out of the experience. You’ll want your phone (to take pictures), a notepad and a couple of pens (to take notes), and a prepared list of questions and places that you’d like to visit. If you’ll be doing an interview o...
There’s no universal right or wrong answer. However, it’s often preferable to visit during a semester so that you can get a sense of what the campus is like when all of the students are there. Additionally, if you’re from a warm climate, visiting a cold climate school during the winter can be a good way to gauge whether you can handle the cold weat...
There really aren’t any dumb questions. However, you should research the school thoroughly online first. Try to avoid asking questions that can be easily answered with a little online research. In addition, it’s best not to ask your tour guide personal questions or to request special favors.
College visits generally include structured and unstructured components. You’ll almost always have an information session and a campus tour, and perhaps an interview. At some colleges, you may also be able to arrange to attend a class, club meeting, or sports practice, or meet with a professor. You’ll also have some unscheduled time, during which y...
At KD College Prep, our mission is to help students get into the colleges of their dreams through test prep programs (including online learning options) and college counselingservices. Schedule a free consultation to get started. We can’t wait to learn more about your goals!
Apr 30, 2024 · Key Takeaways. Before a campus visit, students should do basic research on the school. Students and their families have various opportunities to ask questions. No question is dumb....
Jan 24, 2021 · College visits are crucial to understanding whether a school that looks good on paper is truly a good fit in person. In this how-to guide, we explain how juniors can start the college visit process now and begin the path to finding their niche.
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