Spark Admissions
Why are college visits so important? Do colleges really care if you take the time to visit their campus? We will answer these questions below:
1. Many colleges track students’ “demonstrated interest” in their school. Those that do track demonstrated interest regard visiting their campus to be a clear signal of interest and will consider that you have visited their campus during the admissions decision process.
2. For students, it is sometimes nearly impossible to know if you will like a school unless you visit it and see how you feel when you are there.
3. If you are considering applying Early Decision or Single-Choice Early Action to a school, it is best to visit first to make sure it is a place you truly feel comfortable.
Now that you have decided to go on college visits, we have outlined the steps you should take to prepare yourself to have productive and informative campus visits!
Beginning to visit colleges sophomore year of high school will give you more time to start looking at different sizes and types of schools. Waiting until the end of junior year or beginning of senior year may make it hard to see a lot of schools.
This can sometimes be difficult, as most colleges end in early May and convene in late August or early September. But, visiting while students are there will give you a much better feel for the campus’s size, student body, and atmosphere. You can even sit in on a class or talk to a professor.
Want to get into your dream college? Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our expert college consultants.
Please note that colleges will only post tours and information sessions up to a few months in advance, so you need to plan accordingly. You may have to reach out to the admissions office to find out when they will update the schedules online.
College visits can quickly blur together, and you should make sure you have enough time for the tour, information session, and to explore the area. Therefore, if possible, schedule your visits at least a day apart, so you have time to process each college visit before proceeding to the next.
Most colleges will offer a chance to hear a presentation from an admissions officer. You should always attend these sessions (and sign in) and remember to bring a notebook to jot down your thoughts.
If an official college tour is available (again, you need to schedule this ahead of time online), you should take advantage of that more structured experience. That said, a self-guided walking tour, using a campus map, can also be enlightening. If a current student is leading your tour, ask them questions to learn more about academics, extracurricular activities, dorms and food, and the overall student experience.
Don’t go on college visits until you have a reasonable college list from your guidance counselor or a private college admissions consultant (please schedule a free initial consultation with Spark to see how we can help you). You don’t want to waste time and money on visiting schools that are not realistic options. Campus visits are most valuable once you have already begun your college search!
Want to get into your dream college? Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our expert college consultants.
If the school you’re visiting offers interviews, you should request one so that you have a chance to speak with an admissions officer or student. Interviews allow you to find out more about the school while also getting to share some of your background and your enthusiasm for their college. Note, however, that many schools only offer interviews to rising or current seniors. So, if you are visiting prior to that, you may not have a chance to interview. Also, many schools that offer interviews will reach out to you only after you have applied, in which case, you would not be able to schedule an interview when visiting those schools.
If something stands out to you, good or bad, snap a photo of it on your phone so you can look back later. The time stamps will also help you keep track of which college campus is which, as sometimes your school visits will start to blur together and pictures will help you remember what you liked and didn’t like about a particular school.
If you have a chance to approach a current student or two while you’re on campus, ask them why they chose this college, what they like and dislike about it, and what they do on a typical day. Current students are an incredible resource to learn more about the pros and cons of campus life and campus culture!
Take a look at campus events and what students are commenting on in the paper. Does the student life at this college feel like a good community fit for you? Many school newspapers are online, too, so you can even look at it before you visit a school.
If you can access a cafeteria and eat a meal, sampling the cuisine is a good way to figure out what you think of the food at a particular college. There’s no question that many students care about the food options a great deal!
After you wrap up the information session and campus tour, take a walk and a drive around the surrounding area. Are there activities or opportunities nearby that interest you? Can you imagine yourself living in this area for four years?
As soon as possible after each visit, write out all your thoughts about the school. What did you like? What did you dislike? How excited would you be to attend? What specific features appealed to you or made you less enthusiastic? These details are useful not only for organizing your thoughts about where to apply, but also for writing application essays about why you’d like to attend each school.
If you follow all these steps, then you can make the most out of all your college visits and really get to know all the schools on your list!
Work with Spark Admissions to get into your dream school by scheduling a free initial consultation!
Our College Visit Rating Chart is designed to help you evaluate and compare colleges during campus visits allowing you to rate each aspect to make informed decisions about your choices.
