Do you have a junior, sophomore, or even freshman eager to explore what college feels like? Winter and spring are perfect seasons for visiting college campuses. Let’s look at how to begin.
1. Pick a few nearby colleges to visit. Choose a small (less than 2000 students), medium (2000 -7000 students), and large campus (more than 7000 students). If possible, choose some different settings – big city, small town, even rural. If you’re in a region with a lot of schools, you might want to split your visits between public and private institutions. Depending on your child’s interests, you may want to add a community college or trade school to the list.
2. Find a couple of days that work for your schedules. Ideally, go when school is in session, even if that means your high schooler must miss school. Register for an official visit – it’s okay if the college is not on your child’s radar yet. (Official visits mean that you’ll probably get a student-led tour, which is usually the most informative part of the visit, and the school will have a record of your attendance, which is a good thing if your child becomes interested in the school at some point!)
3. Do some planning before you go. Talk about the reason for your visits. Since these are your first visits, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to “like” the schools! You are just an observer, trying to get a handle on what’s important to you. Make a list of what you want to pay attention to. Can you see yourself on a campus like this? Does it feel like a good size? How does it compare to your high school (both good and bad)?
4. Be open to all of your thoughts. Remember, this is just a warm up to visiting colleges. You might find some things that you never thought of before (campus technology, building proximity, science labs, open study spaces, climate) are really impactful in your decision-making process. Make notes of these observations during your visit. Try not to let things like a bad weather day or a mediocre student tour guide shape your view of any campus.
5. Brainstorm a list of questions together with your child that she can ask during the visit. Bring that list of questions. Have your child ask those questions (This is my best advice for all college visits!). Eat lunch in the cafeteria. Talk to a group of students there, asking them why they chose that college, what they like and dislike about it. (They will actually want to talk to you about their school!)
6. If you can’t make it to visit schools in person, due to scheduling, pandemic, or other reasons, go on a virtual tours and attend virtual info sessions. These have become a staple in the past two years, and most colleges have perfected the art of showcasing their offerings virtually.
7. Compare the schools and review your notes. Talk as a family. What did you like/dislike about each setting?
8. Make a list or spreadsheet about your likes and dislikes. Prioritize what’s important to you. Take note of what you didn’t get a chance to see as well (most visits these days, for example, don’t include a tour of the dorms).
This process will help shape the next few months as your family begins to look more closely at college options that are right for you. Do you have questions about this process? Schedule a call with Diane!
