College Visits – When?

When Should We Visit Colleges?

From the Pros

From Springfield Academic:  Start visits in the summer before junior year. At this point, college will seem within reaching distance. Students have also started to form opinions about what they are interested in and where they may want to study. It is not necessary to visit every school before you apply.  However, you should visit (a few times, if possible) before you accept admission. 

From Scott E. Queener, Ph.D., Director, Student Success, Lincoln Land Community College: For any local schools you are interested in attending, it can be very helpful to visit them before you apply. You can research the school and its programs online in advance, but there really is no replacement for a firsthand experience. Lincoln Land Community College’s next Campus Visit Day is Monday, Oct. 14. Or schedule a personal tour at www.llcc.edu/visit.  

From Mary Beth Stephens, MBS College Coaching LLC: I believe students don’t really know if a college/university is a good fit for them until they visit.  All the information on the website, in the viewbooks, and even from alumni is marketing. The student won’t know how the feel on the campus – its layout, architecture, culture – until they take a tour and listen to an information session.  I like to have students visit as much as possible when each college is in session. That way they see students and can hopefully conjecture if they would fit in. My clients begin visiting sometimes in the spring of junior year up until spring of senior year.

From the Moms

From Denise Beauman: My daughter started visiting colleges during Junior Year. I recommend that you visit the college before you apply. You and your child will know right away if a college is a fit for them. Don’t waste your time and money or the university’s time in applying when you are not going to go to school there.

From Lisa Whelpley: If your child attends a summer camp at a university, consider that as a “college visit.” That’s why colleges have camps for high school students! My son took a musical theater camp at Northern Illinois University the summer before 9th grade, and he attended an entertainment media camp at the University of Illinois the summer before junior year. In both cases, he came home with more knowledge about the subject matter, but also with definite opinions about the university. We were told to do more the “formal” college tours during the academic year when possible, but in reality, most of our son’s college visits were during the summer when it fit into our schedules.

From Julie Kaiser: In the summer vacation before freshman year, we were at a favorite family vacation spot and looked at one of the top schools in the area for perspective. Also, we visited other places of interest the Easter break of junior year. We visited several times to get a feel for the campus at different times of year. But our student had it narrowed down to 1 – 2 places by then.

From Angela Try: We started around 8^th/9^th grades – not formal visits. But if we were somewhere on vacation – we’d take the opportunity to get out and see the campus. The more directed “formal” visits “with a purpose” started the summer before our daughter’s junior year. My daughter applied to some that we simply did not have time to visit. She was accepted to some that we had never visited – just because she liked the program from her research. One example – we didn’t visit the Univ. of Minnesota until after she had been accepted – because it was such a drive from our home. The ones we were very serious about – we toured both before – and after being accepted.

To read tips for the best college tour experience, click here!