What are the biggest clothing mistakes to avoid on a college visit?

Campus visits require significant walking, often covering substantial ground over several hours. The biggest clothing mistakes students and families make center on comfort and appropriateness:

Uncomfortable footwear: High heels, brand-new shoes, or flimsy sandals will leave you miserable and distracted. Choose broken-in walking shoes with good support.

Another college’s gear: Nothing sends a more confusing signal than raving about how much you want to attend a school while wearing a competitor’s sweatshirt. Admissions counselors definitely notice.

Inappropriate clothing: Watch the holes, ripped items, and offensive slogans. Anything too tight or revealing isn’t the impression you want to make.

Overdressing: Unless you have a scheduled interview, there’s no reason to wear a suit and tie. You’ll be uncomfortable and stand out awkwardly.

Ignoring the weather: Failing to check the forecast means you might freeze on a blustery New England campus or overheat during a Southern tour.

As Jamie Berger, a highly acclaimed college admissions counselor with Great College Advice, puts it: “Wear clothes you’re comfortable in, just nothing sloppy. The best version of your normal attire. Not dress-up. They want to get to know you, not hire you.”

What’s the appropriate dress code for a college campus tour versus an admissions interview?

The dress code varies depending on what activities you’ve planned for your visit.

For campus tours and information sessions: Casual to business casual works perfectly. Clean jeans paired with a nice top are entirely appropriate. 

For admissions interviews: Step it up slightly without going overboard. A collared shirt or polished blouse with neat pants or a skirt strikes the right balance. You want to appear engaged and respectful, not like you’re heading to a corporate board meeting. As Bonnie Hale, a member of the Great College Advice community, notes: “Dress is casual to business casual. Interviews do not weigh heavily on admission decisions.”

For professor or faculty meetings: Paul Wingle, another seasoned voice in the Great College Advice community, offers practical wisdom: “No coat and tie. You will need to keep a neat appearance for those meetings, but the dining will be in the dining hall, not a coat and tie environment.”

The key distinction: interviews and faculty meetings call for a slightly more polished version of your everyday look, while standard tours and sessions are genuinely casual affairs.

Why shouldn’t I wear another college’s merchandise on a campus visit?

This might seem like a minor detail, but it’s one of the most common, and avoidable mistakes families make.

Consider the optics: you’re walking into an admissions office, expressing enthusiasm about the school, while literally advertising their competition. It sends a mixed message at best and shows a lack of awareness at worst.

Admissions staff conduct these tours and sessions daily. They notice. While no one will reject you for wearing a UCLA hoodie to your University of Michigan visit, it undermines the demonstrated interest you’re trying to build.

The solution is simple: wear neutral clothing. Save the college gear for after you’ve committed, or at least after you’ve purchased something from the school you’re actually visiting that day.

How should I dress for different weather conditions during college visits?

Weather preparedness is crucial, especially since many families tour multiple schools across different climates during school breaks.

For warm weather: Light, breathable layers work best. You’ll be moving between air-conditioned buildings and sunny outdoor paths. A light cardigan or jacket you can tie around your waist provides flexibility.

For cold weather: Dress warmly but ensure you can easily shed layers. Long information sessions in heated auditoriums can get uncomfortable if you’re bundled up with no way to remove outerwear gracefully.

For rainy days: A waterproof jacket with a hood beats an umbrella for walking tours where you need both hands free for note-taking. Water-resistant shoes are invaluable.

Effective campus visits help you get beyond the superficial aspects of a campus to learn about that community of people. You can’t do that if you’re shivering, sweating, or soaked.

What should I wear if I have both a campus tour and a professor meeting scheduled?

When your visit includes multiple activities with different formality levels, the smart strategy is dressing for versatility rather than bringing multiple outfits.

A smart casual approach works across contexts: dark jeans or khakis paired with a nice blouse or button-down shirt transitions smoothly from casual touring to professional meetings. Add a light blazer or cardigan that you can put on or remove as needed.

Footwear requires more thought. You need shoes that look polished enough for a professor meeting but comfortable enough for an hour-long walking tour. Loafers, clean sneakers, or comfortable flats typically hit this balance.

Avoid the temptation to bring a complete outfit change. Coordinating logistics around changing clothes adds stress and complexity to an already full day.

Does what I wear on a college visit actually affect my admission chances?

Let’s be direct: for standard campus tours and information sessions, your clothing doesn’t factor into admissions decisions. Tour guides aren’t secretly evaluating applicants, and admissions officers aren’t tracking who wore what.

However, presentation does matter in two specific scenarios:

Interviews: Whether with alumni or on-campus staff, first impressions carry weight. Looking neat and put-together demonstrates respect for the interviewer’s time and the opportunity.

Direct admissions interactions: If you’re speaking directly with admissions officers, demonstrating good judgment in your presentation reflects positively on your overall candidacy.

More importantly, what you wear affects YOUR experience. According to the Great College Advice approach, “the focus should be on your student: their abilities, preferences, desires, needs, and aspirations. The primary question in your mind should be, does this campus fit my student?”

Uncomfortable clothes distract you from this essential assessment. When you’re worried about blistering feet or overheating in a blazer, you’re not gathering the insights you need to make good decisions.

What should parents wear when accompanying their student on college visits?

Parents should follow the same guidelines as students: comfortable, neat, and weather-appropriate. The goal is supporting your student’s experience without becoming a distraction—either to yourselves or to others on the tour.

The Great College Advice Family Handbook offers wisdom here: “Let your student take charge of the visit. We know it is tempting to take charge, but try to let your student show independence.” Your clothing choice should reflect this supportive role—present and appropriate, not the center of attention.

Practical considerations matter too. Parents cover the same ground as students, so comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable. Avoid formal business attire that might make the family stand out or suggest you’re treating this more like a corporate transaction than an educational exploration.

Tobi Adeyeye Amosun, a Great College Advice community member, notes that even at schools with traditional reputations, dress codes have relaxed: “Vandy [Vanderbilt] definitely does not have as much of a dress up culture as it used to and it mostly applies to the handful of kids who are in Greek life. Everybody else wears normal clothes.”

The same principle applies to campus visits: normal, comfortable clothes that let everyone focus on what actually matters.

College visits are valuable opportunities to assess fit and demonstrate interest, but they shouldn’t be stress-inducing fashion decisions. Aim for clean, comfortable, weather-appropriate attire that lets you focus on gathering information rather than managing wardrobe malfunctions. When in doubt, remember Jamie Berger’s advice: present the best version of your normal self. The admissions process is ultimately about finding the right match between student and institution—and that assessment goes both ways.

Get Expert Guidance for Your College Journey

Choosing the right outfit for a campus visit is just one small piece of the college admissions puzzle. From building a balanced college list to crafting compelling essays and navigating financial aid, the Great College Advice team brings over 100 years of combined experience to help families through every step of the process.

Our veteran college admissions counselors provide personalized, one-on-one support tailored to your student’s unique strengths, interests, and goals. We’re here to help you find not just any college, but the right college.

Book your free consultation today and discover how Great College Advice can help your family navigate the college admissions journey with confidence.

The post What You Should Not Wear on a College Visit first appeared on Great College Advice.

Winter break is not the best time for college tours

We do not recommend scheduling campus tours over your winter holiday break. When students head back home for a month, many campus offices also close up. Dorms are locked up tightly while students are away.  The library may be on limited hours if it is open at all. Faculty leave town and go on their own vacations.

Most colleges may be completely closed from December 23rd to January 2nd. If you venture to a college right before Christmas, a few admission counselors may still be in their offices, but they will more than likely be knee-deep in reading college applications. So, unless all you want to do is see a bunch of locked and empty buildings, the winter holiday is not a great time for college tours.

What about summer for a college tour?

For many families, summer is the ideal time for a college tour. High school students are no longer wrapped up in the demands of the academic year and campus visits can often be coordinated as part of a family vacation. While summer is not a perfect time to visit a college campus, it is better than winter break of even Thanksgiving. Some colleges and universities do have summer sessions, and most will have some sort of activities going on–even if they are not set up for their regular student bodies. Offices are generally open, as are most facilities. During the summer, you may not see the campus operating as it does during the academic year, but at least the admissions office is set up to show you the best of what the campus has to offer. While you’ll find it harder to have conversations with current students, at least you’ll get a general sense of the campus vibe.

Thanksgiving is not the best time for college tours

During the week of Thanksgiving, colleges are often open, but the students have already ventured home to be with their families. College admissions officers, too, are very often out of the office entirely–finally getting a few days to spend with their families following a demanding fall travel season. Colleges rarely even offer tours and information sessions during Thanksgiving week. You may be able to meet with someone in the admissions office, but it will be difficult to get a feel for the college culture with no students around. On many campuses, all dining facilities and campus amenities will be completely shut down as staff are given a few days off for the holidays.

Schedule your college tours during February, Spring, or Fall Break

Unsurprisingly, the best time to visit a college campus is during the school year. This is when you will see the college or university in actual operation. As my wife likes to say, this is the time when you can spot ‘students in the wild!’ Streets, sidewalks and walking paths will be bustling with students going to and from class, dining halls will be packed, and the campus will be alive. This will allow you to gain a better sense of whether you can see yourself attending this college.

Try to pick a time, such as February, spring or fall break, but be careful not to overlap with the college’s own spring or fall break if possible (once again, the college just won’t look or feel the same when the students are not around). Make sure you do your research and look at the school’s campus tour calendar where you can sign up in advance.

Need help building that college list?

Let the experts at Great College Advice help you create a well balanced college list as part of your college visit plans. Book your complimentary session now and start your college admissions journey today! 

The post When is the Best Time for College Tours? first appeared on Great College Advice.

One of the most important goals a college counselor has is to bring a little bit of their college to a student who may not have the opportunity to visit or is considering planning a visit.  The best way to do this is to have a reception or an “on the road” information session.

What is a college reception?

A college reception is different from a college fair, and different from a high school visit.  Usually receptions are put on by more than one college and are held in the evening.  They are often held at a local hotel, or sometimes at a high school.

Students often receive invitations to these events. If you have signed up for more information about a particular college, you may receive an invite.  Or colleges and universities may get your contact information from either the SAT (College Board) or ACT.  Students may receive emails or glossy invitations about the event.  They are often held at a local hotel or sometimes at a high school.

The structure of the events vary, but often times students can expect to see the same or a very similar presentation to what is offered at the on-campus information sessions. The admissions counselor will give an overview of the basic statistics of the college and the admissions process.  This is a great opportunity to learn some information about the school that may not be available on the website.

One big difference is that you may hear presentations from 2 or 3 different colleges.  In some ways, this can be less helpful than a more focused session on one school.  If you are particularly interested in one of the participants at the reception, you may have to wait patiently through the presentations by colleges that interest you less. On the other hand, you may be learning about a college or two that has not yet been on your radar screen, and you may decide to expand your list as a result of the reception.

An on-the-road college reception may also be a great time to meet with other members of the college community.  Sometimes colleges will bring current students to the reception to talk about campus life and personal experiences.  Professors may come to discuss the courses they teach and the academic goals of the college.  Alumni will often speak of life after graduation and the job searching process.

Overall, attending a college reception in your hometown is a valuable way to learn more about a school.  It can help you decide if you want to spend the money to visit a school in order to learn more.

What to expect at a college reception after the presentations are over

Usually after the presentation, you will have an opportunity to meet individually with the admissions representatives. They will set up tables in different parts of the room, and you can waIk up and ask questions. So be prepared to ask some! Research the information you want to know about majors, student life and the admissions process.  Having an audience that asks questions really helps keep an admissions officer going.  Remember that they may have been up since 5AM trying to make it to all their high school visits and are now working into the evening to showcase the college that they work for.  So show them that you’re interested, and they will feel energized!

Also don’t forget to send a follow up “thank you note” to the person who presented on the college or colleges that interest you. It’s a great way to demonstrate interest and get some more brownie points for attending the college reception.

Need help with the college admissions process? 

The team at Great College Advice has years of experience working with thousands of students as they navigate the college admissions process.  We can help you prepare, select, and apply to colleges to give you the best chance of being accepted to your top choices.  Of course we can help with preparing for a college reception, but we will also help you with every other aspect of college admissions. Want to learn more?  Just contact us on this form and we’ll set up a no-cost, no-obligation meeting so we can learn more about you and discuss how we can help make the college admissions process more successful and less stressful. 

The post What to Expect at a College Reception first appeared on Great College Advice.

Why is the campus tour guide so important?  

Your campus tour guide is important because, unless you proactively do some searching beyond your tour, the tour guide is going to be your primary impression of the campus and the students on that campus when you leave.  It’s simple psychology. If you like and can relate to the tour guide, you’re going to like the school and be able to see yourself on that campus.  On the other hand, if the tour guide doesn’t do much for you, then most likely, the school will fall short in your mind, too.

Most colleges and universities realize that their tour guides represent the “face” of the school, and they use their tour guides accordingly as an extension of their marketing efforts.  Tour guides are trained and guided in what they talk about, and they are hand-selected to be positive ambassadors for the school.  In some cases, tour guides are paid, and the school certainly isn’t paying them to be negative about their college experience!  

Tour guides are full of information about that college and the campus community. So, you should most definitely get their point of view on the school.  But, you should also ask yourself, am I getting a true or complete picture of life at this school if I just listen to the tour guide?

On the flip side, even with a well-trained, positive tour guide you may come away unimpressed.  Perhaps the tour guide is an athlete or in a sorority or fraternity. But, you hate sports and could never see yourself as part of the Greek system.  Or, maybe the tour guide is studying engineering, and you are all about loving Classics.  Whatever the case, it’s important to remember that the tour guide is only one data point.  There are potentially thousands of other students who are also on that campus who could leave you with a completely different impression.

So, what’s a confused college tour-taker to do?

• Take a good look around while you are on your campus tour.  Observe the student body with a critical eye.  Could you see yourself fitting in?
• Stop random students as they walk across campus and ask them to tell you about their college experience.  What do they like?  What do they hate?  Don’t be shy.  Most college students are more than happy to talk to you, especially if they feel strongly one way or the other about their school.  The more students that you talk to, the more you’ll get a true sense of the school.
• Try to connect with students from your town or friends of friends who are going to that school and ask them to spend some time with you while you are on campus to take you around and answer your questions.  They’ll give you a different and more candid point of view because they have no reason not to.

It’s hard not to make snap judgements about a school — either good or bad — based on your tour guide experience. But, try to keep an open mind. Spend some time talking to multiple students and getting a full picture. Don’t make the tour guide more important in your decision than the tour guide needs to be.

Need help building that college list? 

Let the experts at Great College Advice help you create a well-balanced college list as part of your college visit plans. Book your complimentary session now and start your college admissions journey today! 

Andrea Aronson

The post Looking Beyond the Campus Tour Guide first appeared on Great College Advice.

Thanksgiving is not the best time for college tours

During the week of Thanksgiving, colleges are often open, but the students have already ventured home to be with their families. College admissions officers, too, are very often out of the office entirely–finally getting a few days to spend with their families during a grueling travel season. Rarely do colleges even offer tours and information sessions during Thanksgiving week. You may be able to meet with someone in the admissions office, but it will be difficult to get a feel for the college culture without students present. On many campuses, all dining facilities and campus amenities will be completely shut down as staff are given a few days off for the holidays.

So we recommend you forget Thanksgiving as a viable time to visit a campus, unless all you want to do is look at a bunch of locked and empty buildings.  Not a super helpful time to get to know a school and its’ community.

The winter holiday is not the best time for college tours

Winter holiday break is just as bad, if not worse. When students leave campus, many offices also close up.  Dorms are locked up tightly while students are away.  The library may be on limited hours if it is open at all.  Faculty leave town and go on their own vacations.

Most colleges may be completely closed from December 23rd to January 2nd. If you venture to a college that third week in December, a few admission counselors may still be in their offices, but they will more than likely be knee-deep in reading applications. So here again, unless all you want to do is see a bunch of locked and empty buildings, the winter holiday is not a great time for college tours.

What about summer for a college tour?

For many families, summer is the best time for a college tour.  This is when students are no longer wrapped up in the demands of the academic year and time is a bit more flexible.  While summer is not a perfect time to visit a college campus, it is better than Thanksgiving or the winter holidays. Some colleges and universities do have summer sessions, and most will have some sort of activities going on–even if they are not set up for their regular student bodies.  Offices are generally open, as are most facilities.  During the summer, you may not see the campus operating as it does during the academic year, but at least the admissions office is set up to show you the best of what the campus has to offer.  While you’ll find it harder to have conversations with current students, at least you’ll get an idea of the what the campus feels like when there are actual humans around.

So when is the best time for a campus visit?

Unfortunately, the best time to visit a college campus is during the school year. This is when you will see the college or university in actual operation.  Students will be going to class, all the facilities will be open–and bustling–and you’ll get a better idea of not just geography of the campus, but the people who animate it.

Try to pick a time, such as a February or March break, but be careful not to overlap with the college’s spring break if possible (once again, the college just won’t look or feel the same when the students are not around). Make sure you do your research and look at the school’s campus tour calendar. Most colleges have sign-ups online.

For more tips, read our previous blog post:  Planning the Perfect Campus Visit.

The post Holiday Breaks – Not the Best Time for College Tours first appeared on Great College Advice.

I’m here today on the campus of Eckerd College, which is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were really nice, they had a fly-in program for college counselors and they invited me to come down for a two-day visit. Fantastic place, really interesting time here.

A couple of things you should know, one of the things I joke about sometimes with colleges everywhere is they need to have a climbing wall. It’s really important to have certain kinds of amenities and behind me, you can see the climbing wall here at Eckerd College. It’s outdoors. Not many places in the country can have the weather to be able to have their climbing wall outdoors. So they do have what’s required but they have it in a unique way.

They Have Bikes

Eckerd College is a liberal arts college located in St. Petersburg with a student body of about 1,800 students. Relatively small, intimate, beautiful, enormous campus. In fact, yesterday they had us riding around on their yellow bikes. They have a group of about 200 bicycles on campus that are sprinkled throughout. Kids can jump on them and ride from their dorm to their class to the beach.

BeachFront School

Oh, and that’s one of the most important, interesting things, significant differences about Eckerd College, is that it has its own beachfront. They call it South Beach, it’s wonderful. And they also have their own waterfront facility where you can rent, or not even rent. You can just pick up a kayak or a canoe or something and go out on Tampa Bay. Gorgeous, gorgeous location. Unique, I would say, in terms of its geographical setting. It’s really nice.

Autumn Term

A couple of other things to know. Every college in America is concerned about ensuring that their students are successful while they’re here when they get onto their campus. Eckerd has developed what they call their Autumn Term, which is a three-week class for students as they’re coming in as freshmen that everyone is required to take. Everyone takes the same class which is a class on the Human Experience.

And at the same time, they also have a whole bunch of events to help orient students and to get them involved and engaged in the community. And really show them what kinds of resources exist on this campus, both physical and human, and to be able to take the best advantage of that while they’re here.

Take A Trip at Eckerd College

They have trips to St. Petersburg, into Tampa, to introduce them to the community there. You could take a beginner wakeboarding lesson, or go kayaking, or sailing is one of the big teams that they have here at Eckerd, is a sailing team. Whatever, it is that the student wants to get involved in, the campus really draws them into the community so that the students can really take advantage from day 1 of the resources that this campus provides.

Bring Your Pet

Another quirky, interesting fact about Eckerd is that it is the first campus to have an official policy to be pet-friendly. And about 30% of the dormitory space here at Eckerd is pet-friendly. So students can have their own pets as long as they’re under 40 pounds. So guinea pigs, definitely no problem, rabbits, but also small dogs, cats, can come onto campus with students and there’s a dog park.

There’s an actual office of, I forget what it is, it’s like the pet office, I forget what the name of it is, that actually helps students to care for their pets, gives them certain kinds of medications. It’s a very well-developed and interesting trend on American campuses but it started here at Eckerd.

Academic Strengths

And academically, I think I would say that it has all of the strengths of a liberal arts college, where we sat with faculty, met with them, and were able to talk to them about the benefits of this kind of education. And every single one of them was talking about that relationship. Because of the relationship, and because there are really no graduate students here. The students have amazing opportunities for research with faculty members.

I sat next to a chemistry professor at lunch, and he was talking about his lab and the kinds of grants that he gets funded here to fund his research. He has undergraduates who are the first and second authors on some of his scientific papers. And he’s happy to do that because the students really have taken the lead in that. They get the training so that they can actually produce that kind of research that will then get them into graduate school.

In graduate school, also, we’ve been talking about the 3-2 program, which is a 3-2 engineering program. Often, liberal arts colleges have these with, say, Columbia University or Washington University St. Louis. Every year, students go from Eckerd to those programs. It’s not just an on-paper thing, it is a thing that students take advantage of.

So long story short, I came away with a really great impression of this place. Like many other campuses, it’s all about the community, and Eckerd clearly has a very strong community. So if you’re looking for that kind of personalized education, this is a great place to consider.

The post College Admissions Expert on Eckerd College first appeared on Great College Advice.

Here are three things you should do after a college visit:

1. Jot down notes

After each visit you should write down a few notes about the college. These notes will help to trigger your memory. These might include: the dates you visited, what you liked or disliked, what you did while you were on campus, questions you still have for the school, etc.

2. Record names of the people you met with during the visit

Make sure to write down the names of the people that you interacted with during your campus visit. These names might include: coaches, deans, professors, students, or admissions officers. You may want to refer to these people later on during the application or interview process especially if they influenced your decision to apply.

3. Follow up

Make sure to follow up on any loose ends after your visit. Did you interview while you were there? Make sure to follow up by writing a thank you note. Did you have lingering questions? Follow up with an email or phone call. Unsure if you are on their mailing list? Follow up by giving them your contact information and requesting to be added to their distribution list.
Have a great college visit!
 

Great College Advice

The post Tips for What to Do After a College Visit first appeared on Great College Advice.

Virtual tours are a great way to scope out a school before you head out for a visit.

After doing some review of virtual tours I was particularly impressed by my alma mater Colgate University’s virtual tour . I almost felt like I was back on campus! Although these virtual tours differ across colleges. You can typically find pictures or a video of the campus, descriptions of buildings and campus locations. And sometimes conversations with students, faculty or admissions representatives. These will help give you an initial glimpse into the physical nature of the campus. The location, as well the ability to hear from select campus representatives.

Many colleges have virtual tours right on their own websites. You can typically find these by going to the admissions section of the college’s website. And then the visit section or “virtual tour”. In other cases, you may want to turn to some websites that specialize in virtual tours. Where you get to go on a virtual walk through campus with some “tour guides” in a short video. This gives you a quick glimpse of what campus looks like.

So, as you are starting to build your college list and conducting college research, don’t forget about this important resource. Again, the actual campus visit is crucial in making a decision. And getting the full picture of a college. But virtual tours can sometimes help at the start of the process to  give you a better feel than just reading words on a website.
Happy searching!

Great College Advice

The post Using Virtual Tours in Your College Search first appeared on Great College Advice.

Students may leave campus on the weekends for a variety of reasons in college. They go home to visit their family (do their laundry or eat a home cooked meal), go see friends, visit their significant other, or leave for a job. Some students may just leave for a part of a weekend. They may go skiing if mountains are nearby. Or take a road trip with their friends to go see an away football game. Whatever the case may be, when you are looking at colleges it is a good thing to ask – is your school a “suitcase school?”

Many colleges anticipate this question. And are quick to respond adamantly that no, there is plenty happening on campus to keep students engaged and wanting to stay involved and on campus. However, you might want to dig a little deeper. Ask not only the admissions office but current students and alumni about their opinion on the suitcase school issue.

Here are some questions you could try:

– Do you, or your friends, leave campus on the weekend? If so, why?
– If you stay on campus do you feel that there is enough going on?
– Are students packing up to leave for the whole weekend? Just for the day and coming back?
– Do you ever feel like you might miss something by leaving campus on a weekend?
– Are a lot of students going home on the weekend? What if I am from far away and will not be able to get home easily?
– Does the campus empty out on the weekends?
– Is the college doing anything to try and keep students on campus on the weekends?
 
Good luck to you in your college search and decision making process!

Contact Great College Advice for your complimentary consultation.

The post What Are “Suitcase Schools”? first appeared on Great College Advice.

Where do you want to go? Identify the colleges you would like to visit. 

For some students, it is easy to nail down exactly which colleges they would like to visit.  You may start with one or two ideas, then research them both to determine which college you would like to see the most.  For other students, you may still be struggling with which colleges to see.  If you are in the very preliminary stages of looking into colleges, you may want to visit some local colleges over the next few weeks in order to get a better idea of what you are looking for. Visits to local colleges can help you gain prospective on size, location and overall feel of the college experience.

Is this a good time?  

The best time to visit a college campus is when classes are in session.  Take some time to research the colleges you will be visiting to determine if they will be on spring break too.  If so, you may want to consider rescheduling.

What do you want to do while you are there? Plan the details. 

Most campus visits include a guided tour and information session.  You should also determine if you will have the opportunity to interview while visiting. If you do plan on interviewing, be sure read our college interview tips.  If you are just beginning to visit colleges and do not feel quite ready to interview, you may want to wait until fall of your senior year. You may also want to consider looking into any specialized areas of interest.  Is there an athletic coach you would like to meet with?  Do you want to sit in on a class?  Would meeting with a professor help answer specific questions you have regarding a particular major?   Read our tips on planning the perfect college visit for more tips on what do while on campus.

What do you need to know before you arrive? Do your research. 

One mistake that many students make is that they visit a college just because it is close to another college that they are interested in.  Be sure to take the time to research all of the schools you are considering visiting.  You want to make sure the colleges are a good fit for you and will not be a waste of time.  Be sure to also visit schools that are within your academic and testing profile.  It is fine to go see one or two reach schools, but make sure you have some obtainable and safety school visits scheduled as well.

What do you want to learn while you are there? Think of some questions. 

Now that you have a list of schools to visit and you have researched them thoroughly, make sure you have identified the questions you would like to have answered.  You may also want to ask the same question to multiple people to compare the different answers you receive.

Can’t travel during spring break? 

Visit the colleges that are closer to home.  If you are finding that you will not be able to venture to a far away destination for your spring break college visits, don’t forget that you can visit the colleges that are closer to home.  Take day trips instead of going overnight.  As mentioned above, this can be especially helpful if you are still not sure what type of college you are interested in.

Great College Advice
 

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