Visiting colleges is an important (and hopefully fun!) part of the college admissions process. Unfortunately, many families struggle with finding the best time for college tours. With school, work, and extracurricular activities, it can be difficult to plan college visits around everyday life. Even though it may be tempting, the upcoming holiday break is not the best time to schedule your campus visits.
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.
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