Optimizing Your College Visits
Spring break is upon us and many juniors are spending their vacations visiting colleges. After two years of breaks filled with virtual tours, I’m thrilled to see this! As we get back into the groove of in person tours, I wanted to share my six tips for optimizing your college visits.
1. Actively participate in the information session and tour
Do you have a question about dorms, student outcomes, or maybe just the ice cream situation on campus? Now’s your time to ask! These types of questions will help you understand if the school is truly a good fit for you.
2. Opt for guided tours and information sessions whenever possible
While self-guided tours are often more convenient, I strongly suggest registering for the “official” tours and information sessions whenever possible. These guided sessions will provide a better idea of the culture, opportunities the college provides, and what they’re looking for in an applicant.
If a self-guided tour is your only option, try pairing it with a virtual information session when you’re back home. They complement each other and will help you see the big picture.
3. Seek out additional opportunities while on campus
When you sign up for a campus visit, you may see that you can also sign up for other events. Those events may involve meeting with a professor, attending an information session that focuses on your intended major, visiting the honors college, or something completely different. I recommend signing up for as many additional opportunities as possible. They’ll help you see another side of the college, which can be invaluable!
Many colleges don’t offer these opportunities on their website but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You can always send a polite email to your admissions counselor or the faculty member explaining that you’ll be on campus and were hoping to set up an additional meeting. They certainly may say no (especially depending on the college’s COVID policies) but in my opinion, it’s certainly worth a try!
4. Explore the area surrounding campus
For many people, the town or city the college is located in plays a big role in if a school is a good fit for them. If you’re one of those people make sure to plan time to explore Main Street or have a bite to eat at a local cafe. Does the area offer enough variety? Would you feel isolated after a few months or could you see yourself simply feeling at home?
5. Take time to just observe the student population
At some point during your visit, take five or ten minutes to sit on the quad or student union and just look around. Do you see faculty and students interacting? How are students interacting with each other? Could you see yourself in the mix?
6. Write down your thoughts
While I am a huge believer in the importance of taking notes about a visit, I’ve learned that the most efficient way to take notes depends on the student. For some students, it’s best if they simply soak in the experience, waiting to digest the information before writing down their observations and thoughts. Other students seem to take in the information better by taking notes while on the tour - feel free to do whichever method works best for you!
When taking notes, think about the following:
What did you like? What did you dislike?
What were the pros? What were the cons?
Was there anything that surprised you?
If you’re a Simply Admissions client, utilizing the college visit worksheet that’s linked to your portal can help you organize your thoughts during or post-tour.
At the end of the day, you’re trying to figure out if each college you’re visiting is a good fit for you. These tips will help you answer that question but don’t be discouraged if you don’t know the answer after the first tour. It often requires visiting a few campuses before you gain a solid understanding of what you’re looking for. Try to sit back and enjoy the experience!