Visiting 15 or so colleges in two weeks was as exhausting as it was informative. Although some of the details run together or get confused, visiting multiple campuses in different environments gives students some great information and helps them begin to be aware of their priorities and preferences.
For example, while my son had previously thought very favorably of a small, rural Midwestern liberal arts school, he has decided colleges in or near cities or large towns may be a lot more appealing for him. While this may seem obvious to some, many students need to visit a school and take in the surroundings before they can decide if the school seems like the right fit. And in terms of finding that match, there is nothing like seeing a place and spending some time there. Even my 14-year-old daughter is beginning to have preferences in college sizes and locations.
I remain convinced that there are so many fabulous colleges and universities out there, a good fit for everyone applying to college is waiting to be found.
Questions that seem to reveal the most useful information when visiting a new campus are:
- How is the school different from others?
- What is the one thing you would change about the school if you could?
- What are the weekends like? Do a lot of students leave campus on weekends?
- What percentage of students participates in Greek life, if any?
- Where do most of the students come from, in terms of states or areas of the country (or world)?
- What is the political climate on campus?
- Is the school need-blind or need-aware?
- How do most students get home on holidays? (Is there a shuttle to major airports?)
Good luck, and happy Touring! Don’t forget to check back here often for more college counseling information and suggestions. Also, you can find photos of all the schools we visited on Facebook.
