Often I am asked by students and parents about the value of visiting colleges. What I say is that if at all possible, college visits should be a part of every student's admissions process. You can take a tour of a school, talk with students, sit in on a class or two, and find out what makes the college either a good or not good fit for you. You can also check out the town or adjacent community to get a feel for what it would be like to live there for four years. College visits offer a great opportunity to meet with admissions people. In a concept called "demonstrated interest," some colleges respond very positively to students showing interest in their colleges. In fact, making contact with an admissions office can be a tip factor in your acceptance there. You see, admissions staffs prefer to accept students who really want to go to their schools and there is no better way of showing that interest than by visiting the school. In order to make sure they notice your visit, sign in at the admissions office or if the office is closed, send them a note letting them know that you were recently on campus. Once you have decided to visit a college, there are a number of things to consider. Deciding when to go is a good starting point. To really experience what a college is like, it's best to visit it when classes are in session and not during exams or holidays. However, if that can't be arranged, visiting a college any time is better than not visiting it at all. In 9th and 10th grades, you can start exploring colleges by spending a little time at local colleges and universities in your own hometown. Also, as you and your family pass through different towns and cities on family trips, consider taking a "windshield tour" of a school or two on the way; that is, drive through a college in your car to see what the campus looks like. This quick look will often give you a feel for whether the college is a place you might want to go to school. Malcolm Gladwell, author of the bestselling book, Blink, says that people's first impressions are usually right on. Windshield tours are a perfect way of getting a first impression of a college and whether you like it. 11th grade is when you should get serious and plan vacations around college visits, or plan a trip solely for the purpose of visiting a college you are interested in. You should try to visit as many colleges as you can. And summer before your senior year is a great time to take a look at schools. Fall of your senior year is when you should take college trips that include interviews at the schools. You will need to coordinate your and your parents' schedules to fit this all in. Also, factor in travel expenses as a part of your planning. For students who need it, some colleges offer "fly-in" expenses. Contact individual admissions offices to see if this kind of support is available to you. Once all the planning is done, enjoy the trip, experience life at the colleges you visit, and be sure to have have some fun. Don't allow college visits to become another thing you have to do. No websites, brochures or presentations can replace the insights you get from seeing a college first hand. Copyright (c) 2010 Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz
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