Last year, we wrote an article on How to Make the Most of Your Campus Visits, but how do you use your visit to find the right fit? There are over 3,000 four-year institutions across the United States from which to choose. We are big believers that each student can find his or her best-fit college, and campus visits are a powerful tool in the search process.So, how do you use your two to four hours on a campus to determine whether it is a good fit? Below are some tips on what to look for as you experience schools firsthand.
Timing your visit
It is important to consider the time of year when scheduling your campus visits. If possible, you should visit schools when they are in session. Seeing a school without students or faculty can give you a sense of the layout of the campus but will most likely not allow you to gauge the feeling of the community.Getting in an early visit to a potential top choice can be important as early application deadlines come up quickly in the fall of senior year. It is imperative to visit a school before submitting an Early Decision application since you are entering a binding agreement to attend, should they admit you!
Campus location
When you arrive on campus, note the location and environment. You may anticipate living and working in a metropolitan area for the rest of your life, so spending four years in a small town or a rural area might be appealing. On the other hand, you may thrive in a bustling urban area and need a sense of excitement. Also note the ease of travel back and forth from home as you may be taking the trip multiple times per year.
Student body
In addition to gauging your comfort level with the size of the school, note how the students interact with one another. Do they greet people as they walk across the campus? Pick a spot – the campus coffee shop is a good one – to people watch. Get a sense of how spirited the students are. As you are on the tour, make sure to note how residential the campus is – are there a lot of students living off campus? How prevalent is Greek life? These are all factors that can influence the social life on campus.
Academic programs
You are going to college to get an education, so find a school with a variety of academic options that interest you. Though as a 17-year old you may be set on studying philosophy, know that the chances that you will graduate with a degree in the field that you indicate on your application are pretty low. The overwhelming majority of students will change majors at least once during their time in college. Also note other academic opportunities such as study abroad and internships.Use your campus visits to narrow your preferences. Even if you don’t like the feeling of a school, identify some characteristics that are and are not of interest. As your preferences become clearer, you can start identifying similar schools, building the foundation of a solid college list.
