Many folks ask this question: when should I visit a college? One of the most important factors in choosing the right university is perhaps determined through scheduling a visit to the campus and seeing it for yourself. There are many benefits to campus visits, (aside from being able to see what life is like for current students) many times you can ask questions, request to see university hot spots, student resources and academic departments. Take it from My College Guide, an annual magazine publishing free information for college to high school students, recently posting some essential tips for college campus visits.
Up and At ‘Em! – Do you have a lot of colleges on your list? Don’t wait! Even Sophomores can benefit from visiting colleges. If a school doesn’t feel like the right college fit for you, you can cross it off of your list.
On the other hand, if a school is a maybe, you can always revisit later when you know whether you are a good academic match and if it still feels “right” as your high school career draws to a close. Starting to make visits during your Sophomore year can help you get through more schools if you aren’t really sure what you want or if you want too much!
SAT or ACT Scores – After you receive your standardized test scores you can be a lot more proactive about the college visit process. You will know what colleges and universities generally take students that have an academic background that is comparable to your own. That doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a spot, but at least you have some way of figuring out your reach and safety schools and can adjust the schools you were considering visiting to fit this new knowledge!
Money Matters – It’s not cheap to visit a college. Your parents may need to take off from work, there may be traveling involved, and depending how far it is, possibly an overnight stay somewhere, too. By getting started early, you can spread out the financial burden of visiting multiple colleges and universities. Not only that, you have more time to fit in those schools that you really want to see—without doing a lot of last-minute cramming!
Don’t visit a school just to visit a school. Do a little background research before you visit first to make sure it has the programs and majors you think you might be interested in. You should have some idea as to whether or not you are an academic fit so you don’t waste your time visiting a bunch of reach schools and never check out schools where you have a better chance of becoming admitted!
College Planning Expert Brian Safdari is a strategist and America’s leading authority when it comes to maximizing college acceptances, reducing out-of-pocket costs as well as assisting you and your family in successfully navigating through the higher education system. His own story has compelled him to help others in maximizing their education and minimizing the cost. For more on Brian and how The College Planning Experts can help you: sign-up for a FREE workshop nearest you or contact us.
