| College visits are one of the most important steps in | | | | their school. Have they met with a college |
| the college search and selection process. They are | | | | representative, had an off campus interview, visited |
| the only way to get a true feel for a campus and | | | | with someone at a college fair or most importantly, |
| find out whether it is the right fit for your student. | | | | come for a college visit? |
| College tours help students to find out about the | | | | 4. Students should not believe everything they see in |
| admissions policies, programs, and campus culture. | | | | a view book or on a college website. Colleges are |
| Here are 5 reasons why college visits are important | | | | pros at marketing themselves with glossy photos and |
| for college admissions: | | | | flashy DVDs. A college tour helps students find out |
| 1. College visits are a great way to check out | | | | about any unexpected surprises that might not be |
| potential schools and light a motivational fire under | | | | obvious without a college tour. Sometimes the |
| prospective applicants. They also help to get | | | | surrounding area is not what students thought it |
| students excited about going to college. A college | | | | would be or safety is a real concern. These issues |
| visit can also help students understand what the | | | | are only evident when you take time to tour the |
| college admissions process is all about and what is | | | | campus. |
| required of them in order to be successful. There is | | | | 5. College visits help students to make up their mind |
| also no substitute for a personal visit to help | | | | when it is time to decide on a final college decision. |
| students gain a better focus for their applications. | | | | Hopefully, students have written down the pros and |
| 2. The more colleges students see, the easier it will | | | | cons of the schools they have seen and are able to |
| be for them to know what they like and do not like | | | | weigh these up as they finalize their college choice. It |
| about different kinds of schools. College trips are a | | | | is most important that students choose a school that |
| critical part of coming up with a balanced list of | | | | is the right fit for them. It is not the name of the |
| schools to apply to. They also make it easier for | | | | school, but the experience you have as an |
| students to make informed college decisions based | | | | undergraduate that will contribute the most to a |
| on what they have personally observed. | | | | successful future. |
| 3. A college visit demonstrates to a school that | | | | On a college visit, students should take the time to |
| students are interested enough to come and find out | | | | stand in the middle of a campus and look around and |
| whether the college is right for them. This is | | | | ask, "Could I see myself as a student here? Is this |
| something that schools consider when they are | | | | where I would like to spend the next four years of |
| making college admissions decisions. They want to | | | | my life?" Your answers will be very revealing and |
| know what kind of contact students have had with | | | | hopefully lead you to the school that is right for you. |