The Missing Piece: Why Campus Visits Inform the College List

As May transitions into June, many of our juniors are navigating a particularly demanding period. Between AP exams, final preparations, SAT and ACT testing, the culmination of athletic seasons, and plans for summer, their plates are full. Please know it's perfectly normal if they aren't always eager to delve into college discussions right now. This is simply the busiest stretch of the academic year as they bring everything to a close.

What can you, as parents, be doing at this stage? Your encouragement to finish the school year strong is invaluable. Try to keep the college conversation from becoming an all-consuming, 24/7 topic. It can easily become overwhelming for both your student and you!

At this point, one of the most significant contributions you can make is to assist your student in conducting thorough college research. While your consultant can help generate initial lists and discuss various options with your family, the students themselves need to engage in authentic exploration. In an era where information is often consumed in brief snippets and TikTok videos, your guidance in planning campus visits or navigating virtual tours directly on college websites can be incredibly beneficial.

Even if visiting every school on their list isn't feasible, it is crucial that students experience at least a few college campuses firsthand. This allows them to discern what resonates with them and what doesn't, which, in turn, helps the consultant or counselor to refine their list. While most colleges are wrapping up their academic year, late August and early September are ideal times for campus visits, and now is the perfect time to plan and reserve spots for these tours.

Without the insights gained from visits or legitimate online research, there's a risk of creating a college list that lacks direction and purpose, akin to throwing darts blindfolded. This doesn't necessitate extensive travel across the country, but seeing a few institutions can immediately provide clarity on fit, enabling me to curate a more tailored and realistic list.

Consider the Ivy League, for example. When families express interest in the Ivies, I often inquire about specific institutions. Frequently, the response is "maybe we should apply to a few." I then emphasize the distinct character of each Ivy League school. It would rarely make sense to include all of them on a single list because their environments and focuses vary so significantly.

Let's move beyond mere name recognition and prioritize finding the right fit for your student. Big or small? City or rural? Large research university or small liberal arts college? Greek life? Distance from home? While initial spreadsheets are based on first thoughts and conversations, the integral piece of the campus experience is missing without visits.

And yes, it is perfectly acceptable to miss a day or two of school if that's the only way to arrange a meaningful campus visit. The insights gained from experiencing a college environment firsthand are often invaluable in this process.

I appreciate that coordinating schedules for campus visits can be a real challenge for busy families. Colleges have invested in creating comprehensive virtual tours. These virtual experiences can be a solid starting point for your child’s research. They offer a convenient way to get a feel for the campus environment, explore facilities, and learn about academic programs from the comfort of your home. While they can't fully replicate the experience of being physically present on campus and interacting with students and faculty in person, they provide valuable insights. They can help narrow the list of schools your child might want to visit. Many virtual tours also include interactive elements like student testimonials and Q&A sessions, which can further enhance the experience.

It's also important to note that while post-acceptance visits can be exciting and help solidify a decision, discovering a significant mismatch at that stage can lead to difficult situations. Ideally, the research and visit process helps students develop a strong sense of which institutions align with their academic, social, and personal preferences before making a final commitment. This proactive approach can save time, stress, and potential disappointment down the line.

Happy Touring! -PM