Why Visit?

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Your child hears it from colleges. Come visit! Your child hears it from his high school counselor. Have you visited any campuses yet? And your child hears it from us. You may hear your friends, neighbors, or co-workers talking about taking their children on campus visits. Why is seeing a college in person so important?

Campus visits may not be a possibility for every family, but you and your child may find it very beneficial to visit some of the schools that he is most interested in attending. It can be helpful to consider in advance how much time and resources your family has to devote to campus visits and plan your schedule wisely.

You Can't Judge a School by Its Brochure

A campus visit is your child's opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, viewbook, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the school, he needs to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.

Get Answers to Your Questions

A visit also gives your child the chance to talk to students, faculty, and financial aid and admissions folks. He can get answers to questions, such as:

What is the average class size, and the student to faculty ratio? Are most classes taught by professors or by teaching assistants?
What is the campus meal plan like? How is the food? Is there ample space in dorms or does there seem to be a housing crunch?
What is the make-up of the current freshman class? Is the campus fairly diverse?
What's the social scene like?
How many students commute, and how many live on campus?
Do I feel at home here? Is this what I pictured college to be?

As a parent, the campus visit will also give you a chance to get a feel for the campus and get answers to some of your own questions. Many colleges provide forums for parents to get information, as well. Participating in the visit will help you to have informed discussions with your child as he makes decisions about which colleges to apply to, and ultimately, which college he will attend.

Get Valuable Information

Pick up any official school material you see, such as brochures and financial aid forms. Don't forget to get business cards, too, so you or your child will have a real, live contact if you have a question about admissions or financial aid.

Student-produced material will give you a sense of what campus life is really like. Look around for newspapers and activity calendars. Your child should check out bulletin boards, too, to see what bands are coming to the campus, parties are advertised, internships are posted, and generally what the day-to-day energy of the place is.

Is This College Right for Your Child?

Ultimately, it's your child's decision. You should encourage your child to listen to his gut. Does he feel comfortable walking around campus? Does he click with the students and faculty? Spending time on a campus allows him to determine if a school is a good match.