Tips for Successful Spring Break Campus Visits

By Calli Christenson, Educational Consultant

Spring Break is right around the corner, providing the perfect time for high school students and parents to visit college campuses. A quality visit is the single best way to determine if a school is the right fit, and will ultimately help you to narrow your college list. Here are three ways to make the most of your upcoming college tours:

Plan Ahead. Spring Break campus tours and information sessions fill quickly, so be sure you schedule your visits ahead of time. Most colleges allow students to make a visit reservation directly through the admission website. I recommend visiting no more than two colleges a day and using resources like the College Board’s Campus Visit Guide as a planning tool.

Make it Official. As tempting as it might be to do a campus “drive thru” and call it good, students who participate in official visits gain a greater understanding of the university. Participating in the information session and tour will help you to come away from your visit much more informed. Furthermore, did you know that colleges track this information? That’s right. Demonstrated Interest can hold considerable importance in freshman admissions decisions.

Take Advantage of Special Opportunities. Most colleges allow prospective students to sit in on a class, tour specific departments, eat lunch in a dining hall or participate in an overnight visit. Don’t hesitate to inquire about these special programs. The opportunity to attend a class or meet with a faculty member can be a terrific way for students to discern the differences between college campuses how they might fit in at each school.

Document Your Visits. As you take in each campus, document your thoughts through writing and photographs. Campus notes and pictures will be helpful to look back on. And as you begin the college essay process, writing about specifics that you remember from each school can make all the difference in essays that do and don’t stand out.