<p>How do you start a college visit? Do you contact the admissions office? Do you just show up?</p>
<p>I'm a junior and I need to start visiting colleges.</p>
<p>Look at the individual college websites for prospective students. They’ll tell you the options and what to do.</p>
<p>There are some where you have to register on-line. Others you need to call. Others you just show up. As annoyingdad said, the websites are usually pretty clear on what to do and will give you the times of the tours and information sessions. If you want to visit a class, they usually ask you to contact the professor in advance. Most are also pretty good about rescheduling. The visits are better if you go during the week when school is in session but that does not always fit in the schedule.</p>
<p>I suggest you call the admissions office for a couple of reasons:
- They can tell you what options are available in terms of tours, sitting in on a class, having an interview with a counselor, staying overnight with a student, etc.
- Campus visits are often a “plus” in the admissions decision process, but it only counts if they know you came.</p>
<p>^ Maybe for small LACs but you’ll probably find the info quicker online and have to register online anyway at most larger schools. They set up those web pages because they prefer you use them. And they’ll know you came when they check your name off the list or you fill out a card at the visit.</p>
<p>Once you’ve checked out web sites for prospective students planning visits, you may need to draw up a ‘visit plan’ with your parents. Figure out how many schools you want to visit, when you have time available, and which ones are in the same geographic area (driving) or your flight route. Start pricing it out-it can get expensive, which is why some people only visit places within a reasonable drive or after they’ve been accepted.</p>
<p>Spring break is a popular time for college tours because most universities and colleges are in session, the weather is likely to be okay, and you can visit 3-5 schools in a single geographic area over the course of a week. </p>
<p>Have fun with this!</p>
<p>@annoyingdad - you’re right. When I said “call”, what I meant was make the visit an official one. Could be through online registration, email, phone call, whatever.</p>
<p>Even where advance appointments are not required, the admissions office has a form to fill out so they know you came. You have to check on overnight visits and interviews; often these are not available to high school juniors. This information is usually on the website.</p>