<p>I know this is a weird question, but i come from a long line of community college goers who dont really know anything about apply and going to a lot of colleges. When people visit colleges, do they just go there and look around, or do they have to set up a tour or something? Also, I just started my junior year, so when is the best time to start going to look at colleges instead of just thinking about them? thanks for the help</p>
<p>I think how you do it is up to you. My son is a junior this year and doesnt really know what to expect or even what questions to ask. So we have been traveling though our home state on the weekends and visiting campuses during their open houses (we signed up first). This way, he sees the campuses, gets a feel for the schools and gathers information. Once we narrow down the list a little bit, we will contact the schools for a personal visit and interview (if applicable), probably sometime next fall.</p>
<p>Most colleges offer information sessions on the school and tours of the school. You can go g to the school’s website and look under Admissions.</p>
<p>At some schools you have to make a reservation (by either calling or on-line, depending on the school), some schools you just show up on a day when they are offering an information session and tour.</p>
<p>Yes, now would be a good time to start. You want to be thing about the basics first - things like - big school vs. small school, rural setting vs. suburban vs. city, what part of the country are you interested in, etc.</p>
<p>You should also be talking to your parents about money - how much are they willing to pay for your school, etc.</p>
<p>Good questions. In my opinion, junior year is a great time to start looking at colleges. We used our Feb. and April vacations to go with each of my two kids. It is best to go when the schools are in session (you can check the college’s academic calendar before you make plans to go) so you can get a sense of the students/faculty as well as just the buildings. And make sure the schools you visit are realistic choices so as not to waste your time (reach schools are fine).</p>
<p>For each school you want to visit, check the admissions section of the website for information on visiting. You definitely should go to an information session (an hour or so presentation by admissions) and a tour (typically given by a student). Each school is different – for some you sign-up for these online, for some you call to register, and for some schools you just show up.</p>
<p>When you get to the school, make sure you sign in so they know you have visited and shown interest in the school. This is particularly important in small/mid-size colleges. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is good to ask more academic/admission type questions at the information session and more social type question to the student on the tour. If you have extra time on campus, see if you can eat at the cafeteria or something.</p>
<p>When you are on campus, think about if the school has the environment you like (large/small/mid-size school, urban/rural/suburban location), a “vibe” you feel comfortable with, the coursework you want (check academic section of the website of the school before you go --I’ve seen too may people sit through an information session only to find the school doesn’t have their desired major). Think about if you can see yourself as a student there.</p>
<p>Good luck with this process. Be organized, thoughtful, and do some research before you go to maximize your visits.</p>