Summer Visits to College Campuses: Worth the Gas?

<p>Is this a trick question? Let me rephrase the issue for you. If you are going to spend between $60,000-$200,000+ for a product, wouldn't you want to check out that product very carefully?</p>

<p>We just visited three schools, and I found it very helpful. We followed a formula suggested on here: go to different kinds of schools just to narrow the idea of what you want. Truly eye-opening. As I suspected, a small LAC is a good fit. His next choice was the large public uni. His last choice was the mid-sized, preppy private school. I think the 42% Greek rate is what led him to dislike that campus.</p>

<p>Yes, it was a bummer to be on campus when there weren't a lot of kids there, but I think it really informed where we go, or don't go, from here.</p>

<p>I never visited the college I wound up at before I went to it -way back when. I was on total finaid & couldn't afford to. For our kids we never visited any colleges but local & instate ones. We didn't want them to get hopes up if they didn't get in to those reach schools. Once they did then they went to the accepted student wknd. We were all shocked where they did get accepted though. There were no let -downs: " Love your safety!"</p>

<p>While I agree with what A2Wolves6 said, I realize now that my visit before I was even accepted at Binghamton influenced me. Before I visited, I thought I'd apply, but afterwards I realized that applying EA would be my best option. And, who knows, had I applied regular, I may not have gotten in...</p>

<p>I went to my first choice ivy league school about a week ago and was surprised to see an assistant deirector of admissions do the general presentation. I then went to the presentation for my specific college and had the director of admissions for the college do the presentation for about 8 people, giving me plenty of time to talk to her after. You never know, the college could have some shmuck doing the summer presentations or you could hit the jackpot.</p>

<p>I was taking a trip anyway, so we just made it a college visiting trip simultaneously. Saw 7 colleges along the way, and was able to eliminate a couple of possibles that way. Also we saw examples of different types of schools (LACs in rural, in city, 4-5 state schools) and d was able to start generalizing about what she would like in a college this way. </p>

<p>I agree though that it might be cheaper to see where you get admitted before visiting.</p>

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Also we saw examples of different types of schools (LACs in rural, in city, 4-5 state schools)

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<p>This is actually a plan that I recommend to parents who are just starting to wade into the admissions quagmire. It can be a smart idea to visit a variety of local colleges well before taking more official college trips. Ideally, the itinerary should include a variety of colleges and universities. Even if these are not schools that your child has any interest in (or any prayer of) attending, the idea is for the kids to at least get a sense of what different campuses are like before the road-warrior days begin in earnest. </p>

<p>Over the years I've found that when teenagers visit a college campus for the first time, they often have one of two diametrically opposed reactions. On one hand, they may see all the dance studios and computer labs, 60 Stairmasters in a row or a Pizza Hut smack in the middle of the Student Union and proclaim, "I want to go to school here!" They don't realize of course, that they could be looking at Anywhere USA University. Or, conversely, they venture onto a campus that doesn't look the least like the school they remember from "The O.C." or "Dawson's Creek" (nor like the college they've already conjured up in their heads) and decide that it doesn't pass muster.</p>

<p>So, the point of these local pre-visit visits is to debunk the myths and stereotypes and to help students to realize that colleges come in many shapes and sizes. Thus, when they finally start to see the schools that really interest them, they'll be more prepared to look beyond the superficial.</p>

<p>If you have no clue as to your preferences, then seeing the place in the summer is a good idea. You can then develop a select and small list to look at later.</p>

<p>We also had limited availability during the fall months to make school visits due to my husbands job. We visited 4 of the 7 schools my DD applied to during the summer. We visited the other 3 for Open Houses during the fall and eventually went back to the top 3 choices after she was accepted. She did day visits at 2 and attended an accepted students day at the other after scholarships were awarded. It's all a matter of what is feasible for your family and your situation. If all you can do is visit in the summer, make the best of it. At the very least you will have seen the campus and talked to some of the current students. Not everyone can spend every weekend in the fall visiting schools when they are in session. Good luck.</p>

<p>One other thing to keep in mind is that some schools try to gauge a prospective student's interest in their school, and keep track of whether a visit has been paid. I've read here that at some schools "demonstrated interest" can play a role in merit aid. (I think St. Olaf was one where this was true)
We have made a few visits this summer because the fall will be tough one for my S to take off school with all his AP classes, and I think he will want to try a few overnight visits. And since I'm encouraging him to start his essays this summer, he can check the sites of the colleges he liked from his visits for their topics.<br>
But, even with all this, we are just sticking to schools within a days drive - not spending lots of money flying.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that some colleges may be very active in the summer. My friend and I recently visited Northeastern and it was VERY active since many students co-op during the school year and take classes during the summer. In fact, our tour guide had trouble finding an empty classroom to show us because they were all occupied.</p>

<p>Don't know if this was stated above....</p>

<p>We visited Skidmore in the summer. It is a gorgeous campus with tons of fabulous landscaping. Beautiful flowers and well-groomed grounds. What's wrong with that picture? Skidmore is in Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. Winter there can be very cold and very long. So the flowers will be long gone and far away when students live there for so many months. Don't be fooled by a beautiful campus in the summer, if the usual climate is way different. If you can take the time to go in the fall, I think it's better. Or, wait until you have been admitted.</p>

<p>One reason to visit in the summer: If your school, like my son's, allows a very limited number of excused absences for college visits. (Plus the number of absences figures into a point system for exemptions from finals the last semester). We will be visiting over spring break next year, and did one visit over spring break this year. My son is one that really will need to narrow it down from a list of several to a reasonable number for applications so we will try to visit most before applying. Most are in the same general geographic area so can be done on the same trip.</p>

<p>We visited alot of schools fo different types (large, small, LAC and Univ.) and took weekend trips thru the year. Looking back, it helped my D alot in figuring out what type of school she wanted to apply to. Looking when school was in session is helpful but the summer mos you get to see inside more dorms. Often though the summer you witness more of the construction and painting and repairs. So keep all of that in mind. If you can visit some schools it is helpful to narrow down your list, no matter when you visit. You may find like us that you would have wasted your time on a school that turned out to be one you don't like at all once you visit. So good luck and visit if you can. Make sure you find a safety that you like too.</p>

<p>Last summer, just before my S's senior year, we took a college tour through New England as a vacation. I called it "the wishful thinking tour", and indeed it was - Yale, Harvard, MIT, Dartmouth, Cornell. He didn't get into any of them. But it was still a worthwhile trip, because you have to see what the school looks like physically, where it's located, what facilities it has, especially if you want to major in engineering or a science. There were plenty of students and faculty around at all the campuses, and in the summer, they usually have students give the tours. We had a great time - it was our first trip to New England - but after all that, S is going to Penn, 45 minutes away.</p>

<p>Even if you visit a college during the off season, you can still grasp whether you like the location/organization of a campus, which can be very important. For example, after visiting dartmouth last summer, I knew that I wouldn't want that rural of a campus. Also, visiting during the summer and speaking with admissions officers can still give the general "vibe" of the school.</p>

<p>just take a megabus...book it far enough in advance and your ticket will be only 1 dollar. Of course this effectively rules out many suburban campuses (i.e., Princeton, unless you get off at Atlantic City and then rent a car to go to Princeton)</p>

<p>Both of my kids were involved in band and multiple sports so the only time we had to visit schools was during the summer. We did let our son go back to his first choice in February of his senior year to do an overnight visit. He loved it and he got in there so it worked for us.</p>

<p>If you're trying to apply somewhere ED, visit for sure. If not, visits can wait until after you get into schools.</p>

<p>Summer college visits have been indispensable for our daughter. </p>

<p>Had we not visited, she would have applied to the schools we are now visiting. And once accepted, only then would she have learned that these schools are not what she wants.</p>

<p>In particular, she thought she wanted a small liberal arts school, many of which are in small towns. Now she is learning that 3000-5000 or so students would be better. She is also learning that having a proper college town is important to her. She is figuring out that having a reasonable amount of school spirit is important to her also.</p>

<p>Yes, visiting can be expensive, and summer visiting isn't as good as the alternative. But summer visiting is without question very valuable for kids who don't know what they want in a college from the outset. Which is most kids, I'd guess.</p>