Tour and interview timing

Applying to College
1

I am the parent of a junior in high school. So far we have visited a few schools and found some he really likes, but we are getting ready to start touring in earnest this spring/ summer.

Our available touring time is limited, because he can’t miss many days of his summer camp job and he won’t want to miss more than a day or so of school in the fall (he has not missed a day in four years!). That leaves us: spring break of junior year, one week in August, longer weekends off from school for fall holidays in senior year, summer Saturdays and fall Saturdays when available.

Most of his schools of interest so far recommend interviews.

Given the limited time, we may try to visit each school only once instead of twice before applying (especially the ones more than four hours away from our home). And we will try to save both time and gas/hotel money by visiting schools that are somewhat near each other in the same trip.

Three questions, for people who have been through the admissions process before:

  1. If he is going to interview and tour on the same trip, what do you think the order should be? Do you think it is important to tour first, for background info or impressions that may help to share during the interview? Or, given that my son has already spent hours pouring over websites and guide books and info sent by colleges and therefore knows a good deal about each school, might it work out to interview first? The latter might allow him to interview at 9, take a tour at 10, and if need be leave a tour a little before the end, if he needs to get to the next college in time for another interview/tour combo that afternoon.
  2. Also- again given the limited time: we are planning to forego information sessions and just do tours and interviews. Would any of you argue that the info session is important/ provides any info not available in websites and brochures and CC?

I look forward to hearing people’s experiences and feedback. Thank you!

2

We always do the information session and tour first as it helped my senior with ease of conversation during the interview. That last week in August would be a perfect time as many colleges will be in session.

3

I agree, tour/info session are helpful before the interview – just helps the student feel more comfortable on campus and have a concrete experience of the school before talking with an admissions rep.

Personally, I thought the info sessions were helpful, and my kid did, most of the time. I found it interesting, and sometimes, surprising, to learn what the school said about itself, and there were gems of info along the way. My kid also got turned on, or off, by comments/focus of info session.

We did a big trip, visiting 4 schools the week of 11th grade spring break, but even then, given distance between schools, only did one a day. We were all exhausted, each day. By that point, kid had already been in touch with coaches (prospective recruit) and scheduled meetings with professors/departments of interest for the visit, so he was pretty invested in the process and comfortable with the broad details about each school. I can’t imagine doing two a day, unless they were within an hour of each other or less.

4

@naviance and @midwestmomofboys, thank you!