<p>My father and I plan on touring Bowdoin, Colby, and Bates at some point during the year. He really wants me to get the vibe of the campuses, but we don’t necessarily want to go when there are feet of snow. I play soccer, and so all September-November is not free for me to tour. When would be the best time to tour? Is it okay to tour in the winter, or should I try to go before school starts? Or just wait until spring?</p>
<p>We toured Bowdoin in the Summer, Colby in the Spring. I think your best feel will be with students on the campus, but that is often difficult to work into a family’s schedule. When we toured Bowdoin there were no students and empty dorms, but my daughter still felt she learned enough about the place from the feel of the campus and from the guides to know she did not want to go there, and ended up at Colby.</p>
<p>If it works with your schedule, I would tour in the spring when the leaves are out and the students are around.</p>