<p>I was wondering when the best time to visit is? I was thinking the summer between Junior and Senior year or during Senior year but I've heard of Sophomores visiting in between Sophomore and Junior year if they want to space it apart.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>I did a few visits (prelinimary) during Sophomore/Junior year. But, at that point, you probably really won't know what your college #1/#2 will be in two years (unless you're like some on CC). Wait until Junior/Senior year. You could always go on breaks to check out a college if it's hard to visit during junior summer. :)</p>
<p>Thanks asdfjkl1.</p>
<p>Any other input?</p>
<p>If you're looking to save money, do as much "campus previewing" online (Google Earth, etc) before applying, and then only visit those schools you're accepted to.</p>
<p>If that's not an issue, then spring break Junior year is also a really good time. Summer doesn't really give you an actual feel for what campus is normally going to be like when you're there.</p>
<p>When I was a sophomore I had no clue to what colleges I wanted to apply. I remember that during the summer of sophomore year, I just wanted to relax and do absolutely nothing--no job, no volunteer work, no thinking about colleges. It turned out to be one of the most boring summers ever, but at least I tried and saw how it would turn out!</p>
<p>Anyway, most people in the summer of sophomore year probably don't know to what colleges they'll apply to. Heck, I didn't know exactly which ones until senior year! I think that the best time to visit colleges is during the middle/end of junior year. (okay, I have a lot to say here, so expect random off-topic advice). I visited Reed College during the summer (When I was a junior, Amtrak offered 2-for-1 deals so that I could go with a parent for the price of 1, if I'm touring colleges; check with your school's counseling office to see if there are any of these offers), and while I saw the campus (which I thought was way too small and not secluded enough), I didn't see many students! So I would have enjoyed it so much more if I had actually visited when classes were still in session, because when I visited Reed, for example, the tour guide showed us what a classroom looks like and was like, "Students here are in small class sizes, and most of the humanities classes here are discussion-based. This is the classroom for Humanities 101." But it would have been so much cooler if I had actually seen the professor and students having the discussion! </p>
<p>So while summer of junior year is okay, it's definitely not the best, and I agree with ducktape that some time during spring break is the best time. There are probably lots of students there at the colleges, and you have free time.</p>
<p>Okay, so once senior year starts you should definitely have a good idea of what colleges you're going to apply to, for a few reasons. First, you don't have as much stress, because you know where you're going to apply! Second, colleges are going to start sending e-mails about interviews, and they fill up quickly (admissions people visit your area and usually have interviews at cafes). That's how it was at Reed. They sent me an e-mail, but for some reason I was contemplating whether to have the interview (probably because I was afraid it wouldn't turn out well) and so I waited about a week and decided and found out that they were all booked up and that I'd have to wait until later for that opportunity. (Fortunately, that opportunity came and I had the interview). That's another piece of advice: think for a while, but you've got to make a decision and stick to it, because you don't have all the time in the world. (Edit: Also, there is pretty much no good reason not to take advantage of interviews. They're a lot of fun (or at least they should be), because you get to talk about whatever you want and have a fun conversation. My interviewer from Carleton even offered to buy me a coffee! And he told hilarious stories about his times at Carleton. Biggest piece of advice about interviews: make it fun for you but also for your interviewer).</p>
<p>The third reason to know what colleges you're applying to by the beginning of senior year is that then, you can start applying! And asking teachers for recommendations and giving counselors forms. It's much easier and better to start early than it is to start late, trust me. That reminds me--if you have a definite #1 school, definitely consider applying early. It could save you lots of trouble in the end, if you get accepted.</p>
<p>So the beginning of senior year is a good time also to start visiting the schools. Now, I would recommend that you contact each of the colleges and ask if they give any opportunities to visit the school for free. Some schools have this. For example, Reed College has something called Multicultural Days (something like that), which is a program where you can visit the college and stay over the weekend for free! Now, that is much, much better than visiting the college over the summer (even with the 2-for-1 deal from Amtrak you still have to pay), and you also get to see students too! So if I had been knowledgeable about these things, I would have called Reed College to ask if it had these programs, so then I probably wouldn't have visited over the summer.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Swarthmore (and Washington University and Tufts) all offered me these invitations (via e-mail) to visit for free, and I attended Discovery Weekend at Swarthmore, and had a great time, and look, that's where I'm headed! Of course, you had to send information cards to these colleges first. (Edit: actually, they invite you to apply to these programs; usually you have to fill out an application and then they select).</p>
<p>So I think that concludes my super-long advice-giving column about when to visit colleges. In short, the best time to visit is either late in junior year and early senior year. Before you go, contact the colleges and ask if they have any of the free programs that I talked about.</p>
<p>I hope you've found some of this information useful. Have fun! (Oh, it'll be a lot of fun visiting colleges; trust me.)</p>