Nelie McNeal, Founder and Managing Partner

College visits are a necessary part of the college application process and a part that can be informative, interesting, and even fun (really!). 

Visits can be general, to develop a sense of fit, or more specific, to visit schools that interest you or have been recommended for you. When a student isn’t yet certain of what type of campus they would like, visiting “genres” of schools makes sense. A large public university, a small liberal arts college, an urban setting, a more remote setting—size and location can make a difference to some students. Others can easily see themselves in any of several different colleges. As a student develops a profile (academic and extracurricular), the school list will begin to evolve. At this point, more targeted visits make sense. We encourage you to visit schools that are within the “reach,” “target,” and “foundation” ranges.  And as you visit, please keep in mind that some schools care about demonstrated interest. 

Plan your trip ahead of time, using the college website to make the best use of your visit. Colleges generally offer information sessions (often given by admissions officers) and tours (more often given by students). You may be required to sign up for sessions and attendance may be limited; virtually every college now has a “Visit Us” web page. Some schools offer separate sessions and tours for particular students, like intended engineering majors or students who plan to apply to the school of business at the college. We highly recommend that, whenever possible, parents and students take different tours. This gives everyone a chance to explore the campus independently and compare notes later. 

How can this be fun? Make it fun! Add on a visit to a local favorite spot, plan a meal at a legendary diner or restaurant, spend the night nearby and take in the sights, when time permits. If you are comfortable doing so, try to talk with students on campus or adults who work there or in town. If you are considering trying to meet with a professor, talk with us first. You, too, are evaluating the school to determine if you want to apply there! Again, this is not part of the evaluation process, so you can relax and seek to better understand where – and who – you are.