You probably won’t be able to visit every school on your list while classes are in session, so here are my three tips:

  • If you can only visit one or two schools (safely!) while students are on campus, make them the schools that excite you the most.
  • Check the academic calendars on college websites—if your spring break schedule is different than that of the college, students will be in class while you’re free to visit.
  • If you’re planning to visit colleges over the summer, try to do so in late August—students will be trickling back, varsity athletes will (hopefully!) be on campus for practice, and you may get to see some of the pre-orientation activities the school runs for first-year students.

What are Campus Tours Like?

Your campus visit will most likely include a tour led by a current student, in a group with other prospective applicants and their families. This is an awe­some opportunity to get insight into daily life on campus, so do not hesitate to ask your tour guide for their opinion on any aspect of the college. Even if you’re curious about a department or extracurricular activity the tour guide does not participate in, they may be able to share insights via roommates or friends. The other high school students in your tour group are also assets —listen to their questions, and if you have time, ask about their experiences visiting other schools. How your tour guide answers questions will tell you much more about the school than the history and trivia they’re likely reciting as they lead you around.

Of course, it may not pan out that you go on all virtual tours or all in-person campus visits. Your research will likely be a mixture of both. (Online research, for example, definitely complements a tour on campus.) As you narrow your list to colleges where you know you want to apply, try to schedule an interview. In most admissions cases, interviews are optional, and are available on campus, via alumni in your area, or on Skype. In your interview, you’ll want to come off as articulate about and engaged with the things that are important to you, and have a clear idea of how this school above all others will help you pursue those passions. If you have this conversation when you’ve just toured campus and / or after you’ve done your online research and the school’s unique features are fresh in your mind, it will be that much smoother.

Make sure you take notes using our free worksheet.