Spring break 2024 is upon us! For juniors and seniors with acceptance letters, college visits are a great way to find the best fit for your academic journey.
Here are some tips to make the most of your college visits. First, start planning early. If you have not already contacted admissions offices to schedule a visit, do so immediately. Many colleges are on spring break in March and early April. Thanks to STS Travel for providing spring dates for many colleges. Be sure to add the dining hall, library, writing center, and specific academic programs to your itinerary. Add a tour of the residence halls and a student clinic (if available) where most freshmen will congregate and may need to use during the first year. Any tours and informational sessions will be broad so write questions ahead of time to ask during a Q & A session.
Second, schedule appointments to meet with faculty, current students and, if an athlete, be sure to meet with a coach and athletic director (or assistant). These people will be integral to your academic success and asking questions will help you evaluate fit for your personal needs is imperative. If you have a good feeling about faculty mentorship or do not feel positive about the coach, both may help you decide if the college is right for you. I recommend stopping by the student union or student life office as well. Is there visible student leadership through clubs or Greek life? What about intramural activities or options for social interaction? Based on personal preference, these things may be more or less important, but you do need to see if they fit your needs.
Next, explore the local cities and amenities. If the school is in a rural location, make a note of nearest medical facility, grocery store or other retail options for future needs. Where is the nearest airport and will you have trasportation to/from? What about uBer/Lyft or other means to assist if a car will not be readily available. Be sure to review the school's Clery Act Report. The Clery Act helps families understand the safety and response by the university to incidents impacting the student body. It is a federal requirement to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and security information.
Finally, consider staying overnight in the area. Perhaps spend one day on campus, then, stay in town or nearby to visit the campus in the morning. This will help you determine if living off-campus later on will be an option. Is there public transportation to/from campus? What about traffic or cost of living? If attending a school in a weather-prone area, are there emergency routes to avoid a hurricane or what about heavy snowfall? Does the home-city have equipment and infrastructure to handle large influxes of people (NCAA sports, I am looking at you) or to respond to weather anomalies described above? This may also be a good time to drive around and see how safe the local town is...are their "good" areas and/or "bad" areas?
Ultimately, college visits are opportunities for families to explore options. Be sure to take photos and good notes to review and reflect upon later. Use your notes to compare other schools and if you are being recruited for an academic program or sport, be sure to write a thank you note after the visit. Etiquette is key to receiving admission or scholarship money...which may sway your final choice.
