Hey Everyone,

Visiting colleges is the single most important part of the college decision process. It is so important for students (and parents) to get on campus, walk around, see the students, and experience the environment...both physical and social. Whether you are a senior trying to figure out which college is best for you to attend from the ones you were accepted to, a junior beginning to visit colleges on your list, or a sophomore/freshmen just beginning to get a taste for college, visiting schools is a must.

Almost all colleges allow for visits throughout the school year and summer. When scheduling a college visit, try to attend an information session and a campus tour. This can be done by going to the college website and finding their admissions page. Most of the time you can select from a set of dates and times that work best for you. Then all you have to do is show up on time and let the college take care of the rest.

You can learn a lot about a school from their website, but to truly get a feeling about the college, you must walk the campus, and experience the overall environment where you may spend four years of your life. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of a college visit:

Do your research! The information sessions will be much more effective if you know what you are interested in at the school, and you can ask better questions geared to what matters most to you.
Bring a notebook or take notes on your phone. You most likely will be seeing many different schools, and it helps to write down what you like and didn't like about the school...so you remember!
Take a lot of pictures!
If you can, set up an appointment with your admissions representative while you are there. It can be helpful to introduce yourself to the person who will be reading your application and demonstrate your interest further.
Make sure you complete a form while at the visit so the college knows you were there!
Ask questions during the information session and tour that matter most to you...don't be shy with your questions!
Ask the tour guides what they love about their school, and what they would want to change.
Spend some time walking the campus on your own...the tour guides will definitely show you the best parts of campus, but you will want to see the whole picture!
Make some time to drive around and explore the area surrounding the campus. You will want to know what there is to do when you step off of the campus.
If possible, space out your college visits. Don't try to cram 10 visits in 3 days...this will burn you out!
Have fun and enjoy the process! Visiting colleges should be fun...not frustrating. All colleges are different and hopefully you will only do this once in your life...so make the most out of it.
Thank your parents! Most likely your parents will be on these college visits with you, and spending money to do so...make sure you show them some gratitude.

I hope this is helpful, and enjoy the visits!

Mr. Joseph Korfmacher