Even though most high school students visit college campuses from October to April, a summer visit to a college you are thinking about attending can definitely have its advantages. Sure, you will not be able to see the college in full swing with all of the students around, but following these tips on visiting a college during the summer may be a blessing in disguise.
1. Tours are more personalized.
On average, fewer students visit college campuses during the summer. This means that your tour group will be much smaller and may only include you and your family. Take advantage of the personal attention to get all of your questions answered. Most likely you will have a student tour guide so make sure you ask the following:
- Why did you choose to come to this particular college?
- What is special about this college as opposed to any other college?
- What do the students do on the weekends and weeknights?
- How much time do students spend studying and where do they study?
- What kind of extracurricular activities are students involved in?
2. Counselors and college staff are more likely to be accessible.
Visiting during the summer will allow you to meet with a counselor, adviser, or professor who would usually be extremely busy during the school year. Just make sure to call the college and set up an appointment with the person or persons you would like to talk with. In addition, each of these professionals may have more time to spend with you to answer all of your questions.
3. Your high school information is finalized.
If you visit a college before your senior year of high school, all of your grades that you will use on your application will have been finalized. Make sure you bring your transcript of your grades and the classes you have taken, and also bring your ACT or SAT scores if the college doesn’t already have them. This way, admissions representatives will be able to give you a good idea of your standing and what you may still need to accomplish.
4. Summer allows you to visit multiple colleges.
If possible, visit as many of the colleges on your wish list for a quick tour to see if each really “fits” what you are looking for in a college. By doing this, you can really pinpoint which of the colleges you really want to attend, which will allow you to do more research on each of those colleges and set up return visits. In addition, this will allow you to scratch off any of the colleges that you are not impressed with.
Visiting colleges during the summer can definitely have some benefits, so if you have the opportunity, why not set up a schedule for the upcoming summer. If you have any questions about visiting a college or anything else pertaining to college admissions, please give us a call and set up an appointment.