College Visit
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(or necessity) of an interview with an admissions
counselor. Some schools recommend one, and
others do not.

Days and seasons to avoid when planning your
college visit include school holidays, when the
campus will be empty, and particularly busy times,
such as “move in” season in the early fall or the
end of term, when finals are occurring. Weekends
are fine, but weekdays are ideal. Most high school
students and their families try to visit on a long
weekend so they can get a taste of what a weekday
and a weekend is like at the campus.

On Visit Day
On the day of your visit, arrive early and follow the
instructions you were given when you made your
appointment. You’ll likely start in the admissions
office. Let your child do the talking; this is their
time to step forward. Every college visit will
include a campus tour; pay attention to the small
details your child may not think about. Do most
students seem to have cars or do they ride bikes? Is
there a sense of fun and community in the common
areas, or do students look stressed and tired?
What does campus security look like? Are safety
options and general atmosphere surrounding each
school. Take the time to read the local newspaper,
read campus bulletin board notices to learn
about upcoming events for the student body and
community and play tourist in the city you’re
visiting. While you’re on campus, don’t be shy! Encourage
your kids to ask current students why they chose
the school, whether they like it and what it’s like to
live in the city or town. Learn about clubs to join or
sports teams in the area.

precautions evident?
No matter which school your child ultimately
Take time to stop in at a local or campus coffee
selects, visiting colleges can be a fun family trip.

shop or common area, and walk past recreation
areas and sports fields. If your child has an
interview, they will do that solo, so take that time
Bring siblings so they can get a feel for it as well,
and be sure to add some family time into the mix;
see a movie, tour sites in the city or splurge at
to strike up conversations with other prospective
a local restaurant. Your college-ready child will
parents or take a financial aid seminar (or gather
remember this special time with Mom and Dad.

financial aid papers from admissions).

Be sure to teach your child to make eye contact,
shake hands and properly introduce themselves to
campus personnel. And always encourage them to
send a thank-you email after your visit.

Get to Know the Area
An advantage of visiting several campuses in one
college tour trip is the opportunity to stay longer
in the general area. Look for a hotel close to at
least one of the campuses you’re visiting, and pay
close attention to the neighborhoods, public transit
12 October 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com
Amy is a travel writer and editor.

She specializes in planning outdoors
adventures for children and founded the
family travel site PitStopsForKids.com.

Sources: https://www.fix.com/blog/
planning-a-college-campus-visit and
bigfuture.collegeboard.org, located in
D.C. and Reston, VA.