You’ve heard the warning before, “Never buy sight unseen!”  Every year students return home after their first semester of college, disappointed in their choice.  Every year students transfer to new colleges searching for that right fit.  And every year students continue to accept attendance at colleges and universities they’ve never seen.

Fancy web sites, glossy brochures, and colorful college view books certainly contain good information, but they can also disguise some negative features important to you and emphasize others that are positive, yet have no bearing on your decision.  Don’t rely primarily on information provided in marketing material such as pamphlets, brochures, web pages, and catalogues.

So how do you know if a college is right for you? Today it’s critical for college-bound students to actually visit college campuses as part of their college planning process. To get a real feel for the college or university where they will be spending the next four to five years of their lives, nothing beats actually visiting the campus.

What you do in preparation for the visit and what you accomplish while touring the campus will determine the value of the trip.  Plan ahead, have a game plan and follow through.

Here are some things to think about:

How’s the Fit?

Visiting the campus allows you to get a real feeling for a school.  By immersing yourself in the school’s atmosphere you can discover if it’s a place where you will be comfortable on a daily basis or a place you can’t wait to get away from.  A one or two day visit can’t possibly tell you everything you want to know about the school, but it does provide an inside look into the different academic, environmental, and social aspects of the university.

Don’t limit yourself by just strolling the grounds during your visit. Go inside the buildings and snoop around.  Visit different classes.  Talk to professors and students.  Taste the dining hall food and hang out at the student commons.

Involve Your Family

College visits are a great way to spend some quality time with your family.  Seek their perspective.  Ask their advice and opinion on the campus.  They need to feel comfortable with the college as well.  After al1, this may be the place you’ll be spending the next four years; it wouldn’t hurt for your parents to know the area for when they officially visit their full-time student.

Have a Plan

You should gather as much information as you can prior to visiting the college. This will make it a successful trip.  Don’t arrange your visit during end-of-the-semester finals week.  Everyone will be too busy and stressed to pay you any mind, even if you just want directions.  Plan on a fall weekday during September or October because classes will be in session, and the campus will be in full operation.  You’ll be able to get more attention from the students and professors earlier in the semester.

Packing Your Bags

You’ll want to make a lot of phone calls before your trip.  Find out if the school offers a campus tour during your visit and if there will be time to schedule a meeting with an admissions and financial aid officer, in case you want to arrange interviews.

Ask what materials you will need to bring with you.  For example, if you’ve requested an interview, the staff member may want to see a copy of your high school transcript and test scores.

Before visiting the campus:

1  Make sure the day and the time to visit is convenient and practical.

2  Arrange for a campus tour if required.

3  Request an interview if appropriate.

4  Ask that school information be mailed to you.

5  Ask if you need to bring any information with you.

6  Write out questions you want to ask and information you want to gather.

7  Find out if special accommodations are available or make motel reservations.

8  Request a course schedule and activity calendar.

9  Determine the driving time between your home and the college.

10  Get the names and numbers to contact once you arrive.

A two-day visit requires a place for you and your family to stay. Does the college have special dining and sleeping accommodations?  If the school does not provide housing, ask about local hotels, including their phone numbers.  Lastly, but probably most critically, find out the driving time between your home and the college.  If it’s a lengthy drive, you may want to fly instead.

First Impressions

Don’t allow your first impressions to dictate your overall feeling for the

school.  Whether it’s everything you expected it to be, or nothing like you imagined, there are so many places to visit and things to accomplish (classes to visit, people to talk with, and facilities and buildings to explore) before forming a lasting impression.

During the campus tour, pay close attention to the tour guide.  Oftentimes, he or she will give you tips on the best places to study and where you can eat to escape the infamous dining hall food.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  They are there to help prospective students.

After the tour is over it will be up to you to find your way around campus. Visit the student commons.  Here you will find a myriad of things: students lounging on the sofas, game rooms, retail food joints, the campus post office, meeting rooms for student organizations, and bulletin boards announcing group meetings, concerts, festivals, want ads, and ride requests.

The bookstore, the library, and the computer labs are places you’ll want to visit.  While in the bookstore, check out what’s for sale.  If you think the new books are too pricey you can probably find used ones to buy.

The library should be on your itinerary.  Check to see if students really study there or just hang out to socialize.  If it’s a large university it will probably have several specialized libraries.  Visit as many as you can to see which ones would suit your studying style.

The computer labs would be a great stopping point to see if there are enough computers for the students or is there a long waiting list to get on.  Does the attendant know what’s going on?  Is he or she helpful?  What are the lab’s hours of operation?

Moving about the campus, keep in mind that students and professors can answer any question you may have.  Ask students for their opinion of the school and campus life and whether they have encountered difficulties during their first year.

Find a couple of professors to ask how tough the classes are and what they expect of their students; what qualities they think a student should possess to do well academically.

Write It Down

It’s critical to take good notes during your visit.  After being on campus for a day you will probably feel like you’re a real college student, but remember that you’re still only a visitor and won’t be coming back for some time.  So any impressions you have of the campus will more than likely fade over the next few days. It would be a good idea to take notes during your visit.  Write down anything that comes to mind.  Did you get all of your questions answered? Write it down. Any information you put down will be helpful  later as you weigh your options and make your final decision.

A Photo is Worth a Thousand Words

It’s also not a bad idea to bring your camera and take pictures.  Comparing photos will help you remember your likes and dislikes when you’re trying to choose between several different colleges and universities.  In conjunction with your notes, photographs are a great way to remember distinct features of the campus.

When the Dust Settles

Once you’re back home and have a chance to relax, contemplate your visits and start formulating your initial impressions.  Write a thank you letter to your tour guide and interviewer.  Expressing your appreciation for their time and valuable insight is the polite thing to do and gives you a chance to ask any additional questions.  Plus, your thoughtfulness may just get mentioned to those in decision making positions.

Can’t Get Out of Town?

While it’s extremely beneficial to actually visit the campuses of those colleges and universities you are thinking of applying to, sometimes it is just not possible due to family circumstances, time restrictions, or even finances. Don’t worry.  There are alternative methods offered by schools and guidance offices that will help you make your college decisions. 

Many colleges and universities offer videos and CD-ROMs.  Check your

career center in the guidance office or library for the materials.  The college will even send you a free copy.

The Internet is another good alternative.  Browse the school’s web site.  There are normally pictures of the campus as well as facts about the college, the students, faculty and the degree programs.

And don’t forget those college fairs.  You can gather a great deal of information on a number of schools in a very short time, and there are representatives, admissions officers, and alumni on hand to answer all your questions.

Even though there are alternatives to a campus visit, it is still strongly recommended that you make every effort to see the college or university first hand before you sign on the dotted line.  Remember, “Never buy sight unseen.”