Planning the Perfect Summer College Visit

A well-traveled Harvard graduate offers advice for making the most of your college visit.

(PRWEB) June 21, 2005 -- With the height of the admissions season just months away, thousands of high school seniors across the country will embark on the all-important college visit this summer. More than just a chance to see whether a campus is as picturesque in person as it is online, a college visit is actually a critical tool for developing your college application strategy. Campus visits often provide the only opportunity to gauge the inner workings of a school in person before you decide where to apply. Therefore, it is important to take the time to think about how the visit can assist you in your admissions process.

Design your ideal college:
Before packing the car and hitting the road, think about what your ideal college would look like. Is it urban or rural? Do roommates live on or off campus? Is it close to or far from your home? Make a list of important qualifications and use it to help you determine how you really feel about a particular college. A campus that only offers one or two of your top five wishes may not be a good long-term fit.

Travel off the beaten path:
Once on campus, certainly take the campus tour. However, explore areas of the university that the tour guide doesnt talk about, too. Walk the campus as though you are already a student. How long is the walk from the dining hall to the athletic fields? What does the surrounding neighborhood look like? Will you feel safe traveling around the campus alone at night? Measuring your comfort level with the schools layout and surroundings can help you to determine whether the school fits your needs.

Sleep on it:
If possible, try to spend the night in one of the first year dorms to get a feel for what residential life might be like. Is the space crowded? Do you have your own bathroom? Given that students are not typically in session through August, be sure to have a guide show you the dorm rooms if you arent able to sleep over. And, dont forget to ask about where first year students typically live. If on-campus housing isnt guaranteed, take a look before you leave at some of the rental properties around campus.

Do a gut check:
Finally, after the campus visit is over, check your gut. What is your overall impression of the school? Do you think you would be happy joining the community? Remember, a campus is a vibrant, energizing mix of personalities and interests; it is important to feel like you can lean from and contribute to the dynamism that is college.

Visiting prospective colleges is a critical step in your admissions process. Therefore, take the time to plan your visit strategically and use your time on campus to help you decide which schools best match your unique academic, social and personal needs.

Mark Palmenter, a graduate of Harvard Business School and Harvard College, is the founder of Ivy Advising, a college admissions company headquartered in New York. Ivy Advising can be reached online at http://www.ivyadvising.com.

###