Start Your College Search

Some students use their summers to tour college campuses and narrow their search. While summer visits might fit best into a student’s schedule, be aware that most campuses will be sparsely populated and may not provide an accurate feel for the school.

It is better to visit a school when it is in session and you can get a feel for the student body, eat in the cafeteria and perhaps sit in on a class or speak with a coach. Try to visit a selection of schools during your spring or fall break, when the colleges are more likely to still be in session.

Before going to a school, contact the admissions department to schedule a visit and a tour. Let them know your interests and strengths so the admissions staff can address them in your tour. For example, if you are gifted in art and might consider an art major, the admissions staff can make sure you tour the art building and perhaps meet an instructor.

As you collect information on various schools, organize the marketing material from each school, along with any notes you took. You will need to reference them again as you get closer to your senior year and begin the admissions process.

When you go to visit a campus, it would be helpful to have your current resume handy. While you probably wouldn’t use it during the group tour, it could be useful if you end up meeting with an admissions representative one-on-one.