In this technological age you have numerous resources at your disposal that will assist you in finding the colleges that best fit your needs, interests and talents.  The guidebooks make for interesting reading, and some of the college web sites have astounding presentations.  Take advantage of all the information you are able to gather, but keep in mind that nothing will ever replace a campus visit when you have to decide if a college is right for you.  Until you walk on the grounds, meet the students, sit in on a class and soak up the campus atmosphere, you are just guessing that a college will be a good match for you.

So when should you visit?  As sophomores it is not too early!  You may be jumping the gun if as a sophomore you think you are going to find the school of your dreams on your first day of touring.  However, if you go about it the right way, you can learn valuable insights that will help you with your eventual college selection.    As juniors the time is now.  See some colleges in the coming weeks.  Take some time during your two-week Spring Break to visit several colleges.

Start by visiting a few schools locally.  Try to see colleges from different categories.  For instance, visit a school in a suburban setting, and follow that up with a visit to a school in an urban area.  On your next trip investigate a larger school, and follow that up with a visit to a smaller institution.  Your purpose in the early stages is not necessarily to determine if that particular school in a suburb was right for you.  Rather, you want to see if you prefer the suburb itself, or would you be happier living in a city.  These are not decisions that will always come easily, but you can take what you learn about your personal preferences and apply it to colleges you will see in the future.

Now, before you and your parents rush off for your first college tour, take a few minutes to plan your trip.  We do not know of anything more frustrating than driving for a few hours with your parents only to learn that tours, information sessions, interviews. . . what have you, are not being offered that day!  This makes for a tense and unpleasant ride back home.  So, how should you go about it?  We suggest the following:

Once you have decided with your parents which colleges you would like to visit, you, the student, should call the colleges to make the arrangements.  We know, mom or dad has always been responsible for these things in the past, but this is your future.    Take control of the college search from the beginning, and later on you will feel even better about your college selections knowing they were your doing.  Too often students feel the process is being done to them!

When you call the college you want to find out a few things:

• Availability of admission appointments.
• Directions to the campus.
• What will your visit consist of?  Tour?  Information Session?  Interview?  Sitting in on a class?  Meeting with a faculty member or coach?
• How much time should you gauge for your visit?
• If it is far from home, what lodging accommodations would they recommend?  Restaurants?
• Are there any area attractions/sights that would be interesting for the family to see during your stay?
• Should you bring anything for your visit?  Transcript?  Resume?
• Where can you eat on campus and be with the students?