College Visits: Should we go? Is it worth it?

Many families of current high school 10th and 11th graders are looking at upcoming February and spring breaks and asking themselves – Can we visit colleges? Should we? As we enter what we at TBU are affectionately calling “Junior Year of Covid” the questions abound about where the traditional college visit fits in the picture of college list making.

Here’s what we know and some options to consider–

Can we visit colleges right now?

The answer is: it depends. Every college has their own visit policies. These range from allowing only self-guided visitor tours around the exteriors of campus buildings, to ‘normal’ tours and info sessions with a range of pre-registrations and precautions in place. We find that the more selective the school is, the more likely they are to limit visitors. This is driven by the fact that institutions like Harvard and Stanford can restrict campus visitors without harming their nearly limitless pool of applicants. Additionally, you’ll find regional variations in what the state and local practices are around Covid safety-protocols.

Know Before You Go:

  • Be sure to carefully review a college’s admissions website prior to planning a visit to understand what experiences are currently available to decide if it’s worth the trip.
  • Note that many colleges require pre-registration and limit the number of tours and in-person programs offered. Be sure to plan ahead and sign up well in advance of your planned visit.

What can we do if a visit isn’t in the cards?

The pandemic has forced some innovation and flexibility in college admission practices. Where colleges might have privileged an in-person visit to campus as an important marker of ‘demonstrated interest’ in the past, they have become more flexible on this point. Colleges now consider many forms of engagement as equivalent types of demonstrated interest and are eager to engage with students through online platforms and virtual opportunities.

Look for alternate opportunities to engage with a college, explore your fit, and demonstrate your interest:

  • Virtual tours and info sessions are widely available. Check each college’s admissions website regularly for opportunities. Programs between January-March are often geared towards 11th, 10th, or even 9th grade prospective students. These programs will pick back up in the summer (Late May-Early June) when 12th grade students have completed their enrollment.
  • Virtual College Fairs: These are an excellent way to connect with many colleges at once. Be sure to fill out any ‘virtual info cards’ as admissions offices use these to track prospective student engagement. NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) has fairs scheduled throughout the winter and spring. Check out www.nacacattend.org/fairs for information and to register.
  • School Representative Visits (In Person or Virtual) & Regional Programs: If a student is interested in a college, one of the best ways for a more intimate connection with an admissions officer is through attending the visits that are arranged at your high school. Some of these visits are happening in person, and many are likely to happen virtually. Either way, this is a great way to meet an admissions officer & learn about the college. (**Bonus tip: Be sure to send a personal thank you email afterwards!).
    In addition,     groups of colleges often work together to hold informational programs to capture a larger audience in your region. Some of these may be offered in person (for example, hosted at a local library, auditorium, or hotel) and others will be offered virtually. These are another great way to connect with a college.
  • Finally, if you are looking just to get a better feel for a college without necessarily demonstrating interest in an official way, check out the resources on the campus website and videos on Campus Reel and YouTube produced by the college to get a better sense of the campus, its students, offerings, and community.

While colleges have had to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, we know that this is infinitely more true for the flexibility, adaptability and creativity asked of our students. Know that there’s no one way to explore your colleges of interest and we are rooting for you as you find your way.

At The Best U, we use our experience as former college admissions officers and high school advisors to support self-directed students and their families to take the guesswork out of the college admissions process and the cost of college.

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We are based in the United States in Colorado and Connecticut and have expertise working with students nationwide and all over the world.

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