Parents and students should take advantage of summer vacations to visit nearby college campuses.  Just being on a college campus helps to pump up interest in the college experience, and the fact that parents take time to visit these schools makes it obvious that college attendance is a family priority.  Over the high school years, families can tour a variety of public, private, large, and small colleges and universities, focusing attention on the more likely candidates during the junior year and early in the senior year.

You can also visit colleges, particularly in the senior year, during school hours if this is allowed by your school.  At our school, seniors come to the

guidance office to pick up a college visitation form which is taken to all classes where students obtain signatures from their respective teachers.  This form is then returned to the guidance office where students are given another form to be taken to the college for signature.  The college admissions office indicates that a visit did indeed take place.  This document is returned to the high school guidance office so that seniors are not penalized for missing classes.  Many of our students do not have the opportunity to travel during the summer, and we encourage seniors who are trying to decide where to apply to visit colleges in this manner.

Call ahead to arrange for tours.  (Tours may be conducted by students, admissions officers or alumni.)  Some colleges have regularly scheduled campus tours, and others set them up by appointment only.  If you plan to interview at this time, schedule your interview as well.

Remember that when you visit a college, you are looking for a prospective home for a minimum of four years; a physical home as well as an intellectual and spiritual home.  Your visit is important because the impression you receive will power your decision to apply and ultimately attend.

Key things to check for:

The following is an outline for your college-visit checklist.  When attending a campus, get the answers to the following items.  Doing this makes choosing the right college easier.

Size, location, and gender and cultural diversity are important factors in choosing a college.  Some students want a small college in a small college town, while some want a small school in a big city, and others want a large school in an urban area.  Some students want a single gender campus, while others are adamant in choosing coed.  Campus visits help sort out feelings on these subjects.

Check admissions policies and standards along with requirements and deadlines.  Some schools will look at portfolios if scores fall below the norm; others go strictly by the scores and GPA's.  Find out the average scores for entering freshmen.  Check financial aid availability.  Be sure to check what percentage of applicants are accepted and what percent of accepted applicants are offered financial aid.  Check the academic track record of that school.  For example, ask the following questions:  How many freshmen return their sophomore year?  How many students complete in 4 years?  How many complete at all?  What percentage goes on to graduate school? Does the school have a clear plan for your ultimate graduation from that school?   Insure that, for your given program of study, the school has clearly defined required courses and a timetable for your graduation.  Some minor adjustments in a student's curriculum are acceptable, but excessively drifting graduation requirements is a clear warning sign to you to steer clear of that school.  Ask to see a timetable or plan of graduation.  After all, it is your money. Accreditation issues - Is the college or technical school accredited by the appropriate organization?  Can their courses transfer if you change institutions? Academics - Who teaches undergraduates?  For example, do grad students teach undergraduates or does the faculty?   What is the average class size?  How difficult is it to register for the classes you will need to graduate on time?  How is student advisement handled?  Do freshmen have a thorough orientation program and mentoring during that important first year on campus? School mission statement and policies - You should ask to look at the mission statement of the prospective college or university.  Each school has its own philosophy, which is reflected by the faculty, the campus, and the student body.  Learning whether this mission fits in with who you are and who you want to become is a major part of the discovery process.  Bacchus and related programs - My students (many of whom are members of our Drugfree Club) are looking at school records of binge drinking, and they are seeking schools where the percentages are in their favor.  While visiting a campus, I recommend parents take students to check out the Bacchus and related programs.  These will give an insight into the realities of college drinking and drug usage.  (This will definitely stimulate some dialogue between parent and child.) Other things you should consider - How difficult is it to actually get to your college - distance, as well as transportation issues?  How safe is the campus and the surrounding community?  Is employment available?  Can you graduate in four years or are courses often unavailable due to overcrowding?  Is the focus on teaching centered at the graduate level or does the school have a record of excellence for undergraduate education?  How difficult is the transition to upper division?  Is there assistance during the freshman year to mentor and retain the freshman class?  Are there special leadership opportunities for the highly motivated? Talk to current students when you visit.  They will have a fresh perspective on life at their college. Dorm life and/or living arrangements - Are you interested in living in a co-ed dorm or same sex dorm?  Does the campus have sororities and fraternities?  What is the school's policy regarding on or off campus housing?  Other activities - Does the school offer intramural and/or extramural sports?  What other clubs and organizations does the school have in which you might be interested?  Are there areas such as parks, museums, zoos, etc., on or near campus? If you think of any other items you feel have importance when choosing your college, write them down.  And by all means, ask your college or university about them.

For each school you visit, follow the same outline.  Write down and compare each school's answers and make your decision wisely.  Talk extensively with your parents.  Again, don't sweat it.  While you'd like to pick the school that caters to all your needs, sometimes that just doesn't happen.  If you make a choice to attend a specific college and you later find out that that school doesn't meet some or all of your needs, you can always transfer.  It's a simple fact of college life, students transfer.