Ten Tips for College Visits

Upper School students – it’s road trip time! In between college essay writing time and SAT/ACT taking time, that is!

College visits are an important piece of the college search process. So how should a student approach the college visit as they search for the right fit to flourish for four years and ultimately finish? Here are my top ten tips for making the most out of college visits. 

1. Get an authentic view of students.
   Consider having lunch in the cafeteria, check out the library, spending time on the quad. Aside from the main spots you’ll likely visit during a campus tour, try to take some time on your own to visit student ‘hot spots’ to get a better look into student life.
2. Grab a copy of the college newspaper.
   You’ll learn what issues matter most to the students at that campus, get a look into events happening, and have some reading material for the car ride!
3. Register officially for a tour and/or information session with the Admission Office.
   It’s important to have on record your interest in a college as it can play a part in admission decisions. Consider finding a representative of the Admission Office for your    geographic area and introducing yourself via email before.
4. Look out for your own academic interests.
   Interested in genetics but not sure you’ll see the lab on the tour? Don’t be afraid to reach out in advance of a college visit to see if you can connect with faculty of a specific department. Wondering what type of academic support the college offers? McLean students are excellent self-advocates in knowing how they learn best – be sure to connect with the college’s Learning Support Office if one exists.
5. Have a system for keeping track of what’s what.
   Be sure to have a way to take notes of your visit in an organized and manageable way. If you’re touring multiple schools in a week it’s easy to have campuses blend together. Think about an excel spreadsheet or even recording voice memos you can playback later.
6. Consider separate tours for parents and college-bound students.
   Being on two different tour groups will allow you to get a different perspective, opportunities to hear a variety of questions, and possibly give both parent and student a bit of a respite from each other during what can sometimes be a stress inducing time.
7. Speaking of stress – try to keep things as stress-free as possible.
   College visits should be as fun as you can make them! Try not to make the whole trip just be about colleges – explore the towns they are in, plan an afternoon of hiking at a new location, etc. Be open about how you’re feeling and don’t let college talk consume all your conversations.
8. Think about organic college visits and not just planned ones.
   In Florida visiting a grandparent for winter break? Just do a drive through of the campus. A firm focus on visits can be late sophomore/early junior year when you’re in the right mindset.
9. Go virtual!
   There’s not always a need to pack up the car or book a flight. Many colleges and universities have incredible virtual tours and interactive websites to make the most out of exploring their campus.
10. Think about best fit – for you.
    You might feel certain pressure to visit schools that friends are seeing, or that maybe parents attended. But it’s all about finding the right fit for you. Be sure that the schools on your list to visit help support you in determining that best fit.

McLean School’s College Counseling Team supports students through all four years of Upper School to help identify post-secondary options that would be the best fit for their academic interests, social-emotional connections, and career aspirations. 

If you’re interested in learning more about McLean’s Upper School and College Counseling Program contact admission@mcleanschool.org

By Erika Toren, Director of College Counseling 2023