For the past fifteen years, it has been my pleasure every summer to journey on a bus with forty or so other counselors for four to six days and see from 9-12 colleges and universities in a specific region of the country. The company’s great, the food is decent, the receptions are fun, and, on top of all this, I get to see some colleges I otherwise would not have seen. All this traveling benefits my counselees, for I try valiantly to give them a flavor for those campuses I have viewed. Overall, through the tour and other separate trips, I have seen well over 300 colleges these past years which leaves me with a good news/bad news paradox. The good news is that I feel pretty fortunate to have seen that many; the bad news is that it will only take me about 95 more years to see the other 1800 or so four-year institutions!
 
I think the problem is clear: I’m just not going to see them all! That leaves the burden of visiting the campus, perhaps the most important part of the college selection process, clearly on the shoulders of the students and the parents. But…don’t despair, for help is one the way as I present: THE TOP TEN PIECES OF ADVICE FOR VISITING COLLEGES! And it’s for both students and parents!
 
NUMBER 10 - USE EXPERT RESOURCES - I am automotively impaired; I could do very little if my car broke down beyond opening the hood. I have a nice person called a mechanic whom I trust to give me good counsel regarding my car. I assume that other people do likewise. Following this logic, I am truly puzzled as to why many people prefer to take their college “repairs” to people other than college counselors. We stand at the ready, armed with Internet searches and selective guides, interactive CD’s and college viewbooks, not to mention our own expertise. Still, I hear that Stephanie is going to visit State U. because Aunt Martha told her that Grandma heard that Cousin Jenny really liked it there! My first rule for parents and students is: Make informed decisions. This starts with researching thoroughly before you leave, hopefully, with the help of an expert!
 
NUMBER 9 - VARY THE SIZE ­ I attended the University of Michigan, and, allegiances aside, I always thought the XL-sized university, like Michigan, was not only best for me, but the only size that “fit”. I have learned through my tours, however, that had I investigated further when I was seventeen, I probably would have found a few less grand, but perfectly acceptable smaller schools who would have been most happy to provide me with a quality education. Ideally, I would prefer my counselees and their parents see at least three sizes ­ small (up to 3000 students), medium (3000-10,000) and large/extra large (beyond 10,000) in order to properly gauge which feels most comfortable.
 
NUMBER 8 - PLAN THE TRIP ­ It happens every year. I’m talking to a student who tells me he/she is applying to Colleges X, Y and Z in the Midwest and then, of course, “The University of Miami” or “The University of San Diego” or “Hawaii Pacific University”. Even though at this point I’m tempted to daydream about warmer climates, I usually recover quickly enough to say, “Are you going to able to visit this school?” This question almost always elicits a pause as the student starts to realize that Mom and Dad may not share the same excitement for this choice, much less the expense. But…even if you don’t get to visit that magical school in that state far, far away, you still can visit a number of schools in a short time. Here’s how:

NUMBER 7 ­ TAKE YOUR PARENTS ­ No, students, I know it won’t be as much fun as driving up there with your buddies, but face it: Your buddies aren’t footing the bill for the next 4-5 years in order to see you eventually become self-sufficient. Your parents wouldn’t buy a house or a car sight unseen; neither are they going to invest in your future without a clue. So, how about you, a buddy, and your parents bonding for a weekend? It just might be fun.
 
NUMBER 6 ­ TAKE THE TOUR ­ Here’s how you do it. Call the admission office (HINT: Ask your counselor for the number or look on any brochure or viewbook you have received) and tell them you’re a high school student who would like to come for a visit. (They’ll get REALLY excited!). If you don’t want to call, most college websites have a link called “Visiting Campus” where you can sign up on-line. Most schools have campus tours either “on the hour” or one in morning and one in the afternoon. They will usually send (or e-mail) you a confirmation along with parking and lodging information. Before you go, you might want to get an unofficial transcript from your high school that reflects your grades, class rank and possibly your standardized test scores like PSAT, ACT or SAT. Finally, make sure you either look at the viewbook, CD or catalogue (all available through your college center or guidance office) to familiarize yourself with the school.
 
The tours themselves are generally led by upperclassmen who have been trained to not only know just about everything about the school, but to also give you all this information while walking backwards through campus, never trampling pretty flowers, stray dogs and exhausted students in their paths. They’ll take you through most of the classroom buildings and recreational facilities, the library, the “student union” and probably a residence hall or two. Then, without missing a beat, they will return you to the admissions office in about an hour. Often times, schools will combine these tours with 30-45 minute informational sessions with an admissions representative either before you go or after you return. After this, if you have brought your records, it might be appropriate to have an admissions rep look over this information and give you a quick analysis on the likelihood of your being admitted.
 
NUMBER 5 ­ VISIT YOUR MAJOR ­ This part isn’t for everyone. Students who have a good idea that electrical engineering, graphic arts management, architecture, nursing or some other specific major is in their future will probably want to visit that department and talk with professors, students in the field, or both. Usually, a “mini” tour of this major’s classroom/lab facilities is also included. These specialty area meetings usually take 45 minutes to one hour, and usually can be arranged when you call or e-mail about taking the campus tour. Remember ­ the most popular college freshman major nationwide is still “UNDECIDED”, so, students, don’t panic if you don’t know exactly what direction you want to take yet!

NUMBER 4 ­ ASK GOOD QUESTIONS ­ “Good” in this case means appropriate. Inquiries about typical freshmen class sizes, how competitive the academics are, opportunities for study abroad, the ethnic make-up of campus, the number of fraternities and/or sororities, and the assigning of roommates are just samples of the literally hundreds of questions one could ask. Any tour guide worth his/her salt can answer nearly anything about the school, so fire away. Most admission reps can answer the questions the tour guides can’t. Most high school counseling offices have lists of appropriate questions for both students and parents to ask which will not only give a great “thumbnail” sketch of the school, but will also make your family appear very intelligent! Finally, remember to ask the same questions at every school, so you have a basis of comparison.
 
NUMBER 3 ­ SPLIT UP ­ Not for good, mind you, but now it’s time to go your separate ways for a bit. Synchronize your watches to meet at a central location in about an hour. Students ­ Go to the union; play a video game; get a Coke; think about what your room is going to look like; time yourself walking from the residence hall to campus; check out where the movies and fast food places are for Sunday night dinners; read the flyers on the kiosks (those information post in the middle of campus); talk with some other students; hit the bookstore; imagine yourself at this school. Parents ­ Walk over to the financial aid office and find out what it’s really going to cost; check out the campus security system; talk about what his/her room is going to look like; check out parent visitation days; read a school newspaper; find the washing machines in the residence hall and notice how unused they look; reminisce about your college days; visit the historical buildings, botanical gardens, etc.; imagine him/her at this school.
 
NUMBER 2 ­ REVIEW THE SCHOOL ­ Take it from a person of experience ­ you must review now! On the bus tour, we review immediately after touring, for we know that as soon as that next school appears, the previous school begins to fade. Your high school counselor can supply you with a comparative checklist which cites all those factors like size, location, selectivity of admission, curriculum, housing, security, and facilities that you feel are important. As with the questions you ask on the tour, it is important to compare schools using the same criteria. End your discussion with each person’s top three likes and dislikes about the school.
 
NUMBER 1 ­ TRUST YOUR FEELINGS ­ Here it is. The moment of truth. I often ask my counselees to close their eyes and picture the school. Then, I say, “In September, this will become home for the next four years. Does that feel okay?” Try it ­ it really opens up the communication! Many, many times when I have asked counselees why they picked a specific school, they have responded, “Because it felt right.” Nothing more scientific than that. And you know what? The parents are often right behind them, nodding in agreement, because they know it felt right, too.
 
I’ve just given you a system for visiting colleges. I chose to have a little fun with it, because I think it should be just THAT, along with being an adventure. Whether you use all of these suggestions, some of them, or none, I can’t overemphasize the importance of making informed decisions in the college selection process. And perhaps the most crucial piece of all is the campus visit.
 
George Kazlusky is the college/career consultant at Hoffman Estates (IL) High School and the director of the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC) Summer College Tours for high school counselors.