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There is virtually no better time to visit a college campus than during spring break.  Your teen is off of school for a week.  The weather is improving and most colleges will be in session. (Unless they are on spring break as well).

Here are a  few suggestions for putting together a successful multi-college campus tour.

Create a plan:  I am a huge believer in planning ahead.  Especially when it affects some of life's most important decisions.  The college selection process is one of those.  Take the time to putting a plan of where, when, and what you'll be doing during the trip.

Put together an itinerary:  Make certain to map out the colleges you plan to visit by using MapQuest or Google Maps to get an exact idea how long it will take you to travel to each college on your tour.  Take into account any campus guided tour and information session times before you schedule anything.  Don't assume there will always be someone available at the college to give you a tour.  Most schools have selected times and limits to how many families can go on those tours.  Some do not offer tours on certain weekends.  Call ahead and reserve your tour times as far in advance as possible.

Build in free time:  Make certain to check out the surrounding areas of each college.  Don't forget to mix in some fun family activities while you're at it.  Many families make this a mini-vacation.

Getting a feel for the city or town's restaurants, sites, and local college hangouts will give your teen a feel for the social aspect of that college.  Remember, the social aspect of college is a big deal.

There are 3 major factors to selecting the right college.  The right college will be a good fit... financially, academically and socially.

If anyone of those factors is missing, the chances for getting in and out of college in four years or less drops dramatically.

The social aspect is important.  And the campus tour is arguably the best time for your child to get a feel for how they will fit in.

Dress the part:  Wear shoes that are comfortable and good for walking.  You will walk a lot.  Students should dress nicely but don't overdress. 

Take notes:  A multi-college tour will leave your head spinning.  It is best to take notes as you go along.  You will be able to look back over your notes and objectively focus on the pros and cons of each college visit.  Include photos in your date gathering.

Lastly,  make certain you have a list of questions you want answered as you conduct each college tour.  This will help you compare and contrast each school.  Happy touring!  

___________________

Excerpted from College Made Simple, Jodi Polster, Educational Director

It may seem difficult to determine if a college is a good fit for your student.  After you determine if the school answers the question, "Is it comfortable yet challenging?" there are other questions that need to be answered as you narrow down your choices.  Dr. Lynn O'Shaughnessy from "The College Solution" wrote an excellent blog on what questions to ask while visiting a college campus.  Below is an excerpt from her blog. 

One of the best ways to learn more about a college is to visit their campuses.  When you are on campus, you should ask lots of questions.  Ideally, you should talk to more than just the admission staff.  Stop a few students during your stay and ask them what they like and don't like about their school.  If possible, talk to a professor or two.

Here are a list of questions I recommend you ask:

Academics

-How much time do students typically spend on homework?

-How much writing and reading are expected?

-What is the average class size of the introductory classes?

-How widely used are teaching assistants on campus?

-What is the average class size of upper-division courses?

Academic Perks

-What opportunities are there for  undergraduate research?

-How many students participate in undergraduate research?

-Is there a culminating senior year experience?

-Do you have a learning community or other freshmen experience?

Financial Aid

-What is the average financial aid package?

-What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?

-What percentage of financial need does the school typically meet?

-What is the average merit award?

-What percentage of students receive college grants?

-What is the average college debt that students leave with after graduation?

-What type of work study opportunities are there?

Graduation Track Record

-What is your four-year graduation rate?

-What is your five-year graduation rate?

What does it take to graduate in four years?

What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?

-What type of tutoring programs do you have on campus?

-How do you provide academic advise to students?

-Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?

-What type of learning disability resources do you have?

Outside Opportunities

-How many students at the college get internships?

-What percentage of students study abroad?

-What type of career services do you have?

Student Life

-What type of dorm choices are there?

-What percentage of students live on campus?

-How long are dorm accommodations guaranteed?

-How many students live on campus?

-Do most students go home on weekends?

-What percentage of the student body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?

-What activities are offered to students?

-What clubs do you have on campus?

It may seem difficult to determine if a college is a good fit for your student.  After you determine if the school answers the question, "Is it comfortable yet challenging?" there are other questions that need to be answered as you narrow down your choices.  Dr. Lynn O'Shaughnessy from "The College Solution" wrote an excellent blog on what questions to ask while visiting a college campus.  Below is an excerpt from her blog. 

One of the best ways to learn more about a college is to visit their campuses.  When you are on campus, you should ask lots of questions.  Ideally, you should talk to more than just the admission staff.  Stop a few students during your stay and ask them what they like and don't like about their school.  If possible, talk to a professor or two.

Here are a list of questions I recommend you ask:

Academics

-How much time do students typically spend on homework?

-How much writing and reading are expected?

-What is the average class size of the introductory classes?

-How widely used are teaching assistants on campus?

-What is the average class size of upper-division courses?

Academic Perks

-What opportunities are there for  undergraduate research?

-How many students participate in undergraduate research?

-Is there a culminating senior year experience?

-Do you have a learning community or other freshmen experience?

Financial Aid

-What is the average financial aid package?

-What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?

-What percentage of financial need does the school typically meet?

-What is the average merit award?

-What percentage of students receive college grants?

-What is the average college debt that students leave with after graduation?

-What type of work study opportunities are there?

Graduation Track Record

-What is your four-year graduation rate?

-What is your five-year graduation rate?

What does it take to graduate in four years?

What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?

-What type of tutoring programs do you have on campus?

-How do you provide academic advise to students?

-Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?

-What type of learning disability resources do you have?

Outside Opportunities

-How many students at the college get internships?

-What percentage of students study abroad?

-What type of career services do you have?

Student Life

-What type of dorm choices are there?

-What percentage of students live on campus?

-How long are dorm accommodations guaranteed?

-How many students live on campus?

-Do most students go home on weekends?

-What percentage of the student body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?

-What activities are offered to students?

-What clubs do you have on campus?