Touring college summer after 9th grade

[Anonymous]

We are taking a family vacation this summer to a city where a school that might be a good fit for my DS is located. He's only in 9th grade, so not thinking seriously about college, although it's something we talk about because his sibling just finished applying. Would you recommend we tour this school or come back in a year or two? It's a flight away, if that matters.

[Anonymous]

We did a couple of tours long before my first kid was applying ( her request) and it was nice to do it with no pressure. I wouldn’t start flying around the country with a freshman for that purpose but f you’re there anyway then why not?

[Anonymous]

I would stop by and spend 20 min walking around the campus. It's too early for a full official tour to be of much use. Go back in two years if needed.

[Anonymous]

Only if he wants to do it. If you don’t feel like flying back to tour in two years, how are you going to feel about flying there frequently to visit if he were to go there?

[Anonymous]

My kids were DISinterested in the tours until a few months before 11th gr.

[Anonymous]

If you’re hoping he really likes the school, summer may not be the best time to visit. It’ll be dead.

[Anonymous]

You could as a kind of “this is a college” intro, but know that if your kid still likes it in four years you will return to visit.

Knowing how stressful the college process gets, I wouldn't. You will all be so so sick of it before it’s over.

[Anonymous]

We toured my alma mater when our oldest was a freshman. It was fun. She didn't wind up applying but I think she had fun.
She handed the t-shirt down to her youngest sister who is still in high school and wears it.
My advice would be to make sure you tour the school when it is in session. I am sure there are some schools that are active in the summer but we made the mistake of going to see a few schools in the off-season and you don't really get a sense of the vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would stop by and spend 20 min walking around the campus. It's too early for a full official tour to be of much use. Go back in two years if needed.

Second this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if he wants to do it. If you don’t feel like flying back to tour in two years, how are you going to feel about flying there frequently to visit if he were to go there?

How often do parents visit their kids in college? My parents -- who were way more involved and present than most of my friends' parents -- dropped me off freshman year, came for parents' weekend freshman year, and came for graduation.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t go, especially if it is a school you think would be really good for them. They really aren’t ready to start thinking about it, even if they seem/act like they are, and unwinding a bad impression might be tough to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only if he wants to do it. If you don’t feel like flying back to tour in two years, how are you going to feel about flying there frequently to visit if he were to go there?

How often do parents visit their kids in college? My parents -- who were way more involved and present than most of my friends' parents -- dropped me off freshman year, came for parents' weekend freshman year, and came for graduation.

Ok, maybe “frequently” wasn’t the best choice of words. But personally, I wouldn’t want to send my kid somewhere that felt like a hassle to get to at least once every two years.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. It's not that this school is particularly hard to get to, but I predict he's going to want to see many schools and only has so much time junior year. We'll walk around campus informally and try to have lunch nearby, but that's all.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Too soon and too much pressure for a 9th grader. Wait until jr year

[Anonymous]

I agree that it’s okay to pass through if you’re already in the area and the student is interested, but I wouldn’t otherwise force it. My kid didn’t express any interest in touring colleges until junior year. There’s still plenty of time.