when to visit colleges

[Anonymous]

Do get them thinking about:

1. Possible majors keeping in mind that most kids switch majors at least once. But, a math science kid may not be a great fit at a small LA school.

2. Location and cost. Will your kid want to be far from home? Is cost a factor? In state tuition is a very significant savings. But, do not discount the savings from scholarships. That can be particularly significant at private schools. Any school that sparks interest is worth a call to their admissions folks who can tell you about options.

3. Fit. Hard to get a feel really, but you do get better with practice. My daughter played soccer in college. And, with soccer you do all the work because women’s soccer recruiting is basically done by Christmas of your kid’s junior year. Decisions made and scholarships committed. So you have to be looking starting Sophomore year. My kid did 15 soccer visits before December her junior year. Most were over night. By about visit 8 she could make a decision on a school in an hour or so. Simply put, the more your kid does the better and quicker your kid will decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - I am absorbing and taking this all to heart. Is interesting, though, because I have also been told there isn’t much point to just self-touring an empty campus in summer because kids just can’t get any sense (vs a tour when campus is empty at least is more engaging, and a self tour when campus is hopping gives you a good vibe).

Your instincts are good, OP.
As one who recently did this, here's my advice, FWIW.

1. Most schools will excuse an absence if it's for a college tour. In addition, teacher work days can also be helpful.
2. Since your kid's schedule is more intense in the spring, aim for fall visits this year (junior year).
3. You aren't necessarily trying to achieve every single possible school you kid will apply to, but it can be really helpful to get a variety of schools. Go to a big university. Go to a small liberal arts size place. Go to a school in a city. Go to a school in a small/rural area.
4. There are pros to both the weekday tour and the weekend "focus" weekends. Weekday tour definitely gives you more of a feel of actual life on the campus. Weekend focus days are a more orchestrated event, where you will see far more high schoolers and their parents vs. actual students. On the other hand it can provide access to certain things you won't get on a weekday tour. All of this will be laid out on the websites.
5. I really think there's very little benefit to going to campuses during the summer or during a fall/spring break.
6. We did a scattering of Monday, Friday, or sometimes weekend trips. Only one time did we go to two schools on same trip. Doing a week-long slog of jamming multiple tours just makes the whole thing a blur. Not really enough time to consider each school.
7. Make it fun! We saw some families that looked so stressed an miserable on the tours. Make it fun and low-stakes.
8. Do some financial research now. It's cruel to visit a place that your kid might fall in love with if there is no way you can pay for it.

How do you know what 'most' schools will do? I think this is a wild assumption. I know Whitman wouldn't be pleased if you just fuked off on various college trips during sophomore and junior years. you have got to be insane

We took off time three times while at Whitman a couple of years ago. No blowback.

LOL. "We" were at Whitman? Helicopter Parent of the Year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - I am absorbing and taking this all to heart. Is interesting, though, because I have also been told there isn’t much point to just self-touring an empty campus in summer because kids just can’t get any sense (vs a tour when campus is empty at least is more engaging, and a self tour when campus is hopping gives you a good vibe).

Your instincts are good, OP.
As one who recently did this, here's my advice, FWIW.

1. Most schools will excuse an absence if it's for a college tour. In addition, teacher work days can also be helpful.
2. Since your kid's schedule is more intense in the spring, aim for fall visits this year (junior year).
3. You aren't necessarily trying to achieve every single possible school you kid will apply to, but it can be really helpful to get a variety of schools. Go to a big university. Go to a small liberal arts size place. Go to a school in a city. Go to a school in a small/rural area.
4. There are pros to both the weekday tour and the weekend "focus" weekends. Weekday tour definitely gives you more of a feel of actual life on the campus. Weekend focus days are a more orchestrated event, where you will see far more high schoolers and their parents vs. actual students. On the other hand it can provide access to certain things you won't get on a weekday tour. All of this will be laid out on the websites.
5. I really think there's very little benefit to going to campuses during the summer or during a fall/spring break.
6. We did a scattering of Monday, Friday, or sometimes weekend trips. Only one time did we go to two schools on same trip. Doing a week-long slog of jamming multiple tours just makes the whole thing a blur. Not really enough time to consider each school.
7. Make it fun! We saw some families that looked so stressed an miserable on the tours. Make it fun and low-stakes.
8. Do some financial research now. It's cruel to visit a place that your kid might fall in love with if there is no way you can pay for it.

How do you know what 'most' schools will do? I think this is a wild assumption. I know Whitman wouldn't be pleased if you just fuked off on various college trips during sophomore and junior years. you have got to be insane

We took off time three times while at Whitman a couple of years ago. No blowback.

LOL. "We" were at Whitman? Helicopter Parent of the Year!

Yes. We did. DC isn't going herself to the west coast and Massachusetts.