Welcome to a new college admissions season! Rising seniors, it’s finally time to start working on your applications. Rising juniors, this is an important summer – stay tuned for guidance about how to make the most of it!
This year, in addition to offering concrete suggestions about how to maximize the common application form, I am excited to launch a general college admissions advice column. Please feel free to reach out with anything you’re wondering about. In the meantime, I will start by answering a question that I have been asked repeatedly over the last few weeks.
“Is it worth visiting colleges over the summer?”
In short: Yes, absolutely. Even though there might not be as many students on campus, it’s totally worth it.
- For many families, the summer is your only opportunity to go, and there is truly no substitute for setting foot on campus. It’s the best way to get a feel for the atmosphere, and to check out the surrounding area.
- Furthermore, colleges know that they will be hosting a ton of visitors over the summer. They go out of their way to paint a complete picture, with student ambassadors and other events that help you get a sense of the community.
- Many colleges track demonstrated interest, and attending an official information session and tour is one of the most impactful opportunities to show that you are excited about the school. Parents who might not have gone on visits when they were applying need to understand that the landscape has changed, and it’s not a good idea to give up this potential advantage.
- Early Action, rolling admission, and Early Decision are critical strategic tools that can literally double your odds of admission. Visiting enough/the right schools during the summer enables you to take advantage of these rounds, with confidence.
- Are you wavering more generally about school visits? Please schedule some, if finances allow. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from families (not my clients) who deeply regret not visiting before applying to schools. Students simply don’t know what they don’t know, and it’s super hard to figure out fit without at least a few visits. For instance, it’s difficult to envision what a 6,500-student school feels like, versus a 35,000-student one. Even a 2000 student school can seem big, if you are coming from a 500-student high school. It’s too late to shift gears after the application process is over – you don’t want to invest in applying to the wrong set of schools.
Applying to college is hard enough without making unforced errors. Taking advantage of opportunities like summer college visits can help you achieve your goals.
Do you have questions about the college admissions process? Reach out to set up a free consultation, or to see your question answered in a future column.
