Columbus Day college visits

Columbus Day weekend is a great time for high school seniors to fit in a college visit, if there is any energy left after taking the SAT’s for the third time! To help prepare you, check out my posts on Tips for College Trips, Colleges South of the Northeast Corridor, Colleges of the Midwest, and Go West, Young Freshman!

Your senior may have a different take on campus visits now, because his preferences have evolved. Go with the flow: be ready to respond to college list changes he may make. The list may shrink, or schools may be added. Your senior may not want to visit at all on fall break, due to college trip burnout, heavy course load, or feeling behind in applications. Every situation differs, but encourage your teen to visit every school to which he applies. Colleges expect applicants to visit, it’s impossible to write the “Why University of X?” essay without visiting, and—how can he decide if it’s a good match without setting foot on campus?

Should  juniors visit a college on fall break? They are not officially introduced to the college process in school until January. However, to help your junior formulate ideas of what she may want in a college, do a drive-through (perhaps a New England college on a family foliage outing). It helps kids to have “fodder” for their imagination, to envision what college might be like.