BY JULIE YOUNG

Even if your high schooler is years away from the application process, it’s never too early to schedule a college visit. Not only will it help your son or daughter visualize what the post-secondary educational experience is like, but it also allows them to explore their options and determine how they might fit into the various campus communities. 

College visits can be formal or informal, have individualized or group components, be conducted over a day, or include an overnight stay. During your first college visit, you and the prospective student can expect to attend an informal session hosted by a member of the admissions staff. You will also take
a guided campus tour led by a current student, who will show you the various amenities the school offers, including the dormitories, fitness center, dining hall, and student union. 

Some colleges can arrange for your student to meet with a professor in their field of study, a coach (if they plan to play a sport), and an admissions counselor who will walk them through the application process and what the school is looking for in a student. You may also have the opportunity to sit in on a class or meet with someone in the financial aid office to get a sense of the costs associated with that school. 

A college visit is a great way to start the conversation about your student’s goals and dreams, as well as how to achieve them. Even if it is a few years down the line, you will be planting seeds and making memories that will last a lifetime.