7 Ways to Make College Visits More Cost-Effective

College visits are a great way to explore the campus environment, meet with the appropriate departments and service providers, and investigate the community, but with over 2,500 four-year colleges and universities across the U.S, it is impossible to check them all out. Many families have found that college visits have become surprisingly expensive and time-consuming. What are some smart and efficient ways a family can select campus visits, while being cost-effective?

1. Establish what you can about your family’s criteria for college selection before you choose the colleges to visit.
   Top criteria should include cultural / environmental fit, appropriate college majors for career aspirations, reasonable likelihood of admission, and an eye on your finances and the types of assistance that may be available.
2. Visit college websites and familiarize yourself with the different departments and campus facilities before you go.
   Remember admission criteria may vary by department. Some colleges offer virtual, video or photo tours. Make notes on offices or departments you want to make sure to visit. Print out directions to campus and campus maps, especially those indicating visitor parking lots.
3. Start your visits with a school close to home.
   Get practice and make mistakes early, so when investing more money to visit schools at a greater distance you will be more knowledgeable about what to ask and who to see. If you overlook something at a local college, it’s easy to return to campus to meet with someone missed the first time around. Treat the community college the same as any other campus visit.
4. Call ahead to schedule appointments with admissions counselors, arrange campus tours, or to sit in on classes.
   We highly recommend that you meet faculty of the department or major you are selecting. Make sure the students will be on campus when you schedule your visit. Come prepared with questions and let your student take the lead as much as possible. Send thank you notes or emails to all who meet with you.
5. Create a map of the schools you are considering and interesting places or activities nearby.
   Plan a trip(s) combining family vacations with college visits to make this task more efficient and cost-effective. If you have younger children, they get a general preview of being on a campus, but don’t include them in all the visits or appointments.
6. Learn more about the campus and community, before and after your visit.
   Bookmark the campus and local newspapers on your home computer. If the campus is small and their newspaper is not online, then pick up a copy during your visit.
7. Get organized.
   Set up a notebook with all your information. Take notes at meetings and record impressions. Use a camera during each visit. If you visit several colleges over time, it’s easy to confuse them. Evaluate how your options compare to the criteria you initially selected.