Why You Should Encourage Your Students to Take College Visits?
As a counselor guiding high school students through the college selection process, one of the most impactful recommendations you can offer is encouraging them to take college visits. These visits provide students with a firsthand look at campus life, helping them gain a clearer, more authentic sense of what their college experience could be like beyond what they see in brochures or online.
You may be wondering why I’m stressing the importance of a college visit before applying. The answer is simple; it helps students determine if a college is truly the right fit for them. Are you curious about the impact a campus tour can have on this decision-making process? Keep reading to find out!

A college visit is a guided tour to a college or university where prospective students and their families can explore the campus, facilities, and surrounding areas. Let’s explore how it can be beneficial for high school students before applying:
- Experience of campus life: When a student is considering a college or university for their higher education, it’s essential to experience the campus in person. Photos and virtual tours can’t fully capture the atmosphere as visiting in person can. During their college visits, students get a firsthand look at campus life, see how students interact, discover the best dining spots, gauge how long it takes to walk between classes, and learn more about academic programs. This will help them to get a better sense of the environment and determine if it’s the right fit for them.
- Opportunity to explore the campus facilities: College visits are an excellent way to explore the facilities available to students, such as libraries, sports halls, dining halls, recreational areas, and more. They provide a valuable opportunity to know about the resources they will have access to when they become students at the college.
- Chance to connect with experts and faculty: College visits provide students with the opportunity to interact with admissions counselors, where they can ask questions about the application process, required standardized tests, deadlines, and how to apply for financial aid. Additionally, these visits offer a chance to connect with faculty members, which can help students understand the accessibility of professors for one-on-one meetings, their willingness to guide students in career development, and the overall level of academic support available. These visits also offer an opportunity to begin building a professional network. Furthermore, students can connect with current students to gain insight into what it’s truly like to be a college student.
- An opportunity to check college accommodation: For students who are planning to live in campus accommodation, the campus tour is the perfect time to check out the dormitories, rooms, and common areas. They can also get a sense of the accommodation facilities available on campus.
When Should Students Visit College Campus?
Ideally, students should go for college visits in fall or spring. Spring is best when they are planning early decisions and fall visits can be done before college application. Students must avoid visiting the college campus during winter, spring, or summer breaks if they really want to experience the vibe of the campus.
How Can Campus Tour Help in Choosing the Right College?
If students skip visiting a college campus and later find that it doesn’t align with their preferences, they risk making a decision that could lead to significant challenges. This may result in transferring to a different college, which can disrupt academic progress and extend the time needed to graduate. The upheaval in student life; adjusting to a new environment, forming new social connections, and navigating an unfamiliar campus can be stressful and negatively impact the overall experience. Additionally, the financial implications of changing schools or taking longer to complete a degree can create unnecessary burdens, both in terms of tuition and other expenses.
For these reasons, it is highly advisable to visit colleges before applying. Doing so allows students to get a feel for the campus culture, explore facilities and accommodations, and have all their questions about admissions and college life answered. This experience plays a crucial role in helping students determine whether a college is the right fit for them. With a clearer understanding of what each college offers, students can make a more informed decision about where to apply. Undoubtedly, campus visits are one of the most valuable ways to assess whether a college is the right choice.
But before finalizing their decision, it’s better to check the cost of attending the college and scholarships offered by the college. To guide students through this process, you can use Top5 Colleges tool. It is an effective college comparison tool that simplifies the college exploration journey for students, families, and counselors by estimating and comparing scholarships and out-of-pocket costs from over 1,600 colleges, all in one place. You can help your students find and compare college costs and scholarships of multiple colleges side by side.