In the past, we’ve written blog posts about both the positives and negatives of touring colleges during the summer. If you’re too lazy to click the links, here’s a short version: Benefits include a more laid-back time table and opportunities to do non-college activities during the trip, and the deficits are related to the fact that a lot of students won’t be on campus when you’re there.
But what about this summer? Our clients and blog readers, especially Juniors, are eager to dedicate their spring breaks and summers to seeing the schools that are currently topping their school lists. With that being said, we still don’t know what this summer is going to look like given that we’re still living through a pandemic.
We’ve been having this conversation with most of our clients, and we get it. Truly. College tours have long been a part of the application process, so we understand why it’s hard for high school students to move forward without them. Ultimately, the choice is entirely yours. But we do think it’s important to manage expectations before you go. Keep reading for our tips:
Do:
Research the school before you go. This is the best way to ensure that your travels will be worth your time. If you’re going in blind, you won’t know what to look for. Go to the homepage of your school of interest and research their academic programs, special offerings, and extracurricular activities. Then, do some digging on the undergraduate population and surrounding areas. If your heart is still set on seeing campus in person, that might be a sign to go. '
Expect to be a little bored. Sad but true. This summer, tours will be replaced with walking around campus with your family. Wear sneakers and take in the sights, but don’t expect to walk away with that love at first sight feeling we know you’re chasing.
Contact the school before you go. You should absolutely ensure that you’ll be able to walk around (at the very least) and that the campus is open for visitors.
Don’t:
Expect to figure everything out during your tour. A lot of college students are opting to do distance learning from home, and even less will be there during the summer. This is tricky because while tours are semi-helpful, the best way to get to know the school is by talking to current students.
Completely cross a school off of your list just because the tour didn’t give you butterflies. This is why it’s so important to manage your expectations before you go. The liveliest campus on earth might fall flat during Covid.
Feel bad if you can’t swing a visit. Sign up for virtual tours, email the admissions office with your questions, and do what you can to get into contact with current students. Not touring might be a bummer, but it’s not the end of the world!
We feel for those students who were looking forward to touring colleges and are now not sure if they’ll be able to. Our goal with this blog post was to lay out and pros and cons and let our blog readers decide what’s best. Never underestimate the power of doing research online and networking with current students, and please don’t risk your health (or the well-being of your family) to see Michigan’s campus. Best of luck with your search!
Get in touch with us here if you need help figuring out where to start.