By Cliff & Sami Kramon
Independent College Advisors

High school guidance counselors are forever urging their students to go out and visit prospective colleges. Viewbooks, course catalogs, and guide books are all helpful, but actually walking the campus, listening to students, and checking out the surrounding neighborhood is the best way to develop a feel for each school.

Timing of your college visit

Although summer might be the most convenient time to make such excursions, it is the worst time to experience a college; most smaller schools are not in session, so students and classes are absent. Dorm rooms are empty and devoid of all personal touches, making it difficult to envision oneself there. Bulletin boards, usually so revealing of the cultural and social opportunities of the college, are bare. The campus grounds, on the other hand, look neater and cleaner than they will look again the entire year.

Try and visit a campus while school is in full swing to get an accurate picture of everyday college life.

What you should try to get out of the tour

A college tour gives you a chance to see what is on the campus, what condition it is in, and what is missing. Is there a student center? Are there enough computer terminals scattered around campus? How are the dorms kept up? Is the library adequate? Check out the physical education facilities. Are the playing fields a part of the campus or a distance away? Where are the dorms in relation to the main academic b...

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