What age is best for college tours?

At what grade level should I start visiting colleges? Generally, it's recommended to start visiting colleges during your junior or senior year of high school. By then you should have a clearer idea of your interests and goals.

What grade should I start touring colleges?

You can start as early as your freshman year of high school and continue visits into your senior year. Because junior year is such a busy year, we recommend that if you haven't already started, that you begin visiting colleges at the end of sophomore year or the summer before junior year.

Do college tours increase chances of getting in?

Visits Show Demonstrated Interest

Colleges are eager to admit applicants who have done their research and are excited about the possibility to attend a specific school. Every university strives to maintain its yield rate or the number of accepted applicants who choose to enroll.

Should juniors go on college tours?

The College Board recommends spring of junior year as a good time to visit campuses for students who have already done the research on those colleges. College visits are a good use of downtime over spring break, as well.

Is sophomore year too early to visit colleges?

Sophomore year definitely isn't too early to start exploring colleges, especially if you're just trying to gain a better sense of what type of colleges you're interested in. It can be helpful to visit a variety of campuses (e.g., large vs. small, urban vs. rural) to get a feel for what you might prefer.

College Rankings: 5 Tiers of Colleges in the United States

What year do most colleges look at?

When you apply for college in the fall of your senior year, your junior year transcript will be the recent ones available to colleges. Your junior year grades are essential: it's the grade a college will look at most, along with your senior year. Your grades predetermine your academic performance for your final year.

Can sophomores take unofficial visits?

Athletes in most sports and their families are not allowed to arrange unofficial visits with a school's athletic department (including the coach) until August 1 of the athlete's junior year.

Should sophomores go on college tours?

Generally, it's recommended to start visiting colleges during your junior or senior year of high school. By then you should have a clearer idea of your interests and goals. The college visits will be more purposeful and allow you to assess how well each college aligns with your academic and personal goals.

Do parents go on college tours with their kids?

It is common and even expected that parents be part of visits to their children's prospective colleges. After all, someone needs to book the trip, be a chaperone for overnight visits and more.

Are college tours expensive?

In general, college tours are not expensive. They typically don't cost you or your child money. Colleges and universities generally offer free tours, free lunch on campus and more. However, it's the other expenses — hotel, airfare, gas and more — that can add up.

How long do college tours usually last?

How long are college tours? Most college tours will take between 60 and 90 minutes, but some are longer, especially personalized tours. The more time you spend on campus, the more you can experience the “vibe” and discover if it's right for you.

Do colleges know if you tour?

While visiting college campuses allows students to gain perspective on what kind of college environment they are looking for, it also helps applicants highlight their interest in prospective colleges, showcasing what is known as “demonstrated interest.” Many colleges and universities will keep track of demonstrated ...

Do colleges know if you took a tour?

When you reach the campus for a scheduled tour, there will be a check-in somewhere to confirm your attendance. Some applications have space to indicate your interactions with the university like how you got to know about them, information sessions you've attended, and campus tours.

What year GPA do colleges look at?

Your first year and sophomore year affect your cumulative GPA, which is important to most colleges. However, a solid academic record in your junior year is likely to carry more importance with an admissions committee.

What should a high school student wear to a college tour?

Be Presentable

While most college visits do not require you to dress out of the ordinary, you should still look presentable if you seriously plan to attend. Make sure your clothes are clean, stain-free, and not wrinkled. Your outfit should still be appropriate even if it's casual.

Do colleges do campus tours in summer?

Make no mistake: campus life after classes let out will be different from other times of the year. However, you can still meet college students during a university tour that takes place in the summer. That's because most colleges offer programs that keep college students around campus all year.

What should a parent wear to a college tour?

For parents, you are not required to dress professionally – meaning you are not obligated to wear a suit and tie or a business suit or business dress. You do not want to stand out in the middle of the crowd and have all the attention around you.

Are campus tours worth it?

Yes, it's worth your time to take collegiate trips. Looking at a college's website and reading pamphlets can only provide you with limited information. When you visit a college, you get to absorb the atmosphere on campus and hear firsthand impressions from the students themselves.

How often should my parents visit me in college?

Don't Visit Too Often

If your student happens to attend a school that's not too far away, you will likely be tempted to visit frequently. Limit your visits to not more than one per month and, when you do visit, ask what they would like to do.

How important are college tours?

Visiting different campuses is an essential step in your college search process. Not only will it help you become familiar with the colleges you're most interested in, but it will also help you get a better understanding of what types of schools are the best fit for your unique needs.

Do people dress up for college tours?

Most of the time, dressing for a college tour is a casual affair. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the best way to go about it—comfort and classiness are key.

Should you bring anything to a college tour?

There are three essential items you must take on all college tours according to Crum—an umbrella, a bottle of water, and comfortable shoes. “You'll want to be as comfortable as possible,” she says. “Your view of a school can be totally skewed if you're grumpy, hot, thirsty or wet.”

Do official visits paid for parents?

What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit? Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits.

Are unofficial visits worth it?

It is a great opportunity to assess a college, and could be a necessary alternative if an official visit is not offered to you. Despite the unlimited number of unofficial visits allowed, do not waste your time, or your parents' time. When deciding what school(s) to visit, make sure it can benefit your recruitment.

What do you wear to an unofficial college visit?

If you're going on an unofficial visit, definitely avoid wearing anything that might be considered offensive, polarizing or unprofessional. Before going on an unofficial visit, it's a good idea to bring some athletic clothes along with you just in case the team invites you to work out with them.