If you are a student looking around at colleges or a parent going through the college application process with your child, chances are you have searched for information on a number of colleges and universities online. While statistics and student testimonials on the Internet are definitely helpful, there is also another very important aspect of a college campus that cannot be captured through a brochure or a well-designed website: the feel of the campus and surrounding area. To learn about the atmosphere of a university and its surroundings, a college visit can prove to be helpful and can even end up being the decision-making factor in selecting a college to attend.

When planning a visit to a college campus, be sure to research the campus online and consider things that would be important or relevant to visit. You should definitely prioritize the campus tour offered by admissions offices, but make sure to explore the campus beyond just this simple tour. Consider looking to see if there are tours of labs, rehearsal spaces, or other places on campus that your student would be using on a regular basis. See if there are any relevant classes that your student would be able to drop in on during their visit or if there are any students or professors that would be willing to tell the student more about the university from their perspective. Check out what on and off-campus housing, dining, and parking options are. Additionally, consider the safety factor – does your student feel safe and secure walking on and around this campus?

At the end of the day, a campus visit is helpful to get the feel of a school and see if the college or university is a place that the student would feel safe and comfortable and would have opportunities to thrive. If at all possible, visit colleges and universities that your student is seriously interested in applying to or attending. Beyond the admissions tours, explore the campus and surrounding areas and get a feel for what the environment of the university is.