A few years ago, I wrote an article for Smart College Visit about the importance of the college visit: Don’t Pick a College Sight Unseen:
As a parent of two kids who attended college, I learned a very valuable lesson: never pick a college sight unseen. The rules that apply to any major purchase are even more important when making the decision to invest thousands of dollars on a college education. You would never buy a car without test-driving it, or move into a home without taking a walk through and getting a home inspection. Based on my experience with both my kids, I can tell you that your teen should never accept admission to a college without getting a feel for the campus and campus life.
You can read the entire story about my kids and how the visit made all the difference here.
Added to that, I would urge you make a college visit BEFORE applying to any college. That’s why I was excited to be invited to participate in a chat hosted by U.S. News and Education.
On Thursday, June 5, U.S. News Education will host a Twitter chat to help parents and students make the most of college visits. The chat will cover a range of topics, including how to prepare for a college tour, questions to ask on campus and how the experience can shape the college application process.
Who: U.S News Education will moderate a panel of college visit experts, including admissions staff from Boston College (@BostonCollege) and Ohio State University (@futurebuckeyes), Z. Kelly Queijo, CEO of Smart College Visit (@collegevisit), and me (@suzanneshaffer).
What: A Twitter chat on college visits. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #CollegeVisit.
Where: http://tweetchat.com/room/collegevisit
Why: Campus visits are an important step in finding the right college fit, and both parents and students can benefit from seeing a school in person.
While resources like the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings can offer data about a school, interacting with current students and staff members is one of the best ways to gauge whether a college is a potential match. This chat will provide parents and students with tips from experts to make the most out of the college visit experience.