With the majority of students on the internet, there are so many ways for students to find out information about colleges and universities at the click of a button. However, the significance of in-person college visits cannot be underestimated. Regardless of whether or not you plan to attend that college, an in-person visit can give you a new perspective that you cannot find on the internet.
One of the main advantages of in-person college visits is the opportunity to gather information about the campus’s atmosphere, explore facilities, and interact with current students and staff on campus. Walking through the campus grounds provides an understanding of the size of the school. In addition, students can access various facilities such as libraries, student centers, and sports facilities. Visiting these places can provide students with a clearer understanding of the places and resources available to them on campus and whether or not they think the facilities will match their academic interests. “You get a better feel for the campus, and you can really imagine yourself living there for the next four years. And I’m someone who’s big on atmospheres, so it helps,” senior Ava Loveland said.
You get a better feel for the campus, and you can really imagine yourself living there for the next four years. And I’m someone who’s big on atmospheres, so it helps.”
— Ava Loveland
With college visits being during the day, visitors can observe what daily life is like for students and get a sense of the pace and energy of campus life. You can also get a feel of what size college you want. Class size, in addition to campus size and number of students, can also really affect your learning ability. Depending on personal preference, seeing the size of the classroom can determine whether you can succeed in a big or small classroom. “I am someone who wants to be at a bigger school, so I think that being able to see how large the campus and student body is helps you gain perspective on the size of your classes. I don’t mind being in a classroom with a lot of people, but some people do, so being able to see what your learning environment will be like is worth it,” junior Midge Sanderson said.
In most cases, college tours are led by students who are currently attending the college that you are visiting. This gives the visitors a better understanding and feel for the campus because the guide can give you answers to any questions based on experiencing the campus in a way only students or alumni of the school can genuinely understand. “I think going in person can help you feel out the campus more, and you can get more of a perspective on the student body and see if you could see yourself fitting in there for envision yourself on campus,” senior Shale Hornig said.