For many families, college visits are a key step in helping students choose the right path after high school. Whether your teen has a dream school in mind or is still exploring options, a well-planned college visit can make a world of difference. As a parent, your role in this process is important—but it's all about balancing your interest and your student's initiative.
Here’s how you can help your student get the most out of every college visit.
1. Do Your Homework Before the Trip
Before setting foot on campus, encourage your teen to dive into research. This means more than just skimming the homepage of a college website. Have them explore academic programs, extracurricular offerings, and the school's culture through its website and social media. Help them brainstorm questions they want answered during the visit—this prep work not only shows genuine interest but ensures they leave with the answers they need to make an informed decision.
2. Choose the Right Time to Visit
Timing is everything. While it might be tempting to plan visits during summer vacation for convenience, those months don’t always show the campus in its true light. Many students are away, and the energy of campus life is hard to gauge. Whenever possible, visit while classes are in session—ideally in junior year when students are refining their college list. This way, your teen can interact with current students and professors, sit in on classes, and really get a feel for the environment they’d be stepping into.
3. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
One of the most common mistakes families make is trying to squeeze too many visits into a single day. Seeing four or five schools in one go might seem efficient, but it often leads to fatigue and blurred impressions. Instead, aim for two visits per day. This gives your student the chance to absorb the experience, reflect on what they learned, and engage meaningfully with the campus community.
4. Ask the Right Questions—and Encourage Your Teen to Do the Asking
Campus tours and info sessions are great, but they shouldn’t be passive experiences. Help your student come up with a list of thoughtful questions tailored to their priorities—whether that's academic programs, dorm life, diversity on campus, or career outcomes. And remember, it's important that they do the asking. Not only does this show demonstrated interest (something colleges often track), but it also helps your teen take ownership of their journey.
5. Go Beyond the Tour
Tours are helpful, but they’re also curated. Encourage your teen to explore campus independently. Grab a coffee in the student union. Observe how students interact between classes. Wander through academic buildings, libraries, dorms, and dining halls. If possible, explore the surrounding neighborhood as well—after all, your student won’t just live on campus. Is the area safe? Is there access to public transportation? Are there fun places to unwind on weekends?
6. Encourage Networking and Making Connections
During the visit, your student should try to chat with current students—especially those studying in their intended major. Gathering firsthand opinions can provide unfiltered insights, and even future connections.
Another valuable but often overlooked part of the visit is networking. Help your student connect with admissions officers before the visit by sending a polite email introducing themselves and expressing their excitement about the trip. Ask admissions if they could assist in setting up an office chat with faculty in your student’s intended major. And after your visit, your student should email them a thank-you note.
8. Know Your Story
Before campus visits, help your student craft a brief personal story—2–3 sentences that highlight who they are, what they’re passionate about, and why they’re interested in that college. This prepares them to confidently connect with admissions officers, professors, and current students, and positions them as thoughtful, prepared applicants.
9. Reflect and Record
Encourage your teen to jot down impressions immediately after each visit. (I encourage recording voice memos during the visit, too.) What stood out? How did they feel walking around campus? Could they see themselves living there for four years? These notes will be essential later on when comparing schools. Photos can also jog their memory—especially after multiple visits when campuses can start to blur together.
10. Let Your Student Lead
Perhaps the hardest part for many parents: stepping back. It’s tempting to take notes, ask all the questions, and steer the conversation, but college is your student’s next big step. Let them lead the visit, take notes, and ask the questions. Your role is to support and guide, not drive the experience.
Final Thoughts
College visits are more than just a checklist item—they’re about helping your teen figure out where they’ll thrive. By planning ahead, asking smart questions, and encouraging them to engage with the campus and community, you’re setting them up to make one of the biggest decisions of their young adult life.
I have two helpful checklists for you to take on your college visits. Be in touch: I’d be pleased to share them with you at no obligation.