college visits

[Lager]

Did you guys visit colleges you are interested in attending over the summer or is that pointless? How long are the tours on average?

 

[JetBlack69]

I visited the University of Minnesota campus. It was a few hours if I remember correctly. I did not tour the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus, but that's where I am.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: coldcut
Did you guys visit colleges you are interested in attending over the summer or is that pointless? How long are the tours on average?

I made absolutely no college visits. The only day I visited before starting classes was Day on Campus at which I registered for classes, took placement tests, and walked around campus.

 

[Pokey007]

College visits are really crucial to making the decision. Tours usually last an hour, but then people wander around on their own after that. I'd recommend going during the school year if you can, the feel on campus between the school year and summer is very different.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Pokey007
College visits are really crucial to making the decision. Tours usually last an hour, but then people wander around on their own after that. I'd recommend going during the school year if you can, the feel on campus between the school year and summer is very different.

Agreed, if you can go during the school year. It will give you a more accurate impression of the campus (plus it counts for an excused absence in HS I believe).

 

[Rufio]

they are important so you can see how many hot chicks you won't be scoring with.

 

[pyonir]

I only wanted to go to one school and i toured it when i was in Junior High on a field trip. So i guess i didn't do any tours.

 

[Corporate Thug]

it is quite helpful if you are not sure

 

[hdeck]

i came to UT once b4 i started classes and that was just in passing.

 

[GregGreen]

they are important but after you go to enough of them they all blend into each other

 

[fizmeister]

No, but I should have. It's definitely worth it to get the college feel (unless you're visiting Princeton, which is dead during the summer).

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: dparker

Originally posted by: Pokey007
College visits are really crucial to making the decision. Tours usually last an hour, but then people wander around on their own after that. I'd recommend going during the school year if you can, the feel on campus between the school year and summer is very different.

Agreed, if you can go during the school year. It will give you a more accurate impression of the campus (plus it counts for an excused absence in HS I believe).

Yep, second all this. And after the tour, send mom & dad off to lunch, and wander the campus, academic buildings, & dorms by yourself. Try not to look like a H.S. geek. That's how you'll get a feel for things. Especially hit the academic building that house the departments you might major in to see what's going on ... what kind of displays, projects, groups etc. that they have.

 

[LS20]

nah, i already knew where i wanted to go

 

[da loser]

I never saw the point, ok wow you see a bunch of people and buildings, so what, college is big i'm sure if you'll find friends in college. but i guess it depends when you're choosing between smaller schools that might not offer something. otherwise looking online and comparing classes would be more informative. also i would talk to someone taking your major/e-mail the major club at the school and see what they b1tch about.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I went to my preview, and got drunk that weekend.

 

[dighn]

i knew where i wanted to go so i didn't bother. my friend did go and did help me find my way on my first day so i guess it's good

 

[WhiteKnight]

Do the tour and everything if you want, but I think that the real atmosphere is much more important. Go to the library with a cup of coffee, check out the athletic center, sit on a bench on a quad when classes change. Can you see yourself there for (at least) four years? Often schools within a tier have negligible differences in terms of academic quality unless you are selecting a school specifically for it's strength in a particular department. It's much more important to find something that clicks with you. So anyway, long answer to a short question, but my answer is yes, if you can, definitely visit.