Visiting Colleges With Your Teen

We are in the calm before the storm. We are visiting colleges, but the application process looms a few months down the road.

So far, the visiting process has proven a good way to see different schools but, more importantly, to see how my son reacts to different places where he will spend four, very important years of his life. We have done these visits in different stages.

What the heck, a summer afternoon: When he was entering his sophomore year, we traveled to my alma mater, about an hour away, for a tour and information session. Then we had lunch and drove home. This was a great way for him to be on a college campus and see what the info session-tour is like, with absolutely no pressure about whether he would even apply to the school. Hearing the short introductions of the other students in the room (mostly a grade or two ahead) also gave him an idea of how students are preparing to apply when the time comes.

Campus drive-throughs: Our next level was a visit to several campuses over Thanksgiving break. One huge drawback was that school was not in session, although the bookstore and student union were open at a few schools. However, the purpose was to see different types of campuses: in a "college town," in a city; large, small; public, private. He was able to realize that he did not want a real urban campus or be too tucked away in a rural area. That has helped him narrow his choices.

Scheduled tours: Now that he is finishing his junior year, we are getting more focused. We recently flew to two cities where there are schools that he identified as top choices through Web research, college fairs, and visits to our city by admissions representatives. One offered an interview, which he took advantage of. Wonder of wonders, he prepared for the interview and wrote his thank-you notes afterwards with minimal parental nagging.

Final looks: Our next step, which we have not yet encountered, will be visits to as many of the schools that he actually applies to as our schedule allows. (The life of a high-schooler is tremendously busy with school, sports, etc.) And, hopefully, the final step will be the special session next spring for admitted students at his first choice!