Visiting colleges really does matter......
The internet is great. It's so easy to see a college through a virtual tour and get information. You see the campus, the buildings, students sitting in chairs in the library, maybe some of the streets around campus. But nothing, absolutely nothing, is the same as an actual walking tour of a college's campus.
Information sessions are important - you get the history of the school, options for majors, criteria for admission - things you could certainly learn from their website - but you also learn things you cannot glean anywhere else. My best piece of info came at a large state university session when the admission's director mentioned that the average number of SAT/ACT's of their applicants was 5 (and they superscore both). That information is nowhere. That information is really important. Another piece of info was at a small private school concerning rec letters. The admission's advisor suggested that the applicant ask the teacher WAY IN ADVANCE for the letter, as she had received a recommendation letter which began "I was just asked to write this letter yesterday, and it's due today, so I don't have much time or effort to put into this......" The admission's director shrugged when telling this story. I'm sure she's seen worse.
The most important reason, in my view, to actually visit campuses is to see the fit of the college, and to learn things you just can't learn from a website. When I visited a large university in the midwest every single female student dressed exactly the same - leggings, sneakers, t-shirts, winter coat (North Face). Every single one. No variation. Onto a large university in Texas - all female students were in oversized t-shirts, running-style shorts, sneakers. All of them. I'm not exaggerating. But onto a private college in south Florida. The students are eclectically dressed, appropriate for the climate, but all different, but most with expensive purses.
This is not a fashion blog. I'm not judging Lululemons versus shorts versus jeans. But when selecting a college, fit really does matter, and the choice of clothing reflects the student body. And if your student doesn't match the current student body at all, will they be happy at that school?
Go on the college tour when you're on the campus and look at the cafeteria carefully. If you're not there at a meal time go back. Are the students sitting together? Alone? What would your son or daughter be doing?
Talk to students on campus!!! The student that leads the tour is hired by the Admissions Office to give tours. These are pleasant students that give a packaged tour with packaged comments. They want to put on the best face of the college. After the tour, walk around on your own and find a few students to engage with. Ask THEM about the school, where they're from, why they chose this school, where else they considered, what their major is, can they get the classes they need. You might be surprised at how honest the answers are.
Go to the Student Union, or whatever building the student activities are mostly congregated in. Flyers will be posted for all sorts of things going on. Read them. If you're lucky tables will be out for clubs. See what's going on on campus.
What about the surrounding town? Is a car possible? Necessary? Expensive to park? Or insure? Is it safe? This will be especially important if the college does not guarantee housing for all 4 years.
Most of all, don't forget to take notes. Write down your thoughts about each college you visit, the pluses and minuses. Write down things in detail. You'd be surprised how quickly different colleges will blend together.