Summer visits-where are you headed, any tips?
drewsmom17
311 replies10 threads Member
We are touring several colleges this summer and wanted to see where everyone else is going. I know it’s not an ideal time but long distances and a teaching schedule means this is our best option.
Any tips for touring in summer, experiences to share? I figure we’ll need sunscreen and water!
We are headed up the East Coast from SC to NY then down and across the Midwest back to NE.
290 replies Any tips for touring in summer, experiences to share? I figure we’ll need sunscreen and water!
We are headed up the East Coast from SC to NY then down and across the Midwest back to NE.
Replies to: Summer visits-where are you headed, any tips?
Call ahead and make sure there are tours available. Some schools go on a very limited schedule in the summer. If there is nothing officially available, ask if there are self guided tour options.
Don't try to squeeze in more than one school/day. We tried to do general tours in the morning, eat in the dining halls (if open), and then do a major specific tour in the afternoon.
Try to arrange a meeting with a professor if possible. My daughter found those very helpful.
Encourage your child to write down the pros/cons after each visit so they will remember the details, because if you are doing a lot of visits, schools can start to blur together.
On a more practical note - bring good walking shoes and an umbrella.
Enjoy!
Explore the area around to see where the students would hang out.
TRIPLE CHECK WHEN THEY HAVE TOURS BEFORE PLANNING. Some of them only do specific trips on certain days, etc. Some major or department specific tours may only be once a week.
Check out the area around the school more in depth for sure. Since it's summer, you may be able to spend a little more time than usual. Check store hours, try out the transit available, try driving to the nearest grocery store, mall, etc.
Since you are going in summer, be aware of the shortcomings in doing so and judge accordingly. The students on campus could be high school kids or others that aren't the real students during the academic year. Landscaping might be a little more tired in the summer heat.
Regardless of the time of year, we always had a cooler in the back of the car full of cold drinks and snacks. Traveling in the summer heat, those cold drinks will keep you refreshed.
We always tried to have a meal close by campus at some spot friendly to the student budget like some Thai or a Pho joint. Then some ice cream or a local pastry shop. It was a good way to scope out amenities near campus.
Let us know what colleges you are visiting and folks here can give you some more specific tips.
Most of these are the only tour that day and include an overnight stay to see the area. Most tours have been scheduled through school website.
NC State
U of Del
Lehigh
RPI
Syracuse-drive through on Sat after RPI
RIT -side trip to Niagara on Sunday before tour on Monday
Case Western
OH State
U if I/Urbana-drive through, he does not feel worthy of touring and saying he wants CS
He wanted to see Stony Brook but I just couldn’t fit that drive in with their schedule.
Good tip on umbrella! I need to remember to pack that. I am happy for any recommendations for things to do and see. He is a big fan of burgers and has been checking best places.
At Lehigh you can schedule an admissions interview in the summer as well.
Don’t drive in the mornings for a tour the same day...get there the night before. That way..you won’t feel rushed in the morning.
In general, any dead time when school isn't in session doesn't reveal the vibe on campus, the interactions in coffee houses, classrooms, dorms, and other spaces.
This said, you have to make do with the opportunities you have. If you hope to have your student meet with faculty, try to arrange in advance. Otherwise, make admissions office your first destination, for printed information, tours, advice about what to see and how to see it, and to "check in" (leave a marker -- your name, address, email).
I do worry that he won’t get the whole picture without seeing it during the school year. If needed, we’ll fly out during the year to any final options. For the most part, we will drive in the day before the visit. Lehigh is an exception because my brother lives in Philly.
@wis75 lol we live in NE state and have been making this drive since he was 4. I want him to go east!!! We will probably make him apply to UNL as a safety but he does not see his interest area in their program or career taking place here. He has MN and WI on his list and we’ll get to those during family visits to St. Paul and Chicago later. We visited MI State, his former fav, but he’s not sure about it anymore and doesn’t think U of MI will be a financial fit.
OOS for Wisconsin...$50,000 a year.
OOS for Minnesota 40,000 a year.
Michigan is $62,000 but do you qualify for need based aid? They don’t guarantee to meet full need for all OOS students, but are moving closer to that! Maybe it would work financially if you qualify for need based aid.
At most schools, the admissions department will have a list of good local eateries. One that was recommended on a summer tour is now a regular stop of ours on northbound trips. And I totally agree that it's less stressful if you stay the night before wherever you are touring in the morning. Much less stressful!
Many LACs and small universities will fell pretty quiet and hard to differentiate during the summer -especially because they will be very quiet with no extracurricular activities there or maybe summer camp programs - so just pay attention
You are going to plan and plan and drive/fly and at some point you will arrive at a campus where you will say WOW and you kid will say "I dont even need to get out of the car here" Do not freak out and start saying I took all this time out and ... - no kid have ever changed his or her mind in the situation.
I suggest " I hear you but we are here anyway - let's grab a quick lunch and get out of here and move on (maybe they want to explore more after lunch but this is highly unlikely) and then enjoy the next place.
Don't say WE are looking at blah blah blah college - your child is going and your just a driver/guide - I dont know if you said those things I just remind everyone
My kids would never, ever, refuse to get out of the car if I'd driven several hours to get somewhere! Because I wasn't just the driver, I was/am a person and I was entitled to get out and go to the bathroom.
For those of you going to southern tours, plan to go on tours early in the day. It's HOT. No matter where you are, it is HOT. Every school we looked at was HOT.