<p>I only visited one of the colleges to which I applied before I sent in my applications. Although it’d definitely be easier to visit the colleges, all is not lost if you don’t (I visited the aforementioned college in the 8th grade anyway, during a family holiday to Boston. I never thought I’d ever apply). Here are just a few tips at choosing colleges without visiting:</p>
<p>1) Look at what you want to get out of college. What sort of peers do you want? Will extra curriculars be a big thing?
2) Talk to current students, and maybe even go to google blogsearch to find some candid opinions of the college.
3) Look at which colleges would match your financial situation. That should narrow down the list a lot.
4) Think about what sort of setting you want. How do you feel in small country towns? Do you prefer an urban environment? Even if you can’t exactly visit the colleges, you can look at how you feel in these different settings…
5) How close to home do you want to be?
6) Look at photographs of the colleges. Don’t just look at the photos taken by the university, but look at photos taken by other visitors. These should give an honest portrayal of what it looks like…
7) Consider special programs.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what to suggest about sending in more applications - I would recommend one safety that you’d be delighted to attend, so look into the above factors when choosing this school (special programs often make a huge difference). If you can’t visit colleges before you apply, try to visit once you get in. I personally couldn’t, but once you get in, you’re bombarded with a wealth of resources. Use these! Join the facebook groups for the different classes and talk to people. Look at the materials that the schools send you, but don’t take them too seriously. Good luck!</p>