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Question:
Is it worth visiting colleges during the summer? Aren’t most college kids off during the summer? And will we be getting a real sense of the college?
James R Chicago, IL

Answer:
Visit! You’re right: many colleges have far-fewer kids on campuses during the summer. In fact, many colleges run profitable athletic and academic “enrichment” programs for high school students over the summer.

But there will be some college kids on campus – obviously the kids walking backwards running your tours. And while it is usually much better for your son or daughter to see actual college students (and not what they’ll no doubt refer to as high school dweebs) on campus, they will at least meet some.

One real plus of summer visits is that some colleges only conduct personal interviews during the summer months. That’s because admissions officers are usually on the road in the fall, visiting high schools. So check ahead and see if the colleges you’re considering will schedule an interview.

Remember too that the most important piece of the college admission process is academic success. So running around all fall looking at colleges may not be in your best interest. In fact, many high schools have policies about missing class time in the fall. We recommend revisiting just one or two of your top choices in the fall. (This is especially important if you are thinking about applying early).

It always amazed us when taking college tours how quickly our kids assessed – and how judgmental they were – when visiting a campus. They seemed to have a special sense about whether they would fit in on that particular campus. Sometimes we had barely gotten out of the car when they said, “Let’s get out of here.”

So a summer visit is far better than no visit.

Question:
We visited several colleges over spring break. My son hated the tour guide at one of the schools we (and his guidance counselor) thought would be a perfect fit. Now what?
Jane K Burlington, Vt.

Answer:
Welcome to the bizarre world of college visits. The college students who conduct the tours will have an enormous impact – whether fairly or not – on your child’s perception of a college. You may be visiting your alma mater; or your child may be setting foot on the campus she has always dreamed of; and they can be turned off completely by the tour guide.

There is no easy remedy to this inevitable problem. It is going to happen. And the school that either you or your child thought was the perfect fit may be thrown into the discard pile. Unless you’re prepared for the War of the Roses, don’t dismiss your kid’s first impression. Tour guides often convey their personal biases or agendas during the tour. Sometimes it is intentional; often it is not. But you’ll hear comments that are anti-athletic or anti-arts; pro-Greek life and anti-frat. Mike — our resident counselor — always tells students beforehand to not judge a school by the tour guide.

Our recommendation is keep visiting schools. The more places you visit – even if you are unlikely to apply to a particular place – the better frame of reference you and you son will have. If, after seeing more colleges, you (and his guidance counselor) still think that first college is a good fit, you should probably suggest visiting it one last time.
But be forewarned: choosing a college is about 80% your son’s choice and 20% everyone else’s.