Frequently, when I talk to family members who have spent time and money visiting campuses, their main impressions are limited to the architecture of the buildings and food court menus. Let's do better!
Underwrite the campus for cost and admission with your student first - This is an opportunity to teach your student how to be a good consumer. See how to underwrite a school with data.
Know your budget and stick to it
Run each school's net price calculator
Understand your student's academic profile and avoid unrealistic expectations
Identify "must-have" criterion - Thinking beyond location and size helps students become more introspective.
Require student research - Keep it simple and ask your student to select a few "must-have" criteria and enter those keywords into the school's search engine. Underwriting the school first for cost and admission makes adding more filters to research manageable.
Schedule the visit - Schools offer self-guided and guided tours. Pick whichever style you are comfortable with, and consider any special days that provide further access to your student's program of study—book well in advance, particularly if you are visiting during peak periods. Make a list of items you can't determine other than on campus. For example, if most students move out of dorms after freshman year, they need to know where off-campus housing is located and do some drive-bys.
Make a purposeful list - Make a list of criteria you can't find online to get information while you are there.
Running out of time or in need of guidance? We are here to assist.
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