Help My Child Plan a College Visit

Do I need this EduGuide?

Yes, if you are the parent of a high school student who wants to attend college. Planning a college visit is an important step toward helping your teen find the ideal college. Read on for ideas to make the most of a college tour.

How does it work?

Quizzes help you know where you stand.

• You know that your child needs to visit, but is now the right time? Answer this question by taking the “Is My Child Prepared for a College Visit?” quiz.

Articles give you background you need to make a decision.

• If neither you nor your child know exactly what to expect from a trip to campus or how a visit can help make a tough college decision easier, read “What College is Right for Me? Help Your Child Find Out through a College Visit” and “Real Life Story: How College Visits Helped One Student Find His Dream College” in which college student Earl Matthews explains the importance of college visits.

ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.

• “Choose the Type of College Visit That Works for Your Family” Read the pros and cons of four popular options.
• “Twenty Questions Your Child Should Ask During a College Visit (Plus Nine Questions You Should Ask)” Let your kid feel the embarrassment but ask the questions anyway.
• “Help Your Student Get More from a College Tour" Visit the restrooms and some other good tips.
• “Go Online for a Virtual College Tour” When you can’t leave home, you can still get a feel for a campus.
• “Ten Questions for Your Commuting Student to Ask on a College Visit” How to find out if a college is commuter friendly.

What will I learn from this EduGuide?

• What to expect from different types of college visits
• What questions you should ask during a college tour and what questions your child should ask
• How a personal visit can add an important dimension to your child’s college search
• Where to find Web sites that offer virtual tours of college campuses
• What questions commuter students should ask when they visit campus

Quick Solutions

• What can I do in fifteen minutes? Take the quiz, “Is My Child Prepared for a College Visit?” Read the ShortCut, “Choose the Type of College Visit that Works for You” and discuss what you learned with your child.
• What can I do in an hour? Sit down with your child and plan a spring break road trip or a couple of day trips to visit some of the colleges being considered. Discuss what qualities your child is looking for in a college.