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  Get Into College—The College Visit
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   The College VisitFinancial Aid
- Need-based vs need-blind
- What you want is not always what you get
- Building your aid package
- Where to learn more
What Happens Next?
- Awaiting admissions decision
- Waitlisted
- Time to reflect
Transfers
Taking a Year Off
International Students
List of all USA Colleges
 Join the Admissions Guide Advisor forums to share your experiences and questions about how to get into college!
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Seeing is Believing
What is more important than actually seeing and experiencing the place you would be for the next 4 years of your life? That is why, whenever possible, it is highly recommended to schedule a visit to the colleges you are interested in.
The campus visit
Campus visits will probably be the most important part of your college selection process; so you want to be sure you know what you are doing and why you are doing it.
Remember how I said previously that no one should touch any part of the application process but you? Again, YOU should be e-mailing the college representative to schedule a college visit. Not your parents, or guidance counselors. Certain colleges track interests, and personally making an appointment will definitely work in your favor.
Whom and what to see when you visit
Know what you are going to do when you visit. The main purpose of the visit is to give you an idea of the place that you will spend for the next 4 years. This again boils down to matchmaking. You are looking for a college environment to your liking. Once again, collect data with an objective and open mind. In other words, don't pre-judge a school before you visit, just because you have your mind set on another school.
As you observe campus life and cultures for your eventual judgment of the school, look for common threads of what you like or don't like about the place. Were the students friendly? Were they helpful in answering and addressing your concerns? What do conversations at the lunch table mainly revolve around?
Organize, organize, organize
At this point of life you simply cannot afford to be in disarray anymore. You may want to try to come up with a simple checklist to record what you have seen and experienced at each school that you visit.
Some of the questions you may want to put on the checklist are:
 What is most important to look for in this campus?What is the academic atmosphere like? What do I love about this place?What do I dislike about this place?What are the students’ general views of this place? How many are unhappy with their choice of school and why?How will I feel academically here? Whole-day study?What’s it like according to my peers? What’s it like according to students on-campus? Most importantly, what’s it like according to ME?Can I fit in? If you have the time and commitment, it’s best that you stay overnight in at least one of the colleges to get an idea of the type of social setting that exists there. Plan some time for the student union and talking to students at random. Arrange a campus tour if at all possible. Look up some of your own high school alumni from that particular school. If done right, they will sometimes allow you to sit in on one of their lectures.
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