Visiting Colleges During the Summer

It is never too early to start visiting colleges! Most students will apply to seven to twelve schools, and very few people have the time or money to visit that many schools.  Dedicating spring break of junior year for college tours - visiting seven schools in seven days - can be grueling and stressful. I don’t recommend it!  Instead, start early and make it fun. 

When my son, Tyler, was eight, we spent a couple of days at my alma mater, Notre Dame.  He loved walking out on the football field and running around, but I knew I needed something more fun if I wanted to spend the afternoon walking around. Enter Geocaching! Geocaching is a scavenger hunt where you search for hidden treasure caches using maps and hints on your phone. We found treasures at Duck Pond, the Golden Dome, the Grotto, and finally back to the South Dining Hall where we enjoyed a well-deserved slice of pizza.

When students tour colleges before they are in the decision process, there is no sense of urgency. They can relax and absorb the information and environment without the pressure of having to decide which colleges to apply to and what to study when they get there.  

Visiting a variety of colleges helps students discover their preferences.  Small or large? Public or private? Liberal art or career focused? Visit as many different types of campuses as possible.

Build in college visits as part of family vacations.  Visiting family in Boston?  Arrange a tour at Tufts, Babson, Northeastern, or any of the more than 60 (!) 4-year colleges in the Boston area.  Headed to the beach in California? Take a day trip to explore UC San Diego, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, or Westmont.

Or is a “staycation” the plan? Start locally to get a baseline impression of college campuses and build from there.

For younger students, you don’t need to do a formal college tour. Most colleges publish maps and walking tours.  Do some research and pick out two or three spots on campus. Attend an event or tour the campus on bikes. Plan to stop and eat at the bookstore, student center, or dining hall.  Customize the tour to your student’s interests.

My son – an athlete – loved to run around on the quads and sports fields.  My nephew – more of a scholar – couldn’t wait to see the libraries and science laboratories.  My niece Chloe – an artist – insisted on stopping at museums and ceramic studios. My personal favorite places are the botanical gardens and arboretums.

For rising juniors and seniors, consider a formal tour and register with the admissions office.  A student tour guide will take you into the dorm rooms, libraries, classrooms, and student centers.  Take notes after your visit.  What did you like? Try to list at least 3 specific things. Anything you didn’t like? Talk to students. Ask lots of questions. Where do students live? Play? Hang out? Ask yourself, can you imagine yourself living on this campus.

Here are some ideas for informal visits to three different local colleges.

University of Utah

Nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the “U” is our states flagship university. You will get a sense for going to school at a large public research university. You can do a self-guided tour of campus or schedule a formal tour on their website. Check out Lassonde Studios -a unique five-story home for student entrepreneurs. Throw a frisbee on the Rooftop Playfields. Explore rare collections and exhibits at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.  

Attend UMFA’s Third Saturday for Families for a fun, free art-making event for all ages.  On July 15th visit the Abelard Morell exhibit of unique landscapes taken with a camera obsura.  Then make and decorate your own pinhole camera obscura.

Westminster College

Only 2.5 miles south, you will find Westminster - a small (1,287 students), private liberal arts college. Easily walk the 27-acre campus, exploring the trails along Emigration Creek where biology students learn in a classroom-outside-the-classroom experience. Stop at the organic garden where students to collectively grow, eat, and learn more about fresh and healthy food. The garden includes raised vegetable beds, a teaching/gathering space, a permaculture spiral, and compost tumblers. 

Utah State University

Utah’s “land grant university” promotes practical learning. Download a self-guided tour and start the tour at the Taggert Student Center.  Take pictures at the block “A” (for Aggies), meander through the quads to my favorite stop: #12 Aggie Ice Cream. Part of the College of Agriculture and Applied Science, students gain real-world experience in commercial ice cream production from the cow to the cone. Taste the difference! I recommend a kiddie cone of Aggie Space Debris – huckleberry flavored with huckleberry and raspberry swirls, as well as white and dark chocolate flakes.