With the school year coming to an end and my son showing increasing interest in the whole college experience, we are planning some college visits for the summer.
Knowing him, we have to ease our way into this first major step of the process. Goodness, he just finished freshman year. Frankly, though, easing into college visits is an approach I recommend for all families. Visiting colleges is not for the faint of heart.
Don't get me wrong, college visits are one of my favorite things to do. In fact, I still look back on my own college visits with my dad as some of the best memories I have had with him. When I did the rounds with my oldest daughter, we had an equally special time together. There is something about taking a glimpse into your child's future, walking side-by-side with them on college campuses, that hits you as profoundly poetic. However, starting off with some "familiar territory" can help both parent and child adjust to what is about to happen.
If you want to ease your way into college visits, here are three tips:
1. Start local.
Look at the colleges that are within driving distance for that first round of visits. The colleges can even be located in the same town where you live. Oftentimes, students are familiar with the local college. I bet they have been on that campus for a high school program or competition. Starting off with a local option makes this process less intimidating for the student.
2. Focus on colleges with more generous acceptance rates first.
I got this tip from my colleague, Genevieve, who wrote a guest blog for us last year. She pointed out that if you visit your "reach" colleges first, you won't be as willing to give those "target" and "likely" colleges a fair shot. As she mentioned, it is easy to fall in love with a reach college. But when you start with colleges that yield better odds of admission, the student recognizes that there are so many great schools for them to consider.
3. Expose your child to different types of colleges on that first round of visits.
This will give them a sense of what is out there and what environment is best for them. My son and I will be visiting the following: a small liberal arts college in our mid-sized city; a private college in a rural part of our county; a regional mid-sized university not far from us; an urban university in a major city less than two hours away; and a large, public university in a college town a bit farther away from where we live (but still within driving distance). Based on how he reacts to five different types of colleges, we can adjust our next round of visits that are more in line with what he wants.
FREE DOWNLOAD: The College Visit Worksheet
Most families jump into the deep end first when it comes to college visits. They often visit some of the most selective colleges in the country. That sets the bar very high for the student. It is very difficult to then visit colleges that are more realistic for the student after that. In contrast, ease your way into these college visits. It doesn't mean your child has to go to college close to home. But starting off with familiar territory can be cost-efficient and less pressure on them. It can also be the start of making new memories with your kid.
