How many schools should I visit?

Hi everyone! I'm getting ready to visit colleges this summer. There are a lot of colleges near me. I'm in LA. Is there a recommended number I should visit? Any suggestions of schools I should not miss? I'm a sophomore but i'd like to start looking early. Thank you!

Hi Federico,

There is no specific number that works for everyone. It depends mostly on how much time you have and the number of schools that interest you.

You're right -- there are a lot of great schools in the LA area. I would begin by looking online and maybe asking a mentor or someone close to you (like a guidance counselor, teacher or family member) for any recommendations based on what you are looking for. Make sure you are considering school size, average class size, graduation rate, extra-curricular activities, campus diversity, financial aid options, etc.

After you have sorted through all your options through this initial research, you can do in-person visits to the schools that you are most interested in attending.

Best,
Amber George

Should I also visit schools that are across the country if I don't have the money to pay to go?

Rosana,

Here are some options that our Ambassador, Amber George, suggested in a previous question:

"If you do not have the funds to visit a campus in person, a school's website is a great place to start getting information. Many of the websites have “virtual tours” of their campus. Go to the university’s website and check under their “Admissions” section to see if they have any videos. You can also go to this website, which shows videos from a number of different colleges: [www.youniversitytv.com].

If you are able to visit a campus in person, most colleges and universities have special visit days throughout the year that you may want to look into. These days are often on weekends and are a very in-depth look at a school. Usually they have student and/or professor panels, a tour of campus (which often includes the dorms), and sometimes even a meal in the dining hall. Sometimes the visit days are tailored to certain groups as well (accepted students, high school juniors, minority groups, etc.). Here is a link from Collegeboard.com that goes into more details on college visits: [www.collegeboard.com].

If you are unable to visit a school due to distance, you may want to contact their recruitment/admissions office to see what your other options are. For example, many schools have student volunteers who you can correspond with via phone or email and they can answer your questions and give you a student’s perspective. Additionally, the school may be participating in a college fair near your home that you can attend."

Good luck!

- Jazmin