“What can we be doing right now when it comes to the college process?” This is a question I hear regularly from parents of freshmen and sophomores. While I firmly maintain that most 9th and 10th graders shouldn’t be deeply engaged in college-specific planning, there’s one activity that can be incredibly valuable during these early years: campus visits.
Why Visit Colleges Early?
When I work with juniors on building their college lists, we discuss pros and cons of different school types, characteristics that matter, and factors that create good fits. But here’s what I’ve noticed: students who haven’t visited any campuses struggle to articulate what they actually want.
Without exposure to different campus environments, students can’t distinguish between their assumptions and reality. They haven’t seen contrasts, so they can’t explain why they prefer one type of environment over another.
A Real Example: The Mall Story
Years ago when I worked in a high school, a student told me she needed to be in an urban center because she couldn’t imagine having to drive 30 minutes to get to a mall. We talked further, and I asked her: “How far do you drive to get to the mall right now?”
Her answer? “More than 30 minutes.”
This illustrates why early campus exposure matters. Students often have ideas about what they want without understanding what those preferences actually mean in practice. Even in the heart of a city, some things will be farther away than expected.
The Power of Contrast
When students have visited various types of campuses before we start serious college list discussions, they’re much better prepared. They might say:
“I liked seeing that school in the middle of nowhere because I realized my life is really going to focus around what’s happening on campus. I don’t necessarily need to be in the heart of the city.”
Or alternatively: “I visited the University of Michigan and it was just so massively big. I don’t feel like I would thrive there.”
Every campus experience helps bring into light what actually matters to students and what will help them thrive.
How Parents Can Help
My suggestion: think about colleges and universities fairly close to home. These don’t have to be places your student will ultimately apply to—the goal is exposure and learning.
What to do:
- Take informal campus tours when convenient
- Attend information sessions
- Walk around campus to get a feel for the environment
- Help your student process what they saw and experienced
- Encourage them to journal about visits—what stands out positively and negatively
The Contrast Visit Strategy
When I worked in North Carolina, we would intentionally take sophomores to visit both a large public school and a small private school so they could see the contrast between the two. These schools might not have been places they ultimately applied, but the exposure helped them understand differences in campus types.
Starting the Conversation
Early campus visits are a low-key way to introduce the college process and help students think about what might make the best match and fit for them specifically. It’s not about creating a college list or making decisions—it’s about building awareness and understanding.
When students have this foundation of experience, our conversations about college fit become much more productive and grounded in reality rather than assumptions.
If you have a willing student and it’s within your means and timeframe, I highly suggest taking time during the earlier years of high school for these exploratory visits. It’s one of the most valuable early investments you can make in the college planning process.
Need guidance on how to make the most of early campus visits or help your younger student start thinking about college fit? Our team works with families at all stages of the college journey. Book a FREE CALL to learn how we can support your family’s planning process.
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