A Guide to US Campus Visits

This informal CPD article ‘A Guide to US Campus Visits’ was provided by UES Education, specialists in international university and school admissions, working with top schools across the UK and Europe to provide a bespoke service for those who want the best possible application support in the UK.

Are you advising potential US applicants who are planning college visits? If so, there is some valuable advice you can give them to ensure they get the most out of their trip.

Purpose of visits

Travelling to the US is a big undertaking, so students and families may wonder if it’s worth it to visit colleges. US admissions officers will be aware that many UK students might not be able to make a visit for this reason. If students are unable to visit, it will not be held against them. But if they can, there are many benefits of doing so:

• Gaining firsthand experience of US college life: getting the campus feel, seeing the facilities, even sitting in on classes where possible. This can allow applicants to make an informed decision about whether applying to the US is the right step for them.
• Getting a sense of fit: is the college a place where the student will thrive? By observing students on campus, seeing what activities are happening (or are advertised), and sensing the overall atmosphere, prospective applicants will be better placed to assess this important factor. During guided visits, they can speak to students, who will give candid answers to questions about what it’s like studying at the college. Applicants shouldn’t be afraid to ask challenging questions, like ‘What would you change about the university?’ to get an honest snapshot of life there.
• Demonstrating interest: at some US universities, visits are logged and can contribute to ‘demonstrated interest,’ which refers to the way applicants can show interest by things like visiting, attending informational events, emailing the admissions office, and/or opening emails and newsletters from the university. Demonstrated interest can be a factor in admissions, but keep in mind that not all universities consider demonstrated interest.

Timeline

As with any international trip, when planning college visits it’s important to advise your students to think strategically about timing. Many UK students plan a longer trip to the US in the summer, choosing a destination where several universities are clustered together. This enables them to have multiple stops on the itinerary and make the most of the travel time and cost. This is often quite easily done in areas such as New England and California, but universities can be more spread out in other destinations. The US is very spacious, and driving is the default mode of transportation in most areas, so it is not always possible to get public transit between university destinations. However, during the summer, although universities will be open, not all students will be on campus.

Another option is to travel to the US for a shorter trip during UK school holidays. The perk of this option is that during half term breaks and breaks between terms, US universities are likely to still be in session, so students will be able to experience the campus when it is full of life!

Planning visits

To maximise the impact of their visit, students and their families should make a clear plan before setting out. Be sure that they are aware of the difference between official and unofficial campus visits: official visits involve registering with the admissions department, taking guided tours, and attending information sessions. This will give students the most comprehensive experience, and show demonstrated interest. Depending on the university, students may also be able to do things like meet with a specific department, coach, or service. Encourage families to book these opportunities well in advance of their visits. It can be tempting to fit in as much as possible into the trip, but we would recommend not visiting more than two universities per day, giving enough time to explore each university fully. 

Making the most of visits

Make sure students come to their visits prepared, so they get the most from their time on campus and make a great impression. To facilitate this, you can create and distribute a list of good questions to ask when on campus, like:

Questions for tour guides:

University tour guides are typically current students, and they will often give the most honest insights! Encourage students to ask them things like:

• What's one thing you wish you knew before coming here?
• What's the social scene like?
• How accessible are professors outside of class?
• What's the biggest challenge/best part of being a student here?
• What is housing like? Any tips on which dorms (halls) are best?

Questions for admissions officers:

• What kind of student fits well here?
• Are there dedicated support services for international students?
• Are there study abroad opportunities for undergraduates?
• What is the average class size for first-year students?
• What are the career services like?
• What percentage of alumni have jobs two years after graduation?

Another tip to impart on students visiting colleges is to take notes – they will be seeing a lot of new places and hearing a lot of new information, so they risk forgetting important insights and not making the most of their trips unless they do this. Taking notes in a notes app in their phones is a great idea; typically, photos can be added to these, which are a great memory aid. Also, when students return from their visits, encourage them to put their key notes about the colleges they visited into something less ephemeral, like a spreadsheet they’re using to make their college lists.

By encouraging them to do some forward planning and be proactive, schools can prepare students to make successful US college visits. Campus visits can widen students’ horizons, help them discover what US campus life is like, and identify good-fit campuses.

We hope this article was helpful. For more information from UES Education, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.