College visits are a vital part of a successful college search. It’s hard to get a true sense of a college unless you visit the campus. For that reason, PACT strongly encourages students to schedule college visits. Keep the following in mind when scheduling a visit:

• Attend a group college visit day or schedule an individual visit. Some colleges even offer overnight college visits.
• Don’t just show up, tell the college you are visiting! If you plan a visit with admissions they can help set up a tour, arrange a meeting with professors, answer questions, etc…
• Visit while college is in session. Visiting over winter break or summer can seem ideal, but you won’t get a true feel for the school.  Most college students leave over long breaks and therefore, the culture is very different. It’s best to visit while the college is still in session so you get an accurate feel for it.
• If you plan to participate in sports or extracurricular activities, check them out!  Attend a sporting event, musical, club meeting, etc… while you are there.  
• Have a list of questions. What do you really need from a college? Do they offer your degree/program? Just how far is the walk from the Freshmen dorms? Where is the dining hall?  How many students are in a “typical” class? What academic resources are available to students?
• Each college is different. Plan several visits over the high school years so you can make the best choice!