As the year progresses, seniors are finalizing their college plans. One of the most significant parts of this process is visiting campuses in person.
College visits allow seniors to explore what could be their home for the next four years. Most visits entail a campus tour of classrooms, dining halls, and dorm rooms.
For athletes who are visiting, this range of options can be expanded to include meeting with other players, talking to the coaches and touring the athletic facilities.
These opportunities cannot be offered online to any interested student. They are an experience that can only be fulfilled in person.
Many seniors have missed school for these visits, but their absences are excused.
“It’s a chance to see if the environment and culture of the school are a good fit,” senior guidance counselor Ms. Girton said.
Over fall break, seniors take advantage of the time off to travel to campuses across the country. These trips help students decide where to submit their applications before the looming “Early Action/Decision” deadline on November 1.
“I chose to apply early to the University of Pennsylvania because it pretty much doubles my chances of getting admitted there,” senior Nola Boyle said.
There are several application types when applying to colleges. The most common is Regular Decision, with a January 1, 2025 deadline. It’s non-binding, meaning you don’t have to attend if accepted, and decisions are typically announced in March.
Rolling Applications have a January 1 deadline but are reviewed as they come in, with decisions sent out earlier.
Two other options due November 1, 2024, are Early Action and Early Decision. Early Action is non-binding like Regular Decision but has an earlier deadline. Early Decision is binding, meaning you must attend if accepted.
Fall break is the final round of visits, adding pressure to the decision-making process. Another date that many seniors took advantage of was the October 22 PSAT day, when seniors could be excused from school for college visits or a job shadow.
“Seeing the campuses I visited in person helped me realize where I could see myself next year,” senior Sammy Bernstein said.
Bernstein visited Purdue University on the day of the PSAT.
As the application process picks up, students focus more than ever on finding the right college fit. The Decision of where each student will spend the next 4 years of their life is a highly high-pressure choice, but these visits can help guide that Decision.
