Should You Visit Colleges in the Summer?

It is summer! Time to think about novels to read on the beach, vacation plans, and college campus visits with your teen.

At Custom College Visits, we are often asked by parents whether it makes sense to visit colleges and universities during the summer, when most classes are not in session. Of course, in a perfect world, everyone would like to schedule visits during the school year. However, that often involves students missing school during a critical time. Or perhaps your work schedule does not match your teen’s vacation days. Sometimes, it is just impossible to visit all the colleges on a student’s list at one time.

Our belief is simple: visit when you can. These visits, no matter what time of year, are still the best way for your teen to get a feel for the culture of the campus and the surrounding community.

What Summer Campus Life Looks Like

These days, many colleges, such as those in the University of California system, offer summer sessions for matriculated students. In addition, there are always students who stay on campus during the summer for work or research. At Dartmouth College, for example, sophomores are required to spend the summer on campus. Colleges and universities across the U.S. also sponsor summer camps and pre-college enrichment programs during the summer. Your high schooler might even want to investigate some of these opportunities.

So if you visit campuses in the summer, you might not see as many current students, faculty members, and staff as you would during the fall and spring semesters. Even so, there will still be plenty of people for you and your teen to interact with. You can visit dining halls to check out the food and explore interesting places on campus.

Tours, Sessions, and Self-Guided Options

During the summer months, colleges and universities continue to offer guided campus tours led by current students. Many colleges also offer admissions information sessions. In fact, some colleges increase the number of tours they offer during summer weekdays and may also offer tours on Saturdays.

If you cannot reserve a tour spot on the day you are available, check with the admissions office to see if they have a waitlist. You may also want to ask about self-guided tours. Many colleges have printed maps that guide you through campus, while others offer audio tours that you can follow. Most likely, the admissions offices and visitor centers will be open, so your teen can still ask questions and gather information.

Additionally, for colleges that offer interviews, summertime is perfect for scheduling a personal interview. Just be sure your teen reserves a spot as soon as possible. As with campus tours and information sessions, these spots can fill up quickly.

Smart Ways for Teens to Engage

Here is a suggestion for your teen. When visiting colleges this summer, have them ask—either at the bookstore or in an information session—what book has been assigned to the incoming first-year class. For most colleges and universities, the purpose of summer reading is to provide a common thread for new students and to foster a sense of community. The selected title can offer valuable insight into the school’s current goals for its students and help your teen start to get a feel for the school.

Some colleges also offer open houses and discovery days for high school students during the summer. Make sure your teen registers on the websites of colleges that interest them. They will then be notified of any special events that the colleges may be hosting for prospective students. That makes it easier to plan accordingly. Remember, like all other admissions-sponsored activities and events, space is limited, so plan as far in advance as possible.

Combining College Visits and Vacation

If you have limited time to travel during the summer, you might consider combining college visits with a family vacation. You could even start your trip on the college campuses themselves. Many colleges and universities boast historic landmarks, incredible architecture, museums, halls of fame, gardens, and other fascinating points of interest right on their grounds.

Do you have any sports fans in the family? If you are visiting Florida Atlantic University (FAU) or one of the other universities in South Florida, you may wish to visit the Avron B. Fogelman Sports Museum on FAU’s campus. It is an impressive collection. Or perhaps you are visiting the University of Michigan; in that case, you can arrange to take a guided tour of Michigan Stadium or Yost Arena.

Any nature lovers? If so, check to see whether any of the college campuses you will be visiting have botanical gardens and leave time to explore them. You will find these gardens on many campuses, from larger universities such as the University of Washington to smaller liberal arts colleges like Smith College. At Smith, the gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. From history, to stargazing, to medical history and hiking, there is plenty to see and do on college campuses.

Time to Make Summer Plans

If you have been on the fence about visiting colleges this summer, consider combining a college road trip with a vacation. Turn that beach read into a travel read, and go ahead and make the plans!