High school students trying to decide where to spend the next four years of their life often struggle with the question: are campus visits worth it? Visiting a college campus can give you valuable insight about the school, but the visits can often be inconvenient and costly. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to make a campus visit.
If the school is relatively close to your home, you should certainly visit. A campus visit allows you to meet and interact with current students, interact with professors, and determine the general "vibe" of the school. Additionally, if the schools you are considering look very similar on paper, a campus visit can help you get an "inside" view of each school. If you are truly at a loss as to which school you should attend, campus visits can help you make a more informed choice.
However, if the school is far from your home, a campus visit can be very expensive. If you cannot justify taking the time and money to visit a distant college, try to gain as much information as you can about the school online. Do an online school search to read student's comments about their experience, and consider school rankings as well. Though a campus visit would be valuable, it may not be worth it if you can find the information you need online.