Do College Visits Really Matter? Why Seeing Campus Changes Everything

With all the glossy brochures, Instagram posts and virtual tours, you might wonder: “Do I really need to visit colleges in person?” After all, it takes time and planning to take a road trip. The reality is college admissions counselors, tour guides and current students will tell you the same thing, “Go experience it for yourself!” Here are the top reasons why taking college visits will be worth it.

1. Get the campus “vibe.”

Ultimately, it’s harder to get a gut feeling from photos. You may see an image of a single spot on campus and think, “Wow.” But a part is not always consistent with the whole campus.

For example, at Berry College, many of the marketing materials include images of the famous Ford Buildings. Although they are beautiful, there is SO much more to campus than the Gothic-style buildings that people commonly associate with Berry. In fact, the campus is 27,000 acres (about twice the size of Manhattan).

Around the corner from the Ford Buildings sit a log cabin and small cottages, along with Colonial Revival and Neoclassical buildings in the Beaux-Arts American collegiate tradition. Mountain campus is home to a dairy inspired by the Normandy region of the French countryside. And just beyond the dairy, Berry also owns a wooden overshot waterwheel, considered one of the largest in the world at 42 feet in diameter. The campus is even large enough to house four unique chapels.

Similarly, it is difficult to get a sense of student energy when you’re not on campus. Visiting allows you to get a feel for the atmosphere and student body – and what it’s like to live there.

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2. See the real versions, not the brochure.

Dorms, academic buildings and the surrounding neighborhoods can look very different in person. Going for a visit allows you to eat a meal in the dining hall, imagine yourself in the library study spaces and even check out future housing options. Very quickly, you will get a sense of which campuses feel like home and which campuses are not a fit.

“At Berry, we love hosting students for on-campus visits. Whether it’s a traditional campus tour, class observation, chat with current students or something else entirely, we encourage students to visit because we know they’ll feel more equipped to approach their final college decision with confidence,” says Trevor Ehrenheim.

Don’t have time for a full class? Make an appointment with a faculty member to learn more about relevant programs, internships and more.

3. Ask current students about things you won’t find online.

Talking with students is one of the very best ways to get to know a college. They will tell you the truth about professors, workload, social life, housing and more. They will share where the best parking is, give you the scoop on most fun parts of campus and teach you about the unwritten traditions of the college.

Want to spend the night in a dorm room and really get to know an upperclassman? At Berry, students can stay the night to fully immerse themselves in the Berry experience.

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4. Help confirm or eliminate a school.

Have you ever had the experience where you ordered something online, and it’s either way bigger than you expected or way too small? Have you ever ordered clothing only to discover it is not nearly as soft as you expected?

Don’t choose a college based on brochures and websites alone. Come see for yourself! A close encounter with college life is one of the best ways to know what to expect your freshman year.

Also, by visiting in person, you can check off valuable face-to-face counselor communications that might take longer via email.

5. Ask questions and take notes.

While you could always follow up with emails later, asking questions during your visit will likely get you the very best answers.

Even if you have a great memory, details from different visits may start to run together over time. You’ll thank yourself later if you take notes during each of your campus visits. Jot down what you do and don’t like about each school. It’s also a good idea to take your own photos to help jog your memory.

Here are a few things that might impact your visit but may not be worth holding onto:

Weather – Rain or snow on a single day shouldn’t make or break your decision, but if you love a college in bad weather, that’s telling! Still, consider the common weather patterns of the area where you are visiting. For example, Berry College is lovely in the fall and often gets at least a slight snow dusting each year.
Personality – Don’t judge your entire college visit by a single interaction. Remember it’s highly unlikely that you will love everyone you meet in life.
Construction – If you visit during renovations, don’t assume the campus will always look like a construction zone. Projects finish, and campus returns to normal. Remember: it is probably signaling progress!

Find a match

It can be a bit overwhelming to plan college visits at first, but don’t let that keep you from doing it. By going in person, you will have more space to think critically about which schools are the best fit. Each college has its own character and offering, so some will resonate with you more than others.

Want to learn more about how to discover a college that fits your needs? Check out the article “Find Your College Fit.” Or if you’re interested in exploring the Berry College campus, we can accommodate you by appointment. In the meantime, feel free to take our virtual tour, then come visit for an in-depth experience.

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