Summer vacation has come to a close... which means we need to start talking about your fall college visits!

Fall college visits are a very important part of the search process because, unlike summer visits, there are current students on campus! I know, that seems pretty obvious, but it's also pretty important. While summer visits certainly have a lot of positives - nice weather, quiet and relaxing atmosphere on campus, etc., the best way to get a true sense of an institution is to visit while classes are in session. Even if you have visited a school over the summer, you should definitely take the time to visit again during the fall, to see if the college is still a place you can see yourself fitting in when there are students on campus.

So, what should you see on a fall visit? Well, if you have already been to campus and taken a tour, you don't necessarily have to do that again (although many families will... we'll speak with families in the spring who will tell us that they've taken four different tours of PC! They could probably give the tours!)... One thing you could do instead would be to sit in on an information session if you haven't done so already. At many schools, these sessions will feature an admission counselor speaking about the application review process, which is obviously pretty important for you to learn about. I think it's also very important to sit in on some college classes, if the schools you are considering give you that option. It's a great way to see what being a college student is like for a day - and also to find out about class sizes, students' relationships with professors, and the like.

Along with (hopefully) seeing some classes, you should also see a residence hall or two. Remember, you'll be living on campus for four years at whatever institution you end up choosing, so you want to know as much as you can about college housing. It can be very helpful to bring a camera with you when you are visiting - that way, it'll be easier to remember which rooms you saw at which school.

While on your fall campus visits, make sure you take advantage of the current students you encounter. They are invaluable resources for you as you tour various colleges because they are the "true experts" - sure, you can learn a lot from a college's viewbook or website, but a school's current students are living the college experience every day. They are currently going to classes, living in the residence halls, eating in the dining halls... and can give you the clearest picture about what being a student at the institution you're visiting is like. Don't be shy - talk to students on all the campuses you visit!!