Afford the College Visits
New! -
New! -
10 Tips to minimize the cost of visits:
10 Tips to minimize the cost of visits:
NARROW The Field
NARROW The Field
1) Do Your Homework!
1) Do Your Homework!
- Research - schools that match your "must haves" - majors, location, housing, dining, activities, clubs etc.
- SCOIR - Overviews, scattergrams and survey assessments can assess your acceptance potential.
- Start Virtual. Use "Find Your Match!" pages to schedule info sessions or virtual visits
Eliminate the "Maybe's." A tighter list is more affordable and can yield results you really want.
2) Stay local.
2) Stay local.
- College Reps - Check if your school offers these events (in-person or virtual) and sign up.
- Regional Events - Your distance college may hold regional events.
College Fairs - Another way to meet with college reps throughout your high school years.
College Reps can let you know if their majors mesh with your career goals, if the major you want is even on the campus you want or if your major has changed or been eliminated. Maybe their answers about athletics or campus life don't feel like the right "fit." Or maybe one conversation could make you feel like this is THE school to focus your energies (and funds) on.
College Reps can let you know if their majors mesh with your career goals, if the major you want is even on the campus you want or if your major has changed or been eliminated. Maybe their answers about athletics or campus life don't feel like the right "fit." Or maybe one conversation could make you feel like this is THE school to focus your energies (and funds) on.
- Visit local - a local school of similar size or visit the local campus of the distance college on your list.
Keep narrowing those "must-haves" before jumping on a bus or plane.
Keep narrowing those "must-haves" before jumping on a bus or plane.
3) Let Experience Be Your Guide.
3) Let Experience Be Your Guide.
- Did you visit with an admissions representative?
- Were you more positive about the school after the event? Excited for more?
- Website easy to navigate? Questions answered? Can you find contacts?
- How was the application process?
- Did you get your financial aid package right away?
How you experience the process may help you extrapolate
How you experience the process may help you extrapolate
how you might experience the school.
how you might experience the school.
Time to VISIT!
Time to VISIT!
4) Spread Out the Cost! -
4) Spread Out the Cost! -
- Start Junior Year - Break up visits during Junior and Senior Years and both summer vacations.
- Midweek - If your high school allows excused absences for tours, travel mid-week to save.
It's easier to cover those costs if they aren't happening all at once!
5) Save on Meals!
5) Save on Meals!
- Open Houses - Many in-person Open Houses offer free lunches!
- Partake in a Picnic. Pack a cooler for the drive!
A little planning for a long drive or overnight, can save on dining.
A little planning for a long drive or overnight, can save on dining.
6) Student Discounts.
6) Student Discounts.
- Student travel services - These websites may offer discounts to your destination.
- City deals for students - Cities with large concentrations of colleges may have area specific discounts.
Web searches may get you on your way!
Web searches may get you on your way!
5) Tack it onto a family vacation - Whether cross country or overseas, add a college visit at your destination!
5) Tack it onto a family vacation - Whether cross country or overseas, add a college visit at your destination!
If you're not visiting family, Colleges may offer discounts for meals,
If you're not visiting family, Colleges may offer discounts for meals,
attractions & area stays.
attractions & area stays.
7) Double up!
7) Double up!
- Two in a day? Visit two schools in one day or three or four over a weekend.
- Bestie Travel! - If you want the same school, travel together! Split the cost and the adventure!
Map your tour loop to minimize travel.
Map your tour loop to minimize travel.
8) Or Wait!
8) Or Wait!
- Wait - Visit after they accept you, so you don't waste funds somewhere you were waitlisted or rejected.
- Accepted Student Overnights. Stay in the dorm with dining meals included (You might even attend a class or two).
Confident you could enroll if you love it? That's worth a trip!
Confident you could enroll if you love it? That's worth a trip!
9) Call Admissions.
9) Call Admissions.
Visit Grants - Does your school offer the new "Visit Grant"? (When you enroll, you earn tuition funds just because you visited in person. Savings in the long run! Contact Admissions and ask!
Visit Grants - Does your school offer the new "Visit Grant"? (When you enroll, you earn tuition funds just because you visited in person. Savings in the long run! Contact Admissions and ask!
Financial Struggles - Budget still too tight? Call Admissions and ask if assistance is available. Many colleges are committed to increasing the college going rate of first-generation, low-income, and underserved students and offer travel grants for students in need.
Financial Struggles - Budget still too tight? Call Admissions and ask if assistance is available. Many colleges are committed to increasing the college going rate of first-generation, low-income, and underserved students and offer travel grants for students in need.
Your trip could be a phone call away.
Your trip could be a phone call away.
10) When All Else Fails, Apply Anyway!
10) When All Else Fails, Apply Anyway!
In our less than ideal world, sometimes budgets and schedules still get in the way. With the current range of virtual insight, you can still find YOUR school without a visit! Many students still accept admission without setting foot on their perfect campus.
In our less than ideal world, sometimes budgets and schedules still get in the way. With the current range of virtual insight, you can still find YOUR school without a visit! Many students still accept admission without setting foot on their perfect campus.
No matter your process, enjoy the process!
No matter your process, enjoy the process!
We wish you the best in finding YOUR match!
We wish you the best in finding YOUR match!
PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS