Even with an abundance of online college information, nothing beats a personal visit. During a campus visit you can personally experience the details that make a college special and gauge if it might be a good fit for you. It can also be very helpful when trying to decide between different colleges. Even better, college visits can actually increase your chances of being accepted. For example, Tufts University prefers students who visit over students who just drop an application without ever engaging with the school.
But before you visit make sure you do a thorough college research online and build a list of potential colleges you are considering. From that list you can then come up with a visiting plan.
Best Times to Visit Boston Area Colleges
Visiting during Summer vacation before your Senior year is popular because it does not interfere with school and can be combined with summer vacation travel. Since many colleges start in mid August you can visit during that time when you can see to see the school in action. Visiting earlier in the summer can work too but of course there will be fewer or no students present.
Fall is a great time to visit Boston colleges. Not just is the weather amazing but the Fall colors make each college shine. You will also find that the energy at campus is at its best.
Many college advisors recommend visiting in Spring during your Junior year. This is a good strategy if you plan to apply for Early Decision in Fall. Of course it requires your college research to be done early.
Best Days to Visit Boston Area Colleges
Each College has their own time schedule for visiting and some are open seven days a week others only a few days a week. Generally, weekends are not a good time to visit as colleges operate on a weekend schedule. Many Boston colleges offer Monday through Friday for visits but sometimes Friday is not the best day to visit as students get ready for the weekend. Make sure you don’t visit during Holidays or special exam days. Checking with Colleges is best before you plan a visit.
Other Visiting Considerations
Covid has changed the visiting procedures at Boston colleges Happily, most Boston Area colleges now allow in-person visits but many offer virtual tours or other alternatives. Most colleges have restrictions such as mask-wearing, social distancing and many do not allow you to enter buildings
The following are typical visiting options offered by Boston colleges.
On-Campus Visits |
You can visit the school |
Personal Tour |
You can physically visit the college but you need to explore by yourself. Some colleges offer mobile guides and/or maps. |
Virtual Visits |
Visiting via Zoom in real-time where you can interact with students guides directly |
Virtual Tours |
A student driven online tour of the campus (3D) or simply videos describing the campus. |
Information Sessions |
Can be on-campus or virtual |
Open Houses |
Most are in Fall and a few are virtual |
Visiting Options for Boston Area Colleges
The list below shows visiting options available from Boston Area colleges. Because of Covid these can change without notice, so it wise to check with Colleges before you plan a visit.