Category: College Visits
5 of the Most Haunted College Campuses
Halloween season is here and for those who love a good spooky story, look no further than some of the schools on your balanced college list. Instead of saying goodbye to festive activities in high school, many colleges offer students the opportunity to amp up their holiday celebrations, thanks to an array of ghost stories, haunted halls, and one-of-a kind autumnal traditions.
3 College Visit Red Flags
By Tasha, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
As we head into fall and winter breaks, you might consider taking your college search to the next level by going on college tours and visits. Though the pandemic has vastly changed the landscape of what is possible – there are many virtual tour possibilities – when possible and safe, you should do your best to go on in-person tours.
If you are going on many college visits during a short period of time, during fall break, for example, it can be easy to start feeling overwhelmed. The details of each college may start to blur, and everything can start looking and sounding the same. It is important to take breaks and take a step back to ensure that you are getting the most out of your college visit experiences and to keep an eye out for any red flags you may find along the way.
Colleges Open for On-Campus Visits
Here are the Colleges That are Open for On-Campus VisitsAfter more than a year without in-person college tours, some universities are reopening for on-campus visits. Visiting colleges can be a valuable opportunity for students to get a comprehensive picture of a potential best-fit school and begin envisioning themselves on campus.
How to Make the Most of Virtual College Tours
Maximize Your Virtual Tour Experience with These Tips
Typically, fall is a popular time for high school juniors and even some younger students to embark on a set of college tours meant to help future applicants better envision their best-fit environment. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most college touring options have gone virtual for the time being.
IvyWise Live Q&A: Coronavirus and College Admissions
Join Our Facebook Live Webinars April 15 & 17 to Learn More About How To Prep for College Admissions Process This Fall
Tune in to IvyWise Live on our Facebook page next week, where College Admissions Experts Christine, Scott, Nat, Zach, and Rachel will discuss how students can prepare for the college admissions process this fall and answer your most pressing college prep questions.
College Visit Cancelled? Here’s What to Do Instead
Learn What to Do Next If Your College Tour is Cancelled
Generally speaking, the start of spring is a prime time for college tours, as many students schedule campus visits during their spring break. However, the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting plans dramatically, as a number of colleges are cancelling large gatherings, including campus tours.
6 Must-Have College Visit Items
Prepare for Campus Visits By Packing These Essentials
For high school students across the country, college visit season is in full swing. Many students are eager to go on school visits to refine their list of best-fit colleges, start to picture themselves on a campus, and explore all of their options.
4 Questions Not to Ask on College Tours (And What to Say Instead)
Learn What to Ask (and Avoid) On College Tours
College tours are an exciting opportunity for students to get a feel for life on campus, narrow down their list of best-fit schools, and explore a variety of academic options. Asking questions can help students gain more specific information about each institution and walk away with a nuanced understanding of the school.
Dress to Impress: What to Wear (And Avoid) During College Visits
Choose Appropriate Outfits to Look and Feel Your Best on School Tours
College tours can feel a little intimidating, especially if this is your first time visiting a campus. In order to keep your nerves under control and learn as much about each institution as possible, it is important to plan ahead and prepare for every visit in advance.
4 Tips for Winter Break College Visits
If You’re Near a College of Interest for the Holidays, Stop by for an Informal Visit
For those traveling for the holidays, or maybe a family helping an older sibling move back home for winter break, stopping by a school of interest can be a fun way to break up the trip and help younger students see a college campus for the first time. While a winter break college visit isn’t as impactful as visiting while school is in session, it can help younger students get a better sense of what they’re looking for when building their balanced college list.
How Important Are College Visits?
College Visits Are a Critical Piece of the College Admissions Puzzle
Most high school students are aware that the college admissions process is multi-faceted and can be very time-consuming. With the demands of building a college list, preparing for standardized tests, writing application essays and more, it can often feel like “fun” things like college visits shouldn’t be prioritized. However, not all applicants understand the unique and important role campus visits play in the college admissions process.
5 Questions to Ask College Admissions Officers
Get the Info You Need Directly From the Source
With campus visits and college fairs, the fall is an important time for students to learn more about the schools they’re interested in and what it takes to gain admission. College fairs and information sessions during campus visits give students the opportunity to interact directly with an admissions officer and have their questions answered by a member of the team that makes the decisions.
How to Save Money on College Visits
Save Money on College Visits With These Tips
Planning college visits this summer or fall? College visit costs can add up quickly, especially if students have many schools they’d like to visit as they narrow down their balanced college lists. However, there are a number of ways that families can save some money on college tours.
6 Must-Have Items For Your College Visits
Here’s What to Bring On Your Campus Tours This Spring
College visits are an important part of the college prep process, as it help students learn more about schools of interest in order to build their balanced college list. Campus visits are a marathon – not a sprint – and taking along the right items can help make your time touring schools a lot easier!
Juniors: 4 Tips to Help You Plan College Visits This Fall
College Visits Are a Big Part of Your College List Research
Junior year is a big college prep year, and one of the most important things that juniors will do this fall is visit colleges and universities as part of their college list research.
College Visit Dos and Don’ts For Students and Parents
What and What Not to Do While Visiting Colleges
College visits are a critical part of the college search process, and it’s important for students and parents to make the most of their time on campus. Before you head off to prospective colleges, make sure you know what – and what not – to do while you’re there!
College Visits: Where to Splurge and Where to Save
How to Make the Most of Your College Visits Even If You’re on a BudgetAs we draw closer to the opening of the new college admissions season on Aug. 1, many families are beginning to prepare for a big college preparation milestone this fall: visiting prospective colleges.
Tips for College Visit Information Sessions
IvyWise Expert Counselor Nat Shares Tips and Advice for What to Do Before, During, and After Information SessionsWhen preparing for college visits, it’s important for families to plan ahead and register for official information sessions and campus tours. In some cases, families can overlook the information session by assuming it’s a general presentation with little impact as to whether a student will choose to apply there or not. This is a huge misconception, as the information session is a critical part of the college visit and gives families the best opportunity to get face time with the admissions office and have their questions answered by an actual admissions officer.
Figuring Out Your College Visit Packing List
Come Prepared to Ask Questions and Take Notes on Every College Visit, But Leave Other College Apparel at HomeEvery college visit is a crucial part of the college search process. After all, the best way to learn about a college and its campus is to actually experience it first-hand. The spring semester is a great time to start planning college visits, as students have upcoming spring breaks that they can use to travel.
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Boston College
These are a Few of Our Favorite Things…This week our client relations associate Catherine tells us what she loved about attending Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Beach Campuses Across the Country
Whether seasonal or year-round, colleges by the beach offer a scenic getaway for students
Looking to live in a college town with extra opportunities for tanning? Can’t stand the snow? Want to overlook the coastline from your dorm room? Colleges in beach towns offer students a unique living experience by the sea. Whether for weekend beach parties, or a quiet walk to relax from a long day in class, campuses on or near beaches provide excellent getaways for busy college students.
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Tulane
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things…This week, our IvyWise intern, Becca, shares what she loved about attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
I have always believed that attending college in New Orleans is like studying abroad for four years. The food, music, and Mardi Gras make living in the “Big Easy” an experience unlike any other. “Lessez les bon temps roulez” (let the good times roll) is a city mantra ever apparent throughout NOLA, including on the campus of
College Campus Life Considerations: Dorm Life
Finding the Best-Fit Housing in Your Best-Fit SchoolFor high school sophomores and juniors, fall marks the first steps in the college search process. Many schools have a mid-October fall break, and students and families often use this time to go on college visits. At IvyWise, our team of expert counselors always stress the importance of the college visit. Not only does it give you the opportunity to show demonstrated interest, a factor that admissions officers take into consideration when reading applications, but it also gives you the chance to get a feel for campus life first-hand.
Choosing a College Location
Location, Location, Location!
Recently, Dr. Kat spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the benefits and shortcomings of virtual campus tours. Virtual tours are a great (and free!) way to gain an overview of a campus’ main attractions, but even with technological advancements, nothing beats the impression you gain from stepping onto a college campus. At IvyWise, we advise that whenever possible, students should visit a college in-person to get a sense of the three Cs – campus, classroom, and community.
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on NYU
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things…
This week, our Executive Assistant, Amanda, shares what she loved about attending New York University in New York City, New York:
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Skidmore College
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Skidmore College 
This week one of our new interns, Sara, shares why she chose Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. Sara will be a freshman at Skidmore this fall:
How Do I Choose Which Colleges to Apply to?
With more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the US, it can be difficult to nail down exactly how many colleges you should apply to. As juniors embark on the college admissions process (and visit schools over Spring Break), now is a great time to make a preliminary college list. Here are some of the most common mistakes we see students make and some tips from Dr. Kat to help you narrow your focus.
