College Visits Before Applying - How Common?

Hey everyone, quick question. Do most high school students visit a college before they submit their application? Just trying to understand how beneficial tours are for decision-making.

It's quite common for students to visit colleges before applying, although it's certainly not universal. Some students find that physically visiting a school gives them a better perspective on the campus culture, resources, and environment than what they can glean online. This "feel" for the school can be especially helpful in crafting more personalized responses in your application essays.

That being said, there are also a significant number of students who apply to colleges sight unseen. This might be due to geographical or financial limitations, or simply applying to a wide range of schools where visiting all of them is not feasible.

In the era of virtual tours and online information sessions, you can get a pretty good feel for a school without ever stepping foot on campus. These online resources are increasingly sophisticated and provide a lot of insight into student life, academic programs, and amenities.

While visiting a campus can definitely be helpful, it's essential to know that many top-tier colleges don't consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decision. For these schools, a visit wouldn't improve your admissions chances directly, though it might still be beneficial for your understanding of the school and consequently, your application essays.

Overall, if it's possible for you to visit some of the colleges you're interested in, it's a good idea, but it's by no means a mandatory part of the process. The primary goal should be to gather enough information to make an informed decision, be it through physical tours, virtual resources, or speaking with current students or alumni.