Do college visits actually help with admissions?

Hey guys, I've been looking into visiting some colleges I'm interested in. Just wondering, do college visits actually help with admissions or is it more for the student to get a feel of the campus and the environment?

College visits can serve multiple purposes. While one of the primary ones is helping you understand the campus environment and culture and whether it's the right fit for you, it can also demonstrate interest to the admissions office. Not all schools take demonstrated interest into consideration, but at those that do, being physically present on campus definitely counts.

More broadly, demonstrated interest refers to the extent to which you show a college that you're genuinely interested in attending their school. This interest can be shown in various ways, such as attending college fairs, reaching out to admissions officers, participating in on-campus or virtual events, and, yes, visiting the campus. Some colleges track demonstrated interest and factor it into the admissions process, while others do not.

It's important to note that the impact of demonstrated interest varies across schools. At some colleges, particularly those that aren't as highly selective, demonstrated interest may play a more significant role in admissions decisions. On the other hand, highly selective colleges tend to be less influenced by demonstrated interest due to their already large pool of highly interested applicants - most highly selective institutions don't factor it into their admissions decisions at all.

In summary, outside of the benefit to your own understanding of the school, college visits can be helpful in the admissions process to the extent that they show demonstrated interest. However, the impact of demonstrated interest varies by school. No matter the school, though, visiting a campus is a great way for you to explore the environment and make a more informed decision about where you'd like to attend.

Best of luck with your college search!