College visits can be an eye-opener. They give students a real sense of what to expect at different campuses in terms of academia and college life. It will help you make a more informed decision about which college is the best fit for you. Most students schedule at least one visit during their senior year. However, you don’t have to wait until then. In fact, we recommend looking into college visits for juniors.
Here are some of the reasons why.
Senior Year Can Get Busy
Senior year can get incredibly busy. A lot of time will go on working on your college applications and essays. Don’t underestimate the amount of time you will spend on each app. Just writing the personal essay can take days. Additionally, you also need to gather together the asked-for documents and obtain recommendation letters.
Besides working on your college apps, you also have to schedule in study time for any SAT or ACT tests.
While doing all of the above, you have to make sure you stay on top of your academics. You have to find time to complete your regular homework assignments and study for various exams held during the year. With so much going on, you may not be able to fit in as many college visits as you’d like to.
College Visits for Juniors Give You an Early Introduction to College Life
As a junior, you may be excited at the thought of college. But this excitement may be tinged by a touch of anxiety. You don’t know what to expect in college and can’t imagine what college life will be like.
When you visit campuses as a junior, it gives you useful insight into college life overall, especially if you take the time to speak to current students. You’ll get a better understanding of how classes are conducted, life in the dorm and the challenges that many college students face.
College Visits for Juniors Help You Make More Informed Decisions
As you visit different colleges, you will be able to make comparisons between campuses based on your first-hand experience. This is so much better than making decisions based on somebody else’s opinions, which may be completely different from yours.
You’ll get a better understanding of whether a larger or smaller cohort is a better fit for you. You will also be able to compare campus and dorm facilities, curriculums, extracurricular facilities and so much more. All of this will help you make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing the best college for you.
Making all of these discoveries during your junior year will leave you free to focus on your academics, college applications, and test prep during your senior year.
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