“Maybe even offer to buy a current student a cup of coffee or lunch to pick their brain some more.” Ask the right questions. “Read as much on campus as you can to see what students are talking about, what they’re worked up about, what they care about,” Crum says. That means pick up a newspaper, scan the bulletin board, eat in the dining hall. Take note of-who’s walking by? What are they talking about? Do they look happy? Are they busy? “These are all huge insights into what life is like there.” Immerse yourself in school culture. “Work on gathering as much information as you can,” says Crum. Trying to gauge whether it’s a good fit or not? Take a few minutes (10 to 15 will do!) to stop and people watch. “Your view of a school can be totally skewed if you’re grumpy, hot, thirsty or wet.” People watch! “You’ll want to be as comfortable as possible,” she says. There are three essential items you must take on all college tours according to Crum-an umbrella, a bottle of water, and comfortable shoes. “In a year or so they’ll be gone, enjoy this time together now.” Pack the essentials. “This process can be a gift of time with your child who’s getting ready to leave,” she says. “Things start to blur together and it’s exhausting.” Instead she suggests mixing up your college tours with something fun-a family outing. “More than two is way too overwhelming,” says Crum. “You need to think not only about size, but also location.” Don’t visit more than 2 schools a day. “Visit someplace big like Rutgers and Penn State someplace urban like Drexel or Temple someplace midsize and suburban like Villanova and someplace smaller and rural like Dickinson College,” she suggests. In order to make an informed decision about where they want to apply, high school students should visit all types of schools, says Crum.

Here, she breaks down the do’s and don’ts to make the most of your campus visits: Visit an array of schools. To give you a leg up on the search, we sought the advice of the Director of College Counseling at The Episcopal Academy, Cynthia Crum. When should you start? How many schools are too many? How far are you comfortable traveling? Despite all the stress, seeing a school first-hand is an invaluable experience to help you navigate the next step of your or your child’s life. Whether you’re a parent or a student you probably have a million questions flooding your brain. The college tour process can be daunting.

Checklist after my college visit