Every college can hire photographers, web developers, and graphic designers to make the colleges you are considering look appealing, interesting, engaging, and even fun.  But until you meet the people who make up the college community, how do you know if it is a good fit for you?

One of my favorite stories of how a campus visit impacted a student is when a mom and daughter were visiting the daughter's first-choice college.  They toured the campus and found it informational and interesting.  On their way home to Minnesota the daughter fell asleep and the mom decided to stop at another college that was not on the daughter's top-five list. 

When the daughter woke up and found herself on a different college campus, she was angry with her mother for making her tour a college she had no interest in attending.  After spending two hours on the campus, however, the daughter fell in love with the college and later enrolled there.  It was the community and culture of the campus that was a great fit for her. 
 
So as students determine what college campuses to visit, they should really visit a wide range of colleges, including a school they may not have even considered.  It will provide them with perspective to compare each college to their interests and goals. 
 
Here are some things to consider when visiting a college campus:

• Call ahead and ask the college to put together a schedule of activities that includes a campus tour, admission appointment, faculty meeting, and lunch in the dining hall.  You do not have to settle for a generic campus tour.
   
• While on the college campus ask students about academic life, their relationships with faculty, and opportunities they have had outside of the classroom.
   
• Pick up a college newspaper.  Don't let the potentially negative articles about parking and food deter you—that is pretty common at every college.  The student newspaper though is a good way to see what students are doing when not in class.  It is also a good way to determine what the hot button issues are on campus.
   
• Before or after your schedule of activities is complete, walk around campus independently.  Are people friendly or helpful?  Sit down and observe students, faculty, and staff interactions.  People watch!
   
• Although a beautiful campus is nice, the education you are going to receive is not from the bricks that surround you, but rather the people that surround you.  Be sure to get to know the people who will be integral to your future education.  If you find yourself connecting with them, it is more likely that you will learn more from them.

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