A Counselor’s Advice on Spring Break Campus Visits

By: Maggie Martin, Foundry Admissions Senior College Advisor

I walk into our hotel room on the edge of campus and put my bags down. As I do at each school we visit, I find myself wondering, “Is this it? Is this where I’ll stay when visiting my child after they’ve flown the nest?”

For many high school parents across the country, Spring Break means trading beaches for brochures and setting out to explore potential colleges with your student.

If this is your plan, let me offer a little perspective, both as a parent and as a college counselor.

Campus Visits Are About More Than the Tour

When I talk to clients, I always stress the two areas of fit.

• Academic fit is the first piece of my job when crafting a thoughtful college list.Does the school offer the right programs? Is the academic rigor aligned with the student’s preparation and goals? Are there opportunities for research, internships, or hands-on learning? Next comes what I think of as the “parameters” stage: geography, size, setting, budget realities, admissions selectivity. These practical considerations help tighten and refine the list.

• Social fit is just as important. Because college is more than just a place your child will study for four years. It is where they will live, grow, struggle, stretch, and transform from teenagers into adults. These are four of the most formative years of their lives. And social fit can’t be found in course catalogs or rankings. Finding social fit requires looking beyond the beautifully renovated library, the dining hall options, the brand-new dorm and the admissions statistics. It requires your student to reflect honestly, can I see myself here? And here’s the hard truth for parents: This part requires the most of your student — and the least of us.

Parents: Observe More Than You Direct

As tempting as it is to evaluate every detail, our job during visits isn’t to decide. It’s to notice. To ask thoughtful questions. To create space for our students to process.

Instead of: “This feels too big.” Try: “How did the size feel to you?”

Instead of: “I don’t love this area.” Try: “Could you see yourself living here?”

Ownership builds confidence. And confident students make better decisions.

Making Spring Break Visits Count

To help your student evaluate fit:

• Don’t overschedule. One or two campuses per day is ideal.

• Encourage them to ask unscripted questions of real students.

• Have them jot down reflections before getting back in the car. This will come in handy when writing college specific essays later!

• Pay attention to how they feel, not just what they think.

As I prepare to unzip my suitcase yet again and glance out at another unfamiliar campus skyline, I remind myself that we aren’t just touring buildings. We’re exploring possibilities.

And like so many parents this spring, I’m quietly hoping for three things:

Fingers crossed for good weather, happy students… and a good tour guide.