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It's time to start thinking about summer college visits, but where to start? How can you plan a trip that is helpful and as stress-free as possible? I can't help you with trying to pack light (#lifegoals), but I can share some tips to ensure you can plan a smooth trip. 

Work out what is feasible

While two colleges might be in the same city or geographic region, it might not be possible to visit them both in one day (without the aid of a teleporter). Google maps is fairly reliable, but make sure to note how traffic might change depending on the time of day. Make sure to give yourself time to stay hydrated, well paced and comfortable.

via Giphy

Book your campus visit before your plane ticket!

Information sessions and tours can fill up quickly during the summer and in the worst case scenario, you can amend your booking by contacting us. If a college is a high priority to visit, book that as early as you can. Plane, train and bus tickets cost $$$ and can become very expensive to change or cancel - so it's better to keep an eye on prices but to book them after your tour itinerary is mostly booked.  If you cannot attend after all, please contact us to cancel - it allows us to offer your spot to another prospective family!

If a date is fully booked or blocked off, please do not turn up unless you're happy to show yourself around.

We offer information sessions and tours on most Mondays to Fridays and select weekends throughout the year. If we make a date unavailable, it's for a good reason - to ensure your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. We can't accommodate walk-ins for sessions and tours on the day. However, we do have a self-guided tour available on our busy days as well. If you want to check out campus without formal guides, please come by! 

What if I can't visit on a weekday?

This isn't the end of the world! If you're trying to visit on a weekend when we do not offer a session, I'd recommend doing a self-guided tour. Most offices will offer a self-guided tour map (you can pick up ours from our mailbox at front of Bendetson Hall). Feel free to follow up with us after if you have any admissions questions. 

Don't forget to allow time for some fun!

Try to find something fun to do in the area you're visiting - our students have recommendations for off campus hang outs here, and I always encourage you to take a break in Davis for an ice-cream or iced coffee, to see the wonderful MFA collections, or to watch boats on the Charles. These breaks are important and help you get to know the areas around the college. 

If you'd like to hear some great tips for the actual day of your visit, feel free to check out this great blog by Virginia Hart.