Should you visit schools during the summer months? Family schedules are often more flexible in the summer, the weather is great for traveling, and checking out campuses before committing to a school-day interview visit can be a very enticing idea.

 

Here are the pros: Beyond the ease of travel, understanding the physical distance from home and the assets of a school’s surroundings is a great opportunity. Be sure to contact admissions offices, as individual tours might be available. Others offer group tours while some even leave campus maps out on certain days for self-guided walks. Many boarding schools have summer programs for middle school students, and your visit might entice you to sign up. Inquire as to whether any current students are available to meet with you. Whether they are local day students or have parents who work at the school, they can quickly provide great first-hand stories about their experiences.

 

And the cons: You will still need to visit in the fall or early winter for your formal campus tour and interview (in a single visit). In the summer, regardless of whether a campus is populated with campers or completely devoid of students, the tone and pace of life that you observe will not feel the same as when the school year is in full swing. Observing classes in session, meeting students, admissions staff, teachers, and coaches not only informs you about the school year “culture,” but it provides a depth of information that is typically unavailable in the summer.

 

If you go: Visit individual school websites to see if there is specific information about dropping by for a summer visit. As well, you may find listings of other things to do or see in their area. Do contact the admissions office. Even if they are in summer-casual mode, they will want to host you and to know that you are on campus. Particularly if they have summer sessions on-going, there may be restrictions as to the amount of self-guiding that you can do. Perhaps forego your cut-offs and off-the-shoulder look of summer, but go casual. The emphasis of a summer visit will be relaxed and fun.