As you start to think about planning your college visits, here are five common myths:

Myth: You can wait until the summer.

Reality: Visit when students are on campus and take the official tour.

We can't stress this enough: visiting an empty campus does not help students understand what they want. In order for students to get a feel for what the school is really like, they need to see the dorm rooms decorated and lived in, visit a class where students are engaging with the content, and eat lunch with other students in the dining hall. Plus, if you go during the school year, you'll be able to take an official tour, likely given by a student, which will offer even more insight into what the campus is really like—all while showing off your student's demonstrated interest for that school.

Myth: There is only one good fit.

Reality: Focus on a range of colleges with respect to selectivity, size, and location.

Your student might think they want to go to a big school, a school close to home, or an extremely selective school. But it's critical for students to see a variety of colleges and universities so that they can be sure that what they think are their top criteria are actually their top criteria. For example, preferences on college size tend to follow fads, and right now we're in the era of the big state colleges. We often hear students say, "I want to go to a college bigger than my high school." But when students arrive on the campus of a smaller college, they might realize how different these institutions are from their high schools, and they can become more open to something they didn't think about before. Bottom line: if you visit a variety of schools, your student can be sure they're not pigeonholing themselves.

Myth: You can focus on the cost later.

Reality: Only visit colleges you can afford. 

This is a pretty serious one: don't let your student fall in love with a school you can't afford. Analyze what your family plans to contribute, and use average financial aid data to help crunch the numbers. But remember that you can't predict exactly what the school will offer you. You don't want to get your student's hopes up for a school they won't be able to attend, so be sure it's a possibility before you visit.

Myth: Majors don’t matter—they'll find something they like.

Reality: Look at colleges that offer a number of your student's potential majors based on interest.

If your student is a theater fanatic and a school doesn't offer a theater major, it might not be worth visiting. Even if your student doesn't know what they plan on majoring in, they do know their interests, and they should spend time reviewing the possible majors and programs before touring that school. We recommend a great resource from UT Austin called Wayfinder to help students research majors.

Myth: The world is big and anywhere works.



Reality: Visit colleges that have a feasible location for you and your student.

Each student is different. That's why we often ask students: “Do you want a school you can drive home from, one that's a direct flight home, or one that requires a connection on the way back?" The idea of being far from home might feel exciting, but practically speaking, it can be difficult. If your student does show interest in schools that are far from home, it can be helpful to make sure they have family members nearby to help them adjust. In terms of college visits, location important to think about before visiting. For example, you don't want to waste money on plane tickets across the country if your student only wants to be local.

Don't wait till summer to start the college visits. Your student will more clearly show their demonstrated interest by taking the official tour, sitting in on classes, and potentially having an on-campus interview. And especially if your student has any special interests, they'll be able to look at the college while it's bustling to see if the opportunities match what they're looking for. With ski week and spring break sneaking up on us, it's a great time to start planning those visits.