Transcript

Intro

College visits are a highlight of the process. You get to walk the campus, feel the energy, maybe grab a cookie — but a visit often shows you the best version of the school. Well lit, welcoming, and carefully curated. It’s not that they’re trying to be misleading; it’s just that the school is putting their best foot forward, sort of like students do in their applications.

So I’m all for doing a visit. I’m all for the official tour. The trick is learning to enjoy that Instagram version and also look behind it.

It’s The College Talk Show. Today’s theme: visiting colleges, with special guest Stephanie Meade.
And now, here’s your host — Chris Bell.

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Types of Visits

Visiting a college is exciting. And when you go, and more importantly why you’re there, makes all the difference.

Today we’re going to talk about three types of visits, and then we’ll dig in on the second type — which I think is the most important.

Type One: Early Exploration Visits.
These happen in freshman or sophomore year, and your goal is simply to get a sense of what a college campus even feels like. I call these casual visits. You can do them while you’re on vacation or driving through a college town, or you can visit the school down the street or in the next town over. You’re trying to get a sense of different types of schools — different prototypes.

Visit a large public research university. Visit a small private liberal arts college. Get a feel for the different flavors of campus life. This is all about exposure — more vibes than verdicts. Maybe you decide you want Starbucks and a quad; maybe you want something else. This is the time to figure that out.

Type Two: List-Building Visits.
This is the one I consider the most important, and it’s what we’re focusing on today. These typically happen junior year. The goal is to evaluate: Could I actually see myself here?

The visit shifts from casual to strategic. You’re testing your research against real-life experience. You’re arriving with pros, cons, and questions already in mind — and asking, “Are these true? Are my assumptions accurate?” You’ve prepped, and now the visit helps you confirm or refine your thinking.

Type Three: Final Decision Visits.
These happen senior year, after you’ve been admitted. Maybe you’re choosing between two or three colleges. Admitted student days are fun because the college is pulling out all the stops — swag, events, and a chance to meet potential classmates.

It’s also a fun time because the power dynamic has shifted. You’re not hoping the college will say yes to you. They already have. They want you to say yes to them. You get to sit in the driver’s seat.

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Tips Before We Meet Stephanie

When you visit, document each visit. These schools all blend together eventually. Pull out your phone and take pictures that will help you remember. Take notes if you want.

One of my most important tips:
Write down three words to describe your sense of the school. Not a full reflection — just a snapshot. Words that will transport you back to your visit. “Green, friendly, confusing” — anything that captures the vibe. Sometimes it’s even more helpful than pages of notes.

All visits have value, but today we’re zeroing in on the list-building visit. That’s where the most potential for reflection and aha moments shows up.

This episode is brought to you by Bell College Consulting. Visit bellcollegeconsulting.com to learn more.

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Meet Stephanie

Welcome back. Stephanie Meade is an independent educational consultant based in Los Angeles and founder of The Collegiate Edge, where she offers custom college guidance to students and families. She’s visited hundreds of campuses and has guided families through every kind of college visit — from cross-country tours to quick local stops.

I’ve asked her to share what students should notice, ask, and think about during their visits — and how to cut through the noise and find clarity.

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Why Visit?

Chris: Stephanie, welcome to the show. Thanks for joining me tonight.
Stephanie: Thank you so much, Chris. I am delighted to be here, and I love this topic.
Chris: Wonderful. Let’s jump in. What’s the purpose of visiting colleges? Why should students and families go? What should they take away?

Stephanie:
College visits do not replace research — they are just one facet of it. Sometimes families say, “We need to start visiting colleges to figure out what the student wants.” But I’d argue that most of that work should be done ahead of time.

A visit should add value beyond what research can tell you. The intangible feel of the student body, the vibe of the community — these things matter. Students often tell me, “I saw so many people I could be friends with,” or “I didn’t see anyone who felt like my people.” That has value, even if it’s not a concrete data point.

Campuses are communities. They each have their own feel and flavor. After a student has narrowed down what they’re looking for and identified colleges through research, visits help refine those feelings and compare campuses in ways data alone can’t.

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What to Look For

Stephanie:
I look closely at students. I listen to the tour guide, but I’m also scanning the background:

• What do students look like?

• What are they wearing?

• Are they walking together or alone?

• Do they look excited, exhausted, stressed?

These observations can be more powerful than the facts you’ll hear on the tour.

I also recommend reading bulletin boards. Do you see political events? Arts events? LGBTQ events? Sports? What does the college spotlight?

Most campuses still have printed newspapers. I always read them — you’ll learn things no tour guide will mention.

And I always visit the dining hall. You can see whether students tend to self-segregate, how they interact, and what the overall dynamic feels like.

I also notice whether the campus feels well maintained. A building needing paint isn’t a deal breaker — once, a college said, “You’ll see deferred maintenance because we’re investing in two new departments and have hired 10 new faculty.” That tells you something important: their priorities.

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Balancing the Sales Pitch

Chris: The tour and info session can feel commercial. How do you balance that?

Stephanie:
In an ideal world, students should do the info session and the tour. Yes, it’s a sales pitch — but you’ll learn things you can’t find elsewhere. There may be new programs or initiatives not yet online. And you get to talk to a real student, which is incredibly valuable.

Also: sign in. Some colleges track demonstrated interest.

I encourage families to schedule unstructured time on campus too. Wander around. Talk to students. It’s easy to approach people — imagine a nervous family approaching you at your high school. You’d help them! Students on college campuses are usually happy to help too.

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How Much Time Should You Spend?

Stephanie:
Ideally, three and a half to four hours.

• About an hour for the info session

• About an hour for the tour

• And then time to wander, explore, and see things that matter to your interests

Families don’t always realize they can also schedule appointments — with coaches, music faculty, academic departments, financial aid, disability services, and more.

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A Favorite Visit Story

Stephanie:
One of my favorite stories is about a student who came from a family with a “pedestal school.” Her older brother went there, and she was sure that was her place too.

But after visiting several other colleges with an open mind, she came back and said, “I realized I could be happy at many different campuses.” It completely shifted her search. She ended up at a school very different from the “wish school” — and she’s delighted.

The mindset matters.

My final takeaway:
Tour campuses with the mindset of a discerning customer.
When students visit early in the process, they’re sometimes fearful — they think they’re being evaluated. They’re not.
You’re shopping for a very expensive item. Go prepared. Know your concerns. Ask hard questions. The mindset shift empowers students to learn what they need to learn.

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Contact Stephanie

Chris: Stephanie, thank you for all the advice. If people want to get in touch with you, how can they find you?
Stephanie: Visit collegiateedge.com. We’re based in Los Angeles but work with students everywhere. Just fill out the contact form — I’d be happy to hear from any friend of yours, Chris.

Thank you, Stephanie. You’re amazing.

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Top Tips

This is the part of the show where we highlight key points from earlier — a summary of the top takeaways.

Your Top 10 Tips for College Visits:

• Include unstructured time on campus.

• Talk to the tour guide.

• Don’t worry — you are not being evaluated.

• Sign in at the admissions office.

• Do the official info session and tour.

• Read bulletin boards and school newspapers.

• Look at the students.

• Make appointments with people you may want to talk to.

• Research the college ahead of time.

• Be a discerning customer.

And that’s the College Visits show.
Thank you again to Stephanie Meade — and remember: College is awesome.