Most students want to take a break from classes during spring break. However, while it might be fun to go to the beach, a smart choice would be to consider your college options by touring the campuses of some of the colleges you are interested in attending. Spring breaks vary between schools, so the chances are good that you’ll be able to take a tour while college classes are in session. Let’s look at how college tours work, and how to get the most out of your tour.

Organized Tours

Check your area for groups that provide organized tours to college campuses. You may have an organization like the Spring Break College Tour in Louisville, Kentucky. Here, students as young as eighth-graders have the opportunity to hear from, and ask questions of, experts discussing career options and college financing. Then they tour nearby college campuses, getting a feel for college life.

Headquartered in South Carolina, College-Visits is another organization that does workshops and planned tours of colleges throughout the country. Through their connections, participants are able to meet with college officials and take part in student-led tours, as well as engaging in fun activities to soak in the college atmosphere.

The advantage of the organized tours is that experts are lined up for you, appointments are made with the right college administrators, and you have a chance to interact with your peers. Some, however, may find official tours too restricting, or too impersonal.

DIY Tours

If you’re more of a “do-it-yourself” type person, here are some tips to help you get the information you need.

• Stick to One Area – You have a limited amount of time, so use it wisely. Cut down on travel time and costs by scheduling visits to all the colleges in one particular region you are interested in. If you are still interested in college options in other areas, schedule a separate trip at another time.

• What to Visit – Be sure to schedule an information session from the colleges. These will give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and they often include sitting in on actual classes. Make time for a visit to the student center and cafeteria. These are good places to meet and talk with students of the college, and they give you a good feel of what the college life is like on campus.

• Make Contacts – This is not a time to be shy. Asking actual students will give you an unfiltered view of what the college is like. If you know someone who is attending the college, you will be able to get a “behind-the-scenes” tour of the college, which may be more informative than the official tours.

• Take Notes – You will be seeing a number of schools, and you will have lots of questions. Taking notes that you can compare and review after your visits is essential. Make a list of questions to ask at each school and note the answers you receive. Go beyond just recording the facts, write down how you felt during the visit and what your likes and dislikes were.

Be Sure Achieve Test  Prep Is One of Your Stops

After you’ve narrowed down your college choices, contact Achieve to find out how to get your college degree faster and with less cost than traditional methods allow. Our counselors will go over your college options to find the one that is the best fit for you. We will find out what, and how many, classes you can take through credit-by-exam. After just a few weeks of our prep classes you will be able to take and pass an exam that will give you the same credit as a traditional semester’s worth of work. You can take the courses on one of our many campuses, or through our live, virtual online courses – giving you the benefits of a real classroom from the comfort of your own home.

For more information on how to get your degree faster and more economically, contact Achieve today!