US College tours are a great way to find the best school for you. The US has over 4,500 colleges and universities. Even amongst the most selective schools, there is a great deal of variety in student ethos and educational philosophy. Though many schools seem similar online, in-person tours are the best way to learn about the differences amongst schools and to determine which schools are your “best fit.”
At Vela Education, we know that a US university tour is still a commitment with logistical challenges for international families. However, if you can visit the US, we recommend doing a university tour for the following reasons:
School and Student Ethos: The type of student each school attracts and the school’s approach to undergraduate education varies amongst even the most selective schools. Online research about teacher-student rations or the values students’ hold and promote, both in and outside of the classroom, is a great place to start. But this online research cannot adequately replace meeting students in person and speaking with faculty. Relationships with your peers and with faculty will be at the heart of your education and shape your experience. Engaging with these people before you apply is the best way to determine if these are schools where you could thrive!
Geographic Diversity: The US is a huge country and different regions have drastically different weather as well as cultural norms. Also, excellent US universities are in a variety of environments! Dartmouth is rural New Hampshire but Columbia is in Manhattan. Both schools are excellent, but their locations significantly shape the student experience. Also, the lovely campuses of US universities that attract international students require ample space! These spectacular campus communities are often found in rural areas or in the suburbs outside of major cities. Vela Education recommends touring schools in urban, suburban, and rural areas so you can see first-hand which kind of environment is right for you. Also, we recommend that you look in the Northeast, the South, the Midwest, and the West Coast. You may be surprised that you want to go to a school in a part of the US you have not heard of!
Demonstrated Interest: US university admissions committees often use an internal metric called “demonstrated interest” when making final decisions about a student’s application. In-person tours help you determine if the school is a good fit for you—but they also let a school know you are sincerely interested in them! If you do apply to that school, your visit will be recorded in your admissions file. When schools are making final decisions about offers, they want to know a student is likely to accept! An applicant’s “demonstrated interest”—tours, emails, and participation in online webinars, are all documented in their file. Demonstrating interest will increase your chances of being accepted.
Vela Education is happy to help students and families plan tours that give them the information they need to make an informed choice about their future university. Being confident that you have chosen schools that are right for you helps when making strategic decisions about Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 applications. If you want to plan a US university tour that provides a thorough understanding of the variety of schools you can choose from, consider scheduling a strategic consultation. We are here to help.