It’s a rite of passage for most high school students. Smack in the middle of their busiest academic and social years, juniors and seniors spend vacations and weekends touring colleges.
With my first kid, we visited many schools up and down the eastern seaboard. Eventually, we got into the groove and even learned to love these mini-adventures, but it wasn’t always easy. Slowly, the college campuses started to blend together. The trips also started to feel less like a vacation and more like a slog.
That’s when I knew I had to rethink these college tours and find ways to make them more fun. Here’s some of my best advice.
Have your kid make a video diary
It’s so hard to remember the nuances of every school when you go to so many. To help, right after you leave, I recommend that your teen shoot a quick video diary of their thoughts.
In the video, make sure they talk about what they loved, what they didn’t, and how the campus compares to some of the other schools on their list.
Campuses blur after you’ve been to a few, so these videos will ensure you remember every detail.
Treat your college trips like a mini vacation
Skip the boring Courtyard Marriott and stay somewhere fun (budget depending, of course).
I recommend you find a VRBO with a cool amenity — like a hot tub, or a condo that allows dogs — and treat your college trip like an honest-to-goodness vacation.
Giving up so many weekends is worth it if your downtime is relaxing and fun.
Create a tour tradition
Give your family a fun task on every tour, creating something like a tradition.
Related stories
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
For example, we made sure to find the college mascot statue for each school and took a picture with it. It’s simple, fast, and free.
It’s also fun and makes cool social content for your teen.
Make lunch an event
Rather than sliding up a tray in the campus cafeteria, use lunch to get to know the college town. I recommend doing a little research beforehand and then heading to the spot where everyone in the town hangs out.
Check out the best sandwich shop or the pizza place with a view of the quad. Live like the locals live. Having food adventures while you’re visiting is much more fun.
Let the kids drive and have the aux
If they’re of age, I recommend letting your kids take the wheel. This may not be fun for every kid, but passing off the wheel and the speakers to your high schooler gives them a preview of their coming autonomy.
Long stretches behind the wheel also mean they aren’t staring into their phones — and that could lead to some great (rare!) conversation, especially as they talk you through what they’ve queued up for your listening pleasure.
Bail on rainy days
If your kid is about to tour one of their top colleges and rain is in the forecast, reschedule. Seriously.
It may sound dramatic, but you only have a few hours per campus, so everything you encounter on that tour will leave an impression. The tour guide, the students you see, and the weather can all affect your understanding of the school.
Give the school highest on your list the best chance to succeed by visiting in sunshine. Plus, everyone will be in a much better mood.
