Saving Money on College Visits

One of the rites of passage for high school students planning to attend college is the college visit. While the college tour can be a great way to get to know a school better, it can be expensive, especially for students considering schools that are out of state or far from home. There are many ways to cut costs on college visits. Here are 10 tips for saving money on college visits.

1. Limit the Number of College Visits. Start by putting together a list of colleges that interest you. Then do as much research as possible on the internet and contact each school by mail or phone for additional information. Use what you learn to save on college visits by narrowing your list of schools to the few that you want to visit in person.

2. Check on Subsidies. Find out whether the schools that you want to tour offer any subsidies to reduce the cost of visits. You may save money on college visits by getting funds toward transportation, discounts on food on campus, reduced rates at local hotels or, perhaps, a room in a college dormitory.

3. Look for Transportation Discounts. If you plan to fly or take the train to any college visits, be sure to ask about student discounts.

4. Only Visit Schools after Admission. Don't visit schools until after you are admitted. There's no point in visiting and falling in love with a school if attending it is out of the question.

5. Only Visit Each School Once. Don't visit a school more than once unless it is close to home and, therefore, can be visited in a day.

6. Tour Multiple Schools on One Trip. Visit more than one school on the same trip if possible. Not only will this save money on college visits, but it will make it easier for you to compare schools.

7. Be Prepared. Make your college visit budget go further by being well prepared when you tour each campus. Schedule a meeting with each school's admissions officer and one-on-one discussions with current students for the day of your visit. Also, prepare a list of questions and topics you want to address so that you are sure to get all the answers you need during your college tour.

8. Combine Visits with Other Students. Your high school counselor may be able to connect you with other students interested in one or more of the schools on your college visit list. If so, you may be able to plan a college visit with another family, saving money and, at the same time, getting another viewpoint on the school.

9. Do Virtual Visits. For schools that are distant from your home, consider doing a virtual tour of the campus rather than a live visit. Another related option is to attend a virtual college fair for one or more of the colleges on your list. Virtual college fairs may offer opportunities to view live video presentations with admissions professionals, attend one-on-one meetings with admissions officers in virtual booths, and have video conversations with students at the college. For more information on college fairs, visit www.collegeweeklive.com.

10. Go on a Group Tour. Some tour operators set up tours for high school students who want to visit many schools in a short period of time. This can be a relatively economical way for students to see as many as a dozen schools. In addition, it can provide a relatively broad view of how the schools compare and what sets each apart. One company that specialized in college tours for students is www.college-visits.com.

Sources:

Alison Damast, www.businessweek.com, Saving on College Visits - BusinessWeek

Erin Peterson, www.bankrate.com, 8 ways to save money on college visits