How to Make the Most of Campus Visits

In the vast landscape of higher education in the United States, choosing the right college or university can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. With countless options available, it's easy for students to fall into the trap of FOMO, or fear of missing out. 

How do you ensure you're not overlooking the perfect fit for you? 

Here are some practical tips for starting your university search and maybe keeping the FOMO at bay along the way.

Identifying Your Priorities

The first step in building your university list is also probably the hardest – identifying what matters most to you. This can mean dialing in on factors like campus location, campus size, academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and campus culture. 

While every aspect is important, what holds the most significance for you personally? 

Understanding your priorities will guide you in creating a list of potential schools that align with your values and goals. 

One valuable tool for this process is Corsava, a platform designed to help students clarify their preferences and narrow down their options based on individual priorities.

Early Exploration: Just Get Out There and Visit

For students embarking on the university search early in their high school career, exploring nearby campuses can provide valuable insights. Plan visits to universities within driving distance, regardless of whether you envision attending them in the future. Exposure to diverse campus environments—from large public universities to small private colleges—can help you discern what resonates with you.

Rather than fixating on a particular school's prestige or ranking, focus on experiencing different communities and campus cultures. These early visits serve as a foundation for understanding your preferences and narrowing down your options later on.

Unless You Can Time Travel, Utilize Virtual Tours

The prospect of visiting every potential school on their list is daunting, if not completely impossible. Virtual tours offer a convenient alternative, allowing students to explore campuses from the comfort of their homes. 

Platforms like YouVisit and Campus Tours provide immersive experiences that replicate the on-campus visit.

Utilize virtual tours to eliminate schools that don't meet your criteria and prioritize visits to those that remain on your shortlist. While virtual exploration may lack some of the charm of an in-person visit, it's an effective way to narrow down your options efficiently.

When You Do Visit, Make It Official

When possible, prioritize official campus visits to your top-choice schools. Sign up for information sessions, campus tours, and interviews offered through the university’s website versus just popping over to a campus to walk around. These university-led options are often led by current students, and they offer firsthand insight into the university experience. 

Here’s another thing. These visits don’t just give you valuable information; they also serve as “demonstrated interest” at campuses where this might be a factor in admission. 

Plus, when it comes time to write essays and the university you visited asks, “Why are you choosing to apply to our amazing school?” you will have an answer that shows you have taken the time to fully understand your motivation. 

Before you visit, go over the things that matter most to you in a university campus again. If you have specific questions that you are hoping to have answered or mysteries you are hoping to uncover, write them down. When  you are on your official tour in an information session, ask!

Navigating the university search process can be overwhelming, but through a thoughtful and strategic approach, you can overcome FOMO. Whether you're exploring campuses in person or virtually, prioritizing your preferences and making meaningful visits will guide you toward the right decision.

Remember, the journey to finding your ideal university is as much about self-discovery as it is about exploration. 

Trust the process, stay open-minded, and embrace the opportunity to find your place in the academic world.

Universities & Colleges with Early Action Plans

Below is a list of colleges and universities organized by state that offer non-binding Early Action application plans.

Please note that this lists the most popular colleges in each state that Blue Admission clients have chosen or considered for Early Action applications. While it is not meant to be a comprehensive list of early action plans, it is likely very close. 

Additionally, it is worth noting that colleges and universities can add or drop Early Action programs at their discretion. While we work hard to verify and update this list annually, application plans and deadlines should always be confirmed during your application process. 

Alabama

• University of Alabama: https://gobama.ua.edu/

• Auburn University: https://www.auburn.edu/admissions/

Arkansas

• Hendrix College: https://www.hendrix.edu/admission/

• University of Arkansas: https://admissions.uark.edu/

California

• California Institute of Technology (Caltech): https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/

• California Lutheran University: https://www.callutheran.edu/admission/

• Chapman University: https://www.chapman.edu/admission/index.aspx

• Loyola Marymount University: https://www.lmu.edu/admission/

• Mount Saint Mary's University: https://www.msmu.edu/admission/

• Saint Mary's College of California:https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/admissions-aid

• Santa Clara University: https://www.scu.edu/admission/

• Soka University of America: https://www.soka.edu/admission/undergraduate-admission

• Stanford University: https://admission.stanford.edu/

• University of the Pacific: https://www.pacific.edu/admission

• University of Redlands: Website

• University of San Francisco: https://www.usfca.edu/admission

• University of Southern California: https://admission.usc.edu/

• Whittier College: https://www.whittier.edu/admission

Colorado

• Colorado College: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/admission/

• Colorado State University: https://admissions.colostate.edu/

• University of Colorado Boulder: https://www.colorado.edu/admissions

• University of Denver: https://www.du.edu/admission-aid

Connecticut

• Fairfield University: https://www.fairfield.edu/undergraduate/admission/index.html

• Yale University: https://admissions.yale.edu/

Delaware

• University of Delaware: https://www.udel.edu/apply/

District of Columbia

• Georgetown University: https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/

• Howard University: https://www2.howard.edu/admission

Florida

• Eckerd College: https://www.eckerd.edu/admission/

• Lynn University: https://www.lynn.edu/admissions

• University of Miami: https://welcome.miami.edu/

• University of Tampa: https://www.ut.edu/admissions

Georgia

• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech): https://admission.gatech.edu/

• Georgia State University: https://admissions.gsu.edu/

• Mercer University: https://www.mercer.edu/admissions/

• Morehouse College: https://www.morehouse.edu/admissions/

• University of Georgia: https://www.admissions.uga.edu/

Illinois

• Augustana College: https://www.augustana.edu/admissions/apply

• DePaul University: https://www.depaul.edu/admission-and-aid/Pages/default.aspx

• Knox College: https://www.knox.edu/admission

• Lake Forest College: https://www.lakeforest.edu/admissions

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago: https://www.saic.edu/admissions

• University of Chicago: https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/

• University of Illinois at Chicago: https://admissions.uic.edu/

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: https://illinois.edu/admissions/

• Wheaton College: https://www.wheaton.edu/undergraduate-admissions/

Indiana

• Butler University: https://www.butler.edu/admission

• DePauw University: https://www.depauw.edu/admission-aid/

• Purdue University: https://www.purdue.edu/home/become-a-student/

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: https://www.rose-hulman.edu/admissions-and-aid/index.html

• University of Notre Dame: https://admissions.nd.edu/

• University of Kentucky: https://www.uky.edu/admission

Louisiana

• Tulane University: https://admission.tulane.edu/

Maine

• University of Maine: https://umaine.edu/admissions/

• University of New England: https://www.une.edu/admissions

Maryland

• Goucher College: www.collegeadmissionstalk.com

• Mount St. Mary's University: https://msmary.edu/admissions/index.html

• St. John's College: www.stjohns.edu

• University of Maryland: https://www.admissions.umd.edu/

Massachusetts

• Babson College: www.babson.edu

• Berklee College of Music: https://college.berklee.edu/admissions

• Clark University:www.clarku.edu

• Curry College: https://www.curry.edu/admission

• Emerson College: https://www.emerson.edu/apply

• Hampshire College: https://www.hampshire.edu/admission

• Harvard University: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions

• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: https://www.regionaladmissions.com/school-directory/massachusetts-college-of-pharmacy-and-health-sciences

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): https://mitadmissions.org/

• Northeastern University: https://www.northeastern.edu/admissions/

• University of Massachusetts Amherst https://www.umass.edu/admissions

• University of Massachusetts Boston: https://www.umb.edu/admissions

• Wheaton College: https://wheatoncollege.edu/admission/

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: https://www.wpi.edu/admissions

Michigan

• Kalamazoo College: https://www.kzoo.edu/admission/

• Michigan State University: https://admissions.msu.edu/

• University of Michigan: https://admissions.umich.edu/

Minnesota

• University of Minnesota—Twin Cities: https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/

Mississippi

• Millsaps College: https://www.millsaps.edu/admission/

New Hampshire

• Saint Anselm College: https://www.anselm.edu/admission

• Southern New Hampshire University: https://www.snhu.edu/admission

• University of New Hampshire: https://admissions.unh.edu/

New Jersey

• Princeton University: https://admission.princeton.edu/

• Rutgers—New Brunswick: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/

• Seton Hall University: https://www.shu.edu/undergraduate-admissions/index.cfm

New York

• Adelphi University:https://www.adelphi.edu/admissions/

• Bard College: https://www.bard.edu/admission/

• Fordham University https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/

• Hofstra University: https://www.hofstra.edu/admission/

• Pace University: https://www.pace.edu/admission-and-aid

• Parsons School of Design (The New School): https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/admission/

• Pratt Institute: https://www.pratt.edu/admissions/

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: https://admissions.rpi.edu/

• SUNY Albany (University at Albany): https://www.albany.edu/admissions-undergraduate

• SUNY Binghamton (Binghamton University): https://www.binghamton.edu/admissions/

• SUNY Buffalo (University at Buffalo): https://admissions.buffalo.edu/

North Carolina

• Elon University: https://www.elon.edu/u/nav-admissions/

• High Point University: https://www.highpoint.edu/admissions/

• North Carolina State University: https://admissions.ncsu.edu/

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://admissions.unc.edu/

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte: https://admissions.uncc.edu/

• University of North Carolina at Wilmington: https://uncw.edu/admissions/

• Western Carolina University: https://www.wcu.edu/apply/undergraduate-admissions/index.aspx

Ohio

• Case Western Reserve University: https://case.edu/admission/

• Cleveland Institute of Art: https://www.cia.edu/admissions

• College of Wooster: https://wooster.edu/admissions/

• Miami University: https://miamioh.edu/admission/

• Ohio State University: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

• University of Cincinnati: https://admissions.uc.edu/

• University of Dayton: https://udayton.edu/apply/undergraduate/index.php

Oklahoma

• University of Oklahoma: https://www.ou.edu/admissions

• University of Tulsa: https://admission.utulsa.edu/

Oregon

• Lewis & Clark College: https://college.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/

• Oregon State University: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/

• Reed College: https://www.reed.edu/apply/

• University of Oregon: https://admissions.uoregon.edu/

Pennsylvania

• Penn State (all undergraduate campuses): https://admissions.psu.edu/

• Temple University: https://admissions.temple.edu/

• Villanova University: https://www1.villanova.edu/university/undergraduate-admission.html

• Washington & Jefferson College: https://www.washjeff.edu/department/admission/

South Carolina

• College of Charleston: https://charleston.edu/admission/

• Furman University: https://www.furman.edu/admissions/

• University of South Carolina: https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/undergraduate_admissions/

• Wofford College: https://www.wofford.edu/admission

Tennessee

• Rhodes College: https://rhodes.edu/admission-aid

• Sewanee: University of the South: https://new.sewanee.edu/admission-aid/

• University of Tennessee--Knoxville: https://admissions.utk.edu/

Texas

• Abilene Christian University: https://www.acu.edu/admissions/

• Austin College: https://www.austincollege.edu/admission/

• Baylor University: https://www.baylor.edu/admissions/

• Southern Methodist University: https://www.smu.edu/Admission

• Southwestern University: https://www.southwestern.edu/admission/

• Tarleton State University: https://www.tarleton.edu/becomeatexan/

• Texas Christian University: https://admissions.tcu.edu/apply/faqs/admission-requirements.php

• Texas Lutheran University: https://www.tlu.edu/admissions

• Trinity University: https://new.trinity.edu/admissions-aid

• University of Dallas: https://udallas.edu/admissions/undergrad/index.php

• University of St. Thomas: https://www.stthom.edu/Admissions/Undergraduate_Admissions/Index.aqf

Utah

• University of Utah: https://admissions.utah.edu/

Vermont

• University of Vermont: https://www.uvm.edu/admissions

Virginia

• George Mason University: https://hap.gmu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions

• Hampton University: https://www.hamptonu.edu/apply/

• Hollins University: https://www.hollins.edu/admission/

• James Madison University: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/

• Old Dominion University: https://www.odu.edu/admission/undergraduate

• University of Richmond: https://admission.richmond.edu/

• University of Virginia: https://admission.virginia.edu/

Washington

• Seattle Pacific University: https://spu.edu/undergraduate-admissions

• Whitworth University: https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/administration/admissions/first-year-students/admissions-process/

Wisconsin

• Beloit College: https://www.beloit.edu/admission/apply/international-applicants/requirements/

• Lawrence University: https://www.lawrence.edu/admissions-aid/apply

• University of Wisconsin—Madison: https://admissions.wisc.edu/apply-as-a-freshman/

Universities & Colleges with Early Decision Plans

Below is a list of colleges and universities organized by state that offer binding Early Decision application plans.

Please note that this lists the most popular colleges in each state that Blue Admission clients have chosen or considered for Early Decision applications. While it is not meant to be a comprehensive list of early decision plans, it is likely very close. 

Additionally, it is worth noting that colleges and universities can add or drop Early Decision programs at their discretion. While we work hard to verify and update this list annually, application plans and deadlines should always be confirmed during your application process. 

California

• Claremont McKenna College*

• Harvey Mudd College*

• Loyola Marymount University*

• Occidental College*

• Pitzer College*

• Pomona College*

• Santa Clara University*

• Scripps College*

• University of San Francisco

Connecticut

• Fairfield University*

• Trinity College*

• Wesleyan University *

District of Columbia

• American University*

• George Washington University*

Florida

• University of Miami*

Georgia

• Emory University*

 Illinois

• Northwestern University

• University of Chicago* 

 Iowa

• Grinnell College*  

Louisiana

• Tulane University*

Maine

• Bates College*

• Bowdoin College*

• Colby College* 

Maryland

• Johns Hopkins University* 

Massachusetts

• Amherst College

• Babson College*

• Boston College*

• Bentley University*

• Boston University*

• Brandeis University*

• Clark University*

• Mount Holyoke College*

• Northeastern University*

• Smith College*

• Tufts University*

• Wellesley College*

• Wheaton College*

• Williams College

Minnesota

• Carleton College*

• Macalester College*

Missouri

• Washington University in St. Louis* 

New Hampshire

• Dartmouth College

New Jersey

• Stevens Institute of Technology*

New York

• Bard College

• Barnard College

• Colgate University*

• Columbia University

• Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

• Cornell University

• Fordham University

• Hamilton College*

• New York University*

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute*

• Rochester Institute of Technology*

• Sarah Lawrence College*

• Skidmore College*

• St. Lawrence University

• Syracuse University*

• University of Rochester*

• Vassar College*

North Carolina

• Davidson College*

• Duke University

• Elon University

• High Point University*

• Meredith College

• Wake Forest University*

Ohio

• Case Western Reserve University*

• Denison University*

• Kenyon College*

• Oberlin College and Conservatory*

Oregon

• Reed College*

Pennsylvania

• Allegheny College*

• Bryn Mawr College*

• Bucknell University*

• Carnegie Mellon University*

• Dickinson College*

• Drexel University

• Franklin & Marshall College*

• Haverford College*

• Lafayette College*

• Lehigh University*

• Swarthmore College*

• University of Pennsylvania

• Washington & Jefferson College 

Rhode Island

• Brown University

• Rhode Island School of Design 

Tennessee

• Rhodes College*

• Sewanee: University of the South*

• Vanderbilt University* 

Texas

• Austin College

• Rice University

• Southern Methodist University*

• Texas Christian University

• Trinity University* 

Vermont

• Middlebury College*

Virginia

• College of William and Mary*

• Hampden-Sydney College

• University of Richmond*

• University of Virginia

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

• Washington and Lee University*

Washington

• Whitman College*

*School offers both Early Decision I and II