Try to visit when school is in session. That may not be possible given your schedule but it is the best way to see the campus. Schools are at their busiest during the summer and other breaks. If you want a more personalized visit, try to go during a less busy time. Open Houses or accepted students weekends can be a great way to cover a lot in a short period of time and it's nice to meet other students but you won't get the personal experience you have on an individual visit.

Plan far in advance. Interview slots often fill up quickly.

Be on time! And check in at the front desk.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour may be an hour or longer and you can cover some real distance on these tours. Also dress appropriately for the weather. Some schools will offer ponchos or umbrellas if it's raining but it's better to come prepared.

Be open. You may think you know how you feel about a school but nothing compares to actually seeing it for yourself.

Know what you want to learn about the school. What are the important issues for you? Ask about them. Don't let your parents do all the talking. They don't have to live there for four years, you do.

Try to take in as much as you can. Schools often offer tours, interviews, and information sessions. These sessions may be a bit repetitive but they can all be very informative. Some schools also offer overnight visits, the ability to sit in on classes, day hosts, passes to eat in their dining halls, or invitations to campus events. These activities allow you to experience the campus firsthand, away from the prepackaged sanitized view offered by the admission office.

On the car ride home or later that night, write down all your impressions. If you are seeing several schools in a short period of time, you must do this or they will all blend together in your mind.

Try not to let one bad interaction sour your feelings about the school. Your tour guide may say or do something you don't like, you may not have anything in common, or you may run into someone who looks unfriendly. Try to look beyond this first impression. One person cannot possibly represent the entire school. If before your visit you really liked the school and then something like this happens try to visit again or if that is not possible, call the admission office and ask if you can speak with another student via email or phone. See if the school offers a chat board or other ways to talk to students. Talk to as many as you can.

Be polite to everyone you talk to on the phone and on campus. Negative behavior has a way of getting back to the admission committee. In particular, you never know to whom you are talking on the phone. In some offices it isn't unusual for admission officers to answer the phone during busy times.