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Featuring Matthew Whelan, director of admission, St. John's University (Queens, NY)

Q. My Parents, teachers, and friends say I should visit the colleges that interest me. Is a campus visit really necessary? What's wrong with just sending in an application based on brochures and Web sites?

A. You probably know the old saying, "Seeing is believing." Like many old sayings, this one makes a good point: The best way to see if you will really like something is to take a look at it for yourself. How many people would move to a new town without walking around the neighborhood, talking with neighbors, and taking a good look at the location?

Choosing a College is like moving to a new town. You'll be spending four years of your life there; if you live on campus, the university will actually be your home. Few decisions are as important -- or as rewarding -- as your choice of a college. In other words, you will benefit greatly from visiting the campus that interests you before making a decision.

Of course, it's useful to search university Web sites and read the brochures, view books, and other printed materials you probably have already begun to receive. Those publications -- online and in print -- tell you a great deal about a college's philosophy, its history, and the quality of its programs. A campus visit is a vital complement to these materials. When you finally sit down to make your decision, you will benefit from all the information you have at hand -- including the evidence of your own senses.

A school's Office of Admission is the best place to begin. That is where you will find experienced, knowledgeable professionals who can advise you on every aspect of the College Experience. In addition, most admission offices will go out of their way to schedule a visit that is most convenient for you and your family.

For example, here at St. John's University, the Office of Admission invites students and their parents to walk in and speak with a counselor every weekday, as well as Saturdays. If you call and ask to meet at a different time, our counselors are happy to schedule an appointment that is convenient for you and your family -- day or evening, weekday or weekend. You also can enjoy the full schedule of  

campus tours

  that St. John's -- like most universities -- offers to visitors.

When you do visit a campus that interests you, be sure to see as much as you can. Do the residence halls seem like the right fit for you? Do you like the campus' location and layout? Do the students seem diverse and interesting? Talk with students and faculty. Eat the food. Pick up the campus newspaper. Visit a classroom. And above all, ask questions. Feeling totally comfortable with the university is the best way to know it's a good fit for you.

So, along with Web sites and recruitment literature, try your best to schedule a visit with the admission offices of the colleges you choose. You'll be glad you did.

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