If you Google “when should we start visiting colleges,” you’ll get answers that range from “middle school” (absolutely not) to “whenever feels right” (helpful, but vague). The truth is somewhere in the middle—and a lot more practical.
College visits are one of the most powerful tools you have to help your teen figure out where they’ll actually thrive, not just where the brochures look pretty. But timing matters. Visit too early, and everything blends together. Visit too late, and you’re panic-booking flights while arguing about essays.
Here’s the realistic, parent-tested timeline for when college visits actually make sense—and how to use them wisely.
Junior Year
For most families, spring of junior year is the gold standard for college visits. Your teen is old enough to have opinions, self-awareness, and at least a vague idea of what they might want to study—but the pressure hasn’t fully crushed everyone’s spirit yet.
By this point:
- Grades and test scores are starting to take shape
- Interests feel a little less “I might want to be an astronaut/YouTuber”
- You’re not racing against application deadlines
This is when visits go from “field trip” to “useful.”
Why junior year visits work
- Teens can actually articulate what they like and don’t like
- You can compare schools meaningfully
- There’s still time to adjust the college list
Parent takeaway:
Aim for 3–6 visits during junior year, spread out enough that every campus doesn’t blur into “brick buildings and dining halls.”
Sophomore Year: Only If It’s Convenient
Sophomore-year college visits are optional—not mandatory—and absolutely not worth special trips unless there’s a good reason.
They do make sense if:
- You’re already traveling near a college town
- Your teen is unusually focused on a specific major (engineering, arts, nursing, etc.)
- You want a low-pressure “college exists” exposure
They don’t make sense if:
- You expect your teen to make real decisions
- You think this will somehow “get it out of the way” (it might)
At this stage, visits are about exposure, not evaluation.
Senior Year Fall: Filling Gaps, Not Starting from Scratch
Fall of senior year is not the time to suddenly realize you should probably start visiting colleges. But it is useful for:
- Schools discovered late in the process
- Revisiting top contenders
- Confirming gut feelings
By now, your teen should already have a sense of what works and what doesn’t. These visits are about refinement, not exploration.
Admitted Student Days: The Final Reality Check
Once acceptance letters arrive, many schools offer admitted student days in the spring. These are different from regular tours—and far more useful.
They often include:
- Department-specific sessions
- Meetings with professors
- Real conversations with current students
- Financial aid explanations
This is where “I think I like this school” turns into “Yes, I can actually see myself here.”
Parent takeaway:
If your teen is torn between two or three schools, admitted student days often break the tie.
My daughter completely changed her choice during one of these and it was the best decision she could have made. – Meagan Wristen
Timing Matters More Than You Think (Yes, Even the Day of the Week)
If you want to see what campus life really looks like, visit when classes are in session.
Best times to visit:
- Mid-fall or mid-spring semester
- Monday through Thursday
- Late morning to early afternoon
Times to avoid:
- Finals week (everyone is miserable)
- Right before major breaks (campus is empty)
- Summer (beautiful, but misleading)
Summer visits are fine for logistics and facilities—but don’t mistake a quiet quad for actual student life.
Parent takeaway:
A “pretty” campus means nothing if it feels dead once school is in session.
So… What’s the Ideal College Visit Timeline?
Here’s the simple version parents actually need:
- Sophomore year: Optional, casual, zero pressure
- Junior year: Primary visiting season (this is the big one)
- Senior fall: Strategic follow-ups
- Senior spring: Decision-making visits
If you’re behind this timeline, don’t panic. Plenty of families compress visits and still make great choices. Just be intentional and honest about what information you still need.
Final Parent Reality Check
College visits aren’t about finding the perfect school. They’re about helping your teen:
- Understand themselves better
- Recognize what environments work for them
- Make an informed decision they feel confident owning
Your job isn’t to steer them toward the “best” college. It’s to help them gather enough real-world information that the choice doesn’t feel like a blind leap.
And yes—this means multiple campus tours, too many Starbucks stops, and at least one moment where you realize your kid is actually growing up.
You’ve got this. Even if it doesn’t feel like it every time you open another admissions email.
