11/08/2025
Can’t travel to every campus? You’re not alone — and that’s okay.
Here’s how to make informed college decisions without expensive road trips:
Talk to current students
Surveys show the single most valuable part of any campus experience—virtual or in‑person—is talking to real students. Ask about everyday life, not just the fun events.
Use high-quality virtual tools
Look for 360° tours, interactive maps, student blogs, and live chats. University of Michigan’s virtual tours let you explore even areas that in-person visits often skip. Although you can’t get the real feel as if you’re there, you will be able to see how the campus looks.
Watch TikToks & Instagram reviews
Authentic student content often gives you the real vibe, sometimes more than scripted campus tours.
Visit only your top choices (if you can)
On-campus visits matter most for decisions you’ve earned, post-acceptance, or final contenders.
Timing is everything
Try to visit during a weekday or academic term if possible, so you can see what it looks like when people are around and get the real feel how it would be living and studying there.
Bottom line for parents & students:
✅ You don’t need to visit every campus.
✅ Use virtual tours + authentic student voices to explore your long list,
✅ Then, consider in-person visits for top contenders for the final decision-making step.
We help families create effective campus visit strategies, virtual and in-person, to save time, money, and stress.
