Spring Break is a great chance for families with college-bound kids to check out prospective college campuses. There is nothing like actually walking around a campus and talking to a handful of people to help a student determine whether this could be their new home-away-from-home for the next four years. (Little things–like how the students are dressed, what the food is like, or what kind of atmosphere prevails–can make all the difference when it comes to choosing a college setting where you’ll feel comfortable.) So, the college visit is a good idea, we decided, but what about our younger children? Will they be an embarrassment to my teen? And what are we supposed to do with them for the day?
First, it’s never too early to start College Awareness. First grade, second grade– why not? Your younger child will most likely feel more comfortable with big sis or bro moving on to college if they understand the environment in which they are moving into, and feel a part of the decision. So, make the college visit a part of the family vacation package, and include them in the adventure! Ensure that the siblings understand that it is the teenager’s decision as to which college he or she attends, but that it is an important decision and you need their help. This doesn’t mean that little junior has to hang onto your college bound student’s shirt-tails all through the visit. Give your teenager the independence they are comfortable with (they will be going to college without you, after all). Use the old “Divide and Conquer Plan” – with one parent going with younger children, and the other with the student; or if single parenting, take the little ones and allow your teenager to “go it alone” on the campus tour. Get together at the end and compare notes!

Here are some ideas for activities to keep everyone else in the family involved and happy while your future college student does their school evaluation:

Scavenger Hunt/ Photo Safari – Put together a list of things or places for the youngsters to find, then give them a camera to take pictures.
For example:
Find a picture of the school mascot and take a picture.
Count how many kinds of chocolate candy bars are for sale in the school bookstore.
Look for a book in the library that starts with the first letter of your first name.

Sample Your Way Around Campus – Food is a key criterion for campus selection and it takes more than one to do it justice! Enroll the help of the youngsters on this one! Plan to reach your college destination on an empty stomach and check out the dining hall, coffee shop and snack bars. Besides helping you determine the quality of the food, hanging out in these places makes it easy to find students and faculty to talk with. Look around, and see if you can’t get a feel for the student body. Ask your little ones for their opinions– sometimes they are more astute at judging character than the rest of us!

Map it out! – Get a copy of the campus map from the Admissions Office (or download one off the internet before you arrive). Ask your youngster to find where the dorms are, the gymnasium, the cafeteria... Take a picture at each destination; this will help your older student compare campuses later on.

When you get back in the car to hit Disneyland, another college (for the die-hards), or Grandma’s house, allow each child an opportunity to report their findings to the college bound student. Who knows, your campus visit may end up being the highlight of the vacation!

Lynette Mathews is a freelance writer and an independent college counselor for College Connection in Folsom, CA. She can be reached at 916.817.2261.