The journey towards a private school education is an exciting and pivotal time in a student’s (and parents!) life. It can also be a bit unnerving for some students as they have no idea what to expect. Who can blame them?! As you begin the process of exploring independent day or boarding schools, one of the most crucial steps is visiting campuses to get a firsthand experience. While most families opt for campus tours during the academic year, exploring school campuses during the summer months has its own unique advantages. Contrary to what most families think, there are many schools that will host students and families for summer campus tours! Let’s delve into the benefits of touring school campuses in the summer and some useful tips to make the most of your visits.

Less Crowded Campuses

One of the advantages of touring campuses during the summer is the reduced number of other visitors on campus. With most students and families on vacation or engaged in other activities, campuses tend to be less crowded overall. This means you'll have more opportunities to connect with the admissions staff and perhaps more time with teachers, coaches or even current day students who may be on campus for the summer. This all lends itself to gaining valuable insights and information about the school community. You’ll also have a greater likelihood of exploring various parts of campus that are of higher interest to you. For some students, a less crowded campus sets one at ease and reduces anxiety, although for others, it may leave an unrealistic sense of what the campus is really like. For this reason alone, we always recommend returning in the fall when campus is in full swing!

Personalized Attention:

Summer campus tours often offer a more personalized experience as we’ve alluded to. With fewer visitors, admissions offices can provide more one-on-one attention to prospective students. This means you'll have the chance to ask specific questions, engage in deeper conversations, and gain a better understanding of the school's offerings. Admissions staff members might also have more flexibility in their schedules, making it easier to set up meetings with faculty or arrange conversations with athletic coaches, as an example. Many admissions offices will utilize local day students as tour guides, so don’t hesitate to ask if there are any chances to meet current students too!

Vibrant Campus Life:

Contrary to popular belief, many boarding school campuses don't become ghost towns during the summer months. Instead, they often transform into vibrant hubs of activity with summer school, athletic camps and international programs being offered on most campuses. Many of these summer programs attract students from around the world and the campuses come alive! By visiting during the summer, you can witness these activities firsthand, providing a glimpse into the dynamic nature of campus life outside the traditional academic year. Exploring these summer programs might also help your student envision themselves participating in similar activities during their time as a student. For some students with trepidation regarding boarding school, attending a summer program on a boarding school campus is a terrific first step to trying it out!

Time for In-Depth Exploration

Summer tours provide an excellent opportunity for in-depth exploration of the campus and its surroundings. Without the pressure of class schedules, exams, and extracurricular commitments, you can take your time to thoroughly explore the different facilities, including libraries, laboratories, athletic centers, and residence halls. Additionally, summer visits allow you to discover the surrounding community, local attractions, and nearby amenities, providing a more holistic view of your potential independent school experience. In addition, many of the boarding school campuses are located in gorgeous parts of the country, so what’s better than turning your campus visits into a mini special family get-away!

Rolling Admissions or Early Action Advantage

Many schools are moving to an ‘early action’ admissions decision model and some schools offer ‘rolling admissions’ instead of a traditional admissions decision timeline. If you're considering applying to a school that offers early action, and it might be your top choice school, visiting during the summer is advantageous. The same goes for schools with rolling admissions. By touring early, you can get a head start on your application and demonstrate your genuine interest in the school. These early visits can also help you refine your essays and provide specific examples in your application that showcase your understanding of the campus culture and programmatic offerings.

Making the most of summer private school online offerings and campus visits is a great way to utilize the time you and your student have during these summer months. But let’s keep it real! Visiting schools is really tiring, and realistically two schools per day is the max you’ll want to schedule. So use the gift of time throughout the summer months and fall to space things out…..and have fun while you’re at it!

By researching, planning, and engaging with private schools during the summer, you and your student are gathering invaluable insights about possibilities for their future! If you have questions about what to look for, how to prepare, or even how to know which schools to visit, we’re here to help. Here’s to embracing all that summer has to offer!