Research your schools of interest and make a list of each school's location. If your schools of interest are in numerous states and regions, consider thumb-nailing each college on a U.S. map to offer a clear view of your destinations. If your schools of interest are in one state and more localized, do the same for a map of your chosen state.
Decide on your method of transportation. If your schools of interest are in numerous states and regions, consider bus travel or renting a vehicle to save on miles. If your schools of interest are in-state and more localized, a traditional road-trip in a reliable family vehicle may be a better option. When planning your method of transportation, keep in mind gas costs and highway tolls.
Plan out your travel route and decide the order in which you will travel. A suggested travel route might be starting from the most local university to the one farthest away, or vice versa. Another option for more cross-country road-trips is traveling in a circular fashion and covering each region in the most logical way.
Choose the dates you want to travel. Keep in mind that you might want to stay at least one day and one night to fully understand the school's lifestyle and atmosphere. The best times to visit colleges are during the fall or spring semesters on Mondays through Thursdays due to the bustling student activity. Summer visits are also an option, but do not serve as representative of an impression as a fall of spring visit.
Schedule tour and interview appointments. Many schools give half-day campus tours and like opportunities to give prospective students a good summation of the school and its advantages. Some schools even allow prospective students to stay overnight in a dorm. Make sure you are aware of these opportunities at your schools of interest when scheduling your road trip.
Make hotel and accommodation reservations. Try to find the closest possible hotels to make the school campus easily accessible. Consider staying with friends or family in the area to save money throughout your road-trip. Staying with a friend currently attending the university is an ideal situation when trying to get an impression of that school’s lifestyle.
