The college admissions process involves so many things. Exploring websites, narrowing lists, completing applications and essays, filling out financial aid forms, making college visits, waiting for acceptances, and making decisions. So much to do!

With so many things to do, why bother with Admission Open Houses? Why not just make a list, apply, wait to see whether you are accepted and then go visit those schools?

Actually, that plan – apply first, wait, visit – works for many students. If that is your student’s plan, that’s fine. But they may be missing out on a step in the process that can matter more than your student realizes.

What are admission open houses?

College admission open houses (sometimes called open days) are events for prospective students, usually held in the fall, when seniors – and some eager juniors – and their parents are invited to visit campus to learn about a college. Open Houses are usually announced and advertised on the school’s website, and anyone is welcome to attend. Students are making no commitment. Schools know and expect that students are usually in the early exploration phase of the admission process.

What happens at open houses?

An open house is an event that allows the student to experience the school’s campus, meet with faculty, staff members and students, to learn about programs and majors offered by the school, and often to listen to presentations by professors, coaches, financial aid representatives, and others. It is a chance to ask questions and to learn about special interest programs and organizations on campus, services and support for students, and a chance to “shop” the majors offered by the school. It is an opportunity to take a tour and to experience whether the campus feels right.

Most open houses are half or full day events.  Occasionally, some events may be virtual, but on-campus events are often more informative.

Why not just book an admission visit and tour?

Making a regular admission visit to a school and taking a tour is always a good idea, and is especially important if your student cannot attend a scheduled open house. But campus tours can be limited. There may not be time to see everything, or they may not include the area in which your students is especially interested. There may not be an opportunity to talk with professors, although visiting on a regular school day might mean that your student could sit in on a class in which they are interested.

So is there an advantage to an open house?

Colleges often “pull out all of the stops” for open houses. They want to put their best foot forward and give visitors as much information as they can. Although each school will plan their open house program in their own way, there are certain things you will probably experience at most events.

• Campus tours will be available.
• Many faculty and staff members will be present and available to talk with students.
• Most of the school’s major programs may provide information about their programs and may open any special facilities for students to visit.
• Staff members will be available to talk with students and parents – athletic coaches, financial aid personnel, admission personnel, health personnel, accessibility services, tutoring and support staff. The college wants to provide all of the information that may be helpful to students and parents.
• There may be information sessions about majors, special programs, financial aid, sports, etc.
• Students will be available to answer questions about living on campus, leadership opportunities, clubs, sports teams, majors, etc.
• There may be separate sessions for parents. You can gather important information, too.

In addition to the opportunities to gather information about the school, for students interested in applying to a particular school, attending an open house may be one more indication of “demonstrated interest” which at some schools is an admission factor. An open house will also give your student the chance to gather information that may help them tailor their application or essay toward factors they know are important to the school.

What should my student do if they are interested in attending an open house?

If you and your student decide attending a school’s open house is a good idea, check out the school’s website as early as possible to find the date(s) of open house. If the information is not available on the website have your student (not you) call the admission office to ask whether one will be held. Once you know when the open house will be held, ask how to register for it.

Mostly, the open house is about showing up, keeping an open and exploring mind, asking lots of questions, and evaluating how the visit feels. Here are a few things for your student to keep in mind:

• Dress casually, but looking tidy and pulled together is a good idea.
• Take advantage of every opportunity provided to interact with faculty, staff and students.
• Ask lots of questions. If you wonder about it, others probably do, too, and staff is there to answer your questions.
• If you talk to faculty or staff members, ask for business cards. You may want to reach out later with more questions. Or even to thank them for sharing information with you.
• In larger sessions or presentations, eavesdrop as others are talking to staff and faculty members. You may learn about things you hadn’t thought to ask about.
• Pay attention to how the campus feels, how comfortable you feel with current students, what faculty say about a major you may be interested in, This is a time to assess the “fit” of a school and whether it feels like a place you want to be.
• Take some time to explore the campus on your own. Wander around. Get a meal or snack in the dining hall or student center, visit the kinds of places you might want as a student – a gym or workout center, diversity center, spiritual life center, theater, field house, concert hall, etc.

It may feel as though an admission open house is just a big sales event, but it can be so much more. Sure, the school is showing off and trying to interest you in attending, but how you approach the event can make all of the difference. Immerse yourself in the campus community. Learn as much as you can. Imagine yourself on this campus, working with these people. This will give you a wealth of information for making your admission decisions down the road.

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