If you are planning on attending college after high school you might be going on college visits starting in your junior year. Here are some tips for going on tours:

1. Sign up with your email. Don’t have your parents sign up for you. Many college’s track demonstrated interest, therefore, if they see your email used then if you apply to the school they will see that you have demonstrated interest in the past and it may work in your favor.
2. Know what is important to you and ask questions about it. Don’t go through 6 college visits before realizing that living situations and internship opportunities are really important to you. 
3. Ask questions on tours. The tour guides are generally students and even though they are being paid to give you this tour, they might be able to give you some insight into student life and courses. 
4. Try to get a feel for the kind of environment that you are looking for. You don’t want to end up in a place that makes you feel uncomfortable and unhappy for four years. If you already know that you want a quiet campus or a lively, social one then that’s great. But if you don’t know then that is something you should pay attention to and make notes of. 
5. Picture it. Can you see yourself there? Ask your parents, guardians, siblings, friends, whoever you go on visits with, can they picture you there? On every campus I have visited these past few months, I have asked my mom and sister if they can see me on the campus. Their input is very helpful because they are some of the people who know me best and therefore know if I seem like I would enjoy myself there. 
6. Ask about financial aid. As much information as you might be able to get from online, it’s even better if you can get definite information in person. Your tour guide might not be someone who knows a lot about financial aid, but you can ask them if they can point you in the direction of someone who can talk about it. It is important to ask, “is 100% of demonstrated financial need met?” “Is there a financial aid calculator that can give me a precise estimate of the amount of aid I can receive?” And if you have good SAT or ACT scores see what merit scholarships they can give you, many schools are able to give you an accurate estimate. You also might want to know if they are need blind. Some schools will take the financial situation of applicants into account and not let them in if they don’t think they can afford the tuition. This practice isn’t good, but it is important to be aware of. 
7. Finally, don’t stress about it. College might be an important part of your life but it isn’t everything. The schools you do or don’t get into don’t determine your worth and if you end up hating the school you choose you can most likely transfer. Take the application process seriously but don’t be too hard on yourself. 

Good Luck!