COLLEGE PLANNING Visits are key to finding the right fit

By WES MIKEL
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Would you buy a pair of jeans without checking the fit?
If not, then would you plan to spend four years somewhere without checking out the sites first?
That makes college visits a must.
Here are some tips for checking out schools:
SETTING UP THE APPOINTMENT
Get the number for the admissions office from www.collegeboard.com, www.fastweb.com or the college's Web site. Call the school to find out what is included in a campus tour and to get the schedule.
If you want the best idea of what the college is all about, schedule your tour for a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday while the school's in session. When you do this, it will provide the opportunity to view some classes in action. Personalize the tour so that it answers all of your questions and gives you a feel for what you want to know.
GETTING THERE
Follow John Denver's advice and let those country roads take you to the place you belong. Road maps aren't nearly so scary once you learn proper folding techniques.
If you can afford it, flying is a far more comfortable alternative, but most of the time you'll just have to sit it out, foot to the accelerator. Ask the college for any shortcuts and about inexpensive motels (most campuses have them) nearby.
Gain some more driving experience or frequent-flier miles. Either way, you can really catch up on your reading assignments.
WATCHING A CLASS
Most colleges will suggest specific classes for you to watch that "best represent" their school and differ from most of your high school classes (a small discussion class). But ask to see a lecture class with 300 or more students.
If it's a larger university, not all of the classes will be as small as officials would like you to believe. Set up appointments to attend all kinds of classes (discussion, lecture, lab, outside, inside, hands-on) to see what you'll really be facing.
See how most classes are really taught and get a feel for the various types of colleges.
SLEEPING OVER
Many colleges will gladly pair you with a roommate for a night to give you the real college experience. This is a great way to get a feel for what some of the students at the university are like, but a word of caution: For the most part, dorm living is less than luxurious. Most still have communal bathrooms down the hall and cramped quarters.
Don't let this style of living scare you off, because that's what you will find most places. However, if you absolutely cannot take the living conditions offered, consider crossing that college off the list.
Sleeping over gives you additional chances to talk with real students and test out the college's living quarters.
TAKING NOTES
Whether you're jotting down interesting factoids or making detailed observations, notes are a necessity if you're visiting more than one college.
Titled and dated, they will help you sort which college was which because, after a few, college visits begin to run together.
Pictures also aren't a bad idea. Universal pictures of each campus and a normal dorm room are good for later comparisons.
WHOM TO GO WITH
As much as it would be a more enjoyable and memorable road trip, don't take a friend. You won't remember the right things.
ALTERNATIVE TOURS
Nowadays, several colleges offer virtual tours online. Two sentences of advice: 1. Don't do them. 2. Don't trust them.
They don't give you any idea what the campus is really about. They take forever to navigate, and the pictures are typically small and blurry.
WORDS OF CAUTION
All colleges want to present their prettiest side, but they all have ugly ones, too. Keep in mind that all colleges want you as a student, so they'll bust their butts to get you. I'm not saying that college officials lie. Obviously they would never do that, but they have a fascinating way of glossing over subjects that don't necessarily compare well to other universities.
Be skeptical of what college officials tell you. Often there's more to it than just what they say.
TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE
Believe it or not, at some point in your academic pursuits, you'll need to leave campus, whether it's for cereal, Raman noodles, a CD, a concert, pants or magazines.
Don't just tour the campus. Stroll around downtown. Read the local paper. See what's happening on the weekends.
TIPS
Don't just swallow what the tour organizers feed you. Chew on it, then ask follow-up questions.
Example: Your guide says, "Sixty-two percent of first-year students own a car."
Then you ask: "Did you? Where can I park? What does the school charge for registration and parking? How likely am I to get tickets?"
Stand up for yourself. When they send you those form e-mails, asking you how your campus visit was, and you still have unanswered questions, tell them.