I can’t believe it’s March and that we just turned our clocks ahead for daylight saving.  Thank goodness this winter is almost over.  Many of us were cooped up indoors this season due to the artic freeze blanketing the country.  With the warmer weather approaching, I want to stress the importance of visiting college campuses.  A school’s environment is just as important as its academic ranking in U.S. News and World Report.  I highly recommend seeing the college when it’s in session because the setting provides a better picture of what it’s like to study there.  For example, during my first trip to San Francisco, I decided to tour the campus of U.C. Berkeley.  Not only did I learn about the history of the school, but also, I experienced a noticeably energetic vibe about the place.  In between class times, as students walked quickly to and from, I felt an eagerness and excitement that I’ve never seen at college campuses in the northeast.  Students here are ready to learn for sure!  Obviously, you cannot get this kind of information from just looking on the university website.  When visiting schools, you should take a good look around.  What do you see?  What do you feel?  Is it what you expected?  Do you think you’d like to go to school here?  What is it about his place that you like and don’t like?  Knowing clearly what you want in a college is half the battle when deciding where to apply.  Here’s a recent article from Forbes about the importance of college visits: http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/03/03/five-things-college-admissions-directors-wont-tell-you/