Logistics & Tech

Planning a trip can be stressful, but modern tools can do the heavy lifting for you.

• Cluster Visits: Not sure where to start? Use our College & University Visit Clusters guide to get a sense of what schools you can see and where. Planning a trip to see American History in Boston or DC? We have suggestions for both! Are SoCal beaches or a family trip to Disneyland more your style? Check out all the options we have for you!
• The AI Itinerary: Don’t guess on travel times. Families can utilize AI tools to verify that their schedule is realistic. You can ask an AI to calculate distances between campuses, factor in rush-hour traffic, and even suggest coffee shops midway between two universities.
• The “Start Local” Strategy: Before booking flights, test your preferences locally. Visit a large school (like Berkeley) and a smaller school (like Santa Clara) nearby. This helps you define your preferences—urban vs. rural, big vs. small—saving you time and money on long-distance trips later.
• The Schedule: Spring of junior year is the “busy season” for colleges. Prospective and admitted students are trying to maximize their school breaks to picture themselves on various campuses. Book your official tours well in advance, but remember: this is the student’s journey. Parents can help with registration (make sure to use the student’s name and email!), but students should take the lead on checking in once there.

The Menlo Connection

Use the network you already have.

• The Alumni Perspective: Tour guides are paid to talk about the school; alumni are there to help you. Connecting with a Menlo grad gives you a unique advantage—they understand exactly where you are coming from and can explain how the college differs from the Menlo experience.
• The Toolkit: Visit our College Counseling Toolkit to access the list of Menlo Alumni. Reach out before your visit to see if they can meet for a quick coffee or share their unfiltered thoughts on campus culture.

Deep Investigation

How to see the campus like a student, not a tourist.

• The “Un-Googleable” Questions: If the answer is on the website, don’t waste your tour guide’s time. Ask about experiences: “What is the weekend culture like?” or “How competitive is it to get into research programs?”
• The Vibe Check:
  • Eat the food: Have lunch in the student union.
  • Read the walls: Look at flyers and bulletin boards to see what students actually care about.
  • Visit the Career Center: Ask specifically about internship placement rates for your potential major.

Post-Visit Protocol

Immediately after the visit, dump your thoughts into your notes app or our College Visit Guide. Record what you loved, what you hated, and the gut feeling you had while walking the quad. Trust us—after visiting five schools in three days, those details will blur without notes!