Any campus visit is better than no visit at all, but what's the difference between a "cold" campus visit and a "warm" one?

Like a "cold call" in sales, a cold campus visit is when a family either does a drive-by tour because they happen to be in the area or they schedule a campus tour with no advance preparation.

Are they worth it? Yes, because students have the opportunity to see the campus, the surrounding town and pick up some valuable tips sessions and tours.

But a "warm" campus visit, where a student has researched the college's academic offerings, understands its unique features and knows what questions to ask, is a much better use of time.

How do you warm up to a college visit? I recommend students use a minimum of three resources for each college:

College Web sites: They will provide an online course syllabus where students should research at least two possible majors. It is important to look beyond the Psych: 101 offerings and confirm that the college offers enough depth and breadth in the academic areas to keep them engaged for four years. The Web site is also a great source for information on clubs and activities.

College guidebooks: There are all varieties of guidebooks available. Some, such as " The Princeton Review's The Best 371 Colleges" (2010 edition), provide valuable statistics such as, freshman profile with ranges for SAT and ACT scores, student/faculty ratios, common class size, etc. as well as results from student surveys and commentary. Students are often alerted to a college they hadn't considered.

College research Web sites: These commercial sites are generally informative and entertaining. They provide an unvarnished look at the student body and the college campus. The videos are not sanctioned by the colleges. That will be easy to tell because many of them focus on tailgating, social life and dining options. I suggest viewing them for just what they are: a moment in time with one or two students. In addition to the videos, some of these sites provide student reviews, statistics and good background information on many colleges.

www.collegeclicktv.com

www.campuscompare.com

www.youniversitytv.com

www.unigo.com

Lee Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. For more information, visit www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com.