If you have a rising junior or senior at home, summer is the perfect time to start visiting colleges. You can fold visits into road trips, take your time exploring each campus, and start building a real sense of what fits. Yes, campus will be quieter, but tour groups are smaller, admissions staff are more accessible, and you'll have time to actually explore the surrounding town. Here's a practical guide to making summer college visits count.

Summer can be a low-pressure launchpad for neurodivergent and learning-different teens. The right program offers structure, peer connection, and a first taste of independence, whether through academics, adventure, internships, or autism-focused communities. By centering a student’s strengths, interests, and sensory needs, families can turn summer into a meaningful step toward college readiness and greater confidence.