In your hunt for the perfect college, you've undoubtedly been bombarded with brochure after brochure from a multitude of colleges, and although they may all be as wonderful as they sound, they are certainly not wonderful for everyone. That's why it is all-important to visit a college that you have been seriously considering.

The people who write those brochures are writing them for one reason and one reason only -- to entice you to apply to their college or university, to show it in its best light -- and there's nothing wrong with that. You can count on a college brochure to give you the facts about the place -- class size, caliber of faculty, diversity, campus organizations and clubs, program requirements, etc. There is, however, a lot that even the best brochure cannot tell you.

It's not going to show you what is in disrepair. Are the dorms falling apart? Are the grounds maintained? Are half of the computers in the computer lab out of order? Check these things out.

More importantly, however, the best brochure out there can only give you the tiniest fraction of the real flavor of a school. To experience that flavor completely, you have to set foot -- quite literally -- on the campus. This is especially true if you are going away to school. Would you buy a house sight unseen? Or a car? Think of college the same way. This is, after all, a huge investment of both time and money. This is going to be your home for the next four years. Give yourself the best chance of happiness by exploring your options completely. So here are some things to keep in mind when you're making your first visit -- and yes, by all means, visit more than once if you feel the need.

Consider the climate, and visit at an appropriate time. If you live in Florida, and the school you are thinking about is in Maine, you might want to check out the school in the winter. Chances are, you're going to be doing a lot of walking, and if you just can't handle the cold weather, you might think twice. Some areas are rainy, some perpetually sunny, some hot, some cold, some incredibly, incredibly windy. I remember my first visit to my school (which was on the coast). There was someone visiting from far inland, who couldn't understand why the trees were so very, very crooked. Where he'd come from, the winds didn't blow quite so strong.

Ask to visit the dorms. Some tours do not include dorm rooms. The tour guides are instructed to take you into the dorms, but all you get to see are hallways and/or suites. Ask your guide if there's a room you can visit. Tour guides are usually students, and have friends. Many college students are happy to show off their mess -- wait, I mean rooms. Don't be afraid to ask. Checking out a few dorm rooms will also give you an idea of the type of student this school attracts. Ask your tour guide about the personalities of the dorms. Different dorms have different personalities. At my school, there were designated quiet dorms (officially), party dorms (unofficially), dorms where the artsy crowd (or athletic or academic crowd) gathered, etc. Like people tend to gravitate together to a certain extent, and since upperclassmen usually request particular living quarters, this gives dorms their personalities, and you can often request a particular dorm when applying for housing, so keep this in mind.

Visit the towns surrounding the campus. Your life will not be strictly on-campus, so check out the surrounding areas. Are you into culture? How far away is the nearest museum or art gallery? Are you going to an exclusive area? Will you be able to afford the off-campus housing if you decide to live off-campus at some point?

Talk to faculty members. Some campuses are very formal, and some are very laid back. Do the professors introduce themselves by first or last names? Sit in on classes. Professors are more than happy to let a prospective student sit in -- and if they're not, then I would reconsider that school as a choice.

Don't believe that the food they serve on visiting student weekend is the food that the service serves all year round. I remember looking forward to visiting student weekend during my college years because it was the only time we had these wonderful little homemade donuts.

Engage your guide. Talk to them. The students, more than anyone else, can give you a feel for what the campus is like. Ask to talk to someone in your field of study, if you know what your field of study is going to be. Ask questions. Don't be shy. You can't afford not to check out everything of interest. And trust me -- current students will be happy to answer your questions (and to answer them honestly). You can be sure that you'll get a different answer if you ask a student than when you ask an admissions counselor.

Most importantly, listen to how you feel. When it's right, you'll know. I visited Long Island University's Southampton campus on a rainy day. It wasn't just raining. It was pouring. A group of us slopped through puddles. The wind blew in strong off the sea, and the air smelled like fish and tasted of salt. I spent the day soaked, shivering, with my hair plastered to my face. And I loved every minute of it. My mother kept telling me we could come back on a nicer, sunnier day, but I knew then and there, miserable weather or not, that this was where I wanted to be. And it's like that sometimes.

So look over your brochures, narrow down your choices, and then make your date to visit the school. There is no better way to decide how to spend what may turn out to be some of the best years of your life.