I’ve toured many colleges with my sons. I recommend visiting this one place on every campus to see if the school is the right fit.

The author says college-bound students should visit the cafeteria on campus.

After perfecting that college essay and building an impressive transcript, the college tour is the next step in choosing the best school for a student’s continuing education. The confetti may have exploded on the screen, but acceptance from the admissions board is not necessarily the end goal. Discovering the right fit is vital, and it can be a difficult decision.

While some school narrowing is accomplished during applying, few students pick their future alma mater without ever stepping on a campus. No matter when the visit happens in the process, the campus tour should be more than watching a football game or scoping out the dorm situation.

I learned this firsthand when I toured multiple campuses with my two college-bound sons.

After touring many schools, we discovered that the best way to really see if a student is a good fit on campus is to have them spend time in the dining hall.

Grab a tray, find a table, and get a taste of college life

Before people start the silly jokes about college food and how much Uber Eats funds will be allocated to the food budget, this tip is not about the actual meal. It is about finding a place at the table with like-minded people.

From the tours I’ve taken, I learned that a dining hall, mess hall, or even a group of tables in the quad can be a melting pot of the campus. Each table can be a microcosm of the college community.

No one is saying that the college dining hall resembles the Plastics ruling North Shore High School’s seating chart. However, it is important to understand with whom and where a student fits into the various groups. Sorority girls might wear pink on Wednesdays, but they are not the only group sitting down to enjoy that burrito bowl.

If prospective students cannot see themselves at one of the tables, want to sit down with a group, or otherwise find someone who could be their friend, that college might not be the best fit.

Looking around and finding people who share a common perspective can make the transition from high school to college smoother. Community is vital to the college success story.

This simple tip worked for my son

For my oldest son, this helpful tip dropped a top school to the bottom of the list. No, it wasn’t a cardboard pizza slice that left a bad taste. It was that feeling of not fitting in at a place that was supposed to be his dream school.

When my son stepped away from me on a different campus, sat down at a table, and had a real conversation with current students, I knew he had found the right school.

He told me the conversation around the table was easy. They chatted about which classes were easy and which dorm had the best beds. He learned that someone else at the table watched UFC every Saturday night, and another person enjoyed lifeguarding every summer. He couldn’t remember the food on the plate but could recall every conversation detail. A connection was made.

Hanging out in the dining hall helps prospective students find their people. Mom does not need to play matchmaker. Kids just need to navigate this situation on their own. It’s part of the learning experience.

Visiting the college cafeteria might not be a highly promoted stop on the tour, but it is a vital part. The difference between eating outside alone on a park bench and finding a full table with a spirited conversation can help a student decide on their next steps.

That one meal was a tipping point in our students’ decisions, and it could be yours, too.