Technology is amazing, but it can never replace the feeling you get when you know that you're home.

I'll never forget taking my youngest son to tour his first college campus. He had done his research, talked to friends, read about schools in catalogs and on the internet, After all of his research, one college stood out from the rest. But when we went to check it out, something didn't click.

He told me it was "all good." But I knew it really wasn't, and it didn't surprise me when he asked to visit another college a few weeks later. The first college we toured was a small school in a small town. The second college much bigger — too big for him, I thought. I was sure he would reject it. Then, halfway through our campus visit, I looked at him and knew — he was home.

"What you're describing is exactly why we encourage students to take time to visit college campuses," said Rick J. Smith, vice president of Enrollment Management at Northland College. "Brochures are great, websites are, too, but no matter how good they are they can't tell the whole story. Campus visits are extremely important because they allow students to experience the intangibles — the things they can't experience unless they are here."

Smith knows from first-hand experience the power of the campus visit. His son, too, changed his college decision after taking a campus tour. But Smith also sees the campus visit from a statistical point-of-view. "Eighty-four percent of freshmen who tour Northland College end up enrolling here," he said.

Of course, Northland sweetens the pot — offering a $500 Visit Grant (used as financial aid for freshmen) to every student who visits campus by May 1 and enrolls in that same year.

"We're so far from the population centers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri that it takes a little more effort to come and visit us," Smith acknowledged. "The Visit Grant is our way of recognizing that effort."

Whether you travel to a college out of town, out of state or just down the road, Todd Garten, Campus Visit coordinator at Maryville University explained, "You'll only get out of it what you put into it." He recommended putting a lot into it.

"Go for all the bells and whistles. Sit in on a class. Meet with a professor. Talk with students. Meet with representatives of the athletic department, or organizations you hope to join. Eat in the dining hall. Tour the dorms. Visit with the financial aid office. And, feel free to come back and visit more than once. I've test-driven cars more than once, and this is a much bigger decision," Garten said.

"So many people rush in, tour campus, and then rush off to tour the next campus in the next town. But this is a huge decision. It's got be as important to you as buying your first home," he added.

He pointed out that for students the college they select is their first "home away from home."

For that reason, he said, "I really feel it's important to spend the whole day exploring the campus and the area. And bring a camera so you can take lots of pictures, because once you get home, you're going to forget, especially if you tour several colleges in the same trip."

At Maryville, students who have been accepted for admission can also choose to spend the night as part of the university's Saint for a Day program (details at maryville.edu), a program which Garten highly recommended. He also recommended that high school students start the college tour process by the spring of their junior year.

"If you're waiting until the fall of your senior year, you may end up missing out on opportunities and deadlines. By starting earlier rather than later, you can cut out a lot of stress," he said.

During junior year, Graten said it's wise to narrow down your "Top 10" list by looking at big picture items such as campus culture, size and region. Senior year, he said, is the time to hone in on your top two or three universities. Just start early — and, remember it's always better to tour when students are on campus.

... and don't forget the snow 

Don't stop at touring the campus, take the time to get to know the community, too. And, if the college of your dreams is in a winter wonderland, consider visiting after the snow has fallen.

Rick J. Smith, at Northland College in Ashland, Wis. said the region doesn't get as much snow as other northern areas, however, he conceded that if a student is uneasy about the weather it might be best to visit in the snow. To facilitate this, Northland offers the Book Across the Bay Visit Day.

"People embrace winter up here," Smith said, noting that the region boasts six major downhill ski areas as well as many, many cross country trails, including ones on campus.

Book Across the Bay Visit Day: Come for a standard Visit Day (register at northland.edu). Then stay for Book Across the Bay — a 10k snow shoe and ski race (at your own speed of course) across frozen Chequamegon Bay. The "Book" is organized by businesses in the Chequamegon Bay area and pre-registration is recommended. Last year, 2,300 people participated in the race. For more information visit batb.org.

Like Northland College, Michigan Technical University embraces its northern location and beautiful scenery by offering a series of Adventure Visits. More than a walking tour, Adventure Visits allow students to explore local waterfalls, beaches, nature trails and ski areas — getting to know the region as well as the university. Upcoming winter Adventure Visits are listed below. Log onto mtu.edu for more details.

• Jan. 13 — Ski Mont Ripley

• Feb. 24 — Snowshoe the local trails