Is it a bad idea to visit my colleges in the last week of August?

I am aware that most begin then and I am not sure if I should go to see them during the first week as it will be busy and the new students will just begin settling in. I could also go in October, do you think it would be more appropriate to visit them then or will it not matter?

If you would like to be able to ask questions of students, choosing October will be the better option. Going on either date will provide a feel for the campus - even if new students are settling in, there will be a number of students who are in their second, or third year. From my perspective, simply visiting a campus should provide some idea of whether you like the school or not.

Which universities are you planning to visit?