SAN FRANCISCO — Your college-bound teen is interested in 10 different schools in as many states. Do you need to visit them all? The answer is a qualified "yes," college-admissions experts say.

Visiting a school before applying may increase your chances of gaining admittance, if only slightly. More importantly, during a visit students often find their top-pick school is nothing like they imagined.

Depending on the location of your student's choice schools, campus tours could mean thousands of dollars in travel costs, but there are ways to save money on the trip. And, by touring schools, you ensure your student's time completing applications and the $50 or $75 application fee are well-spent.

Not to mention the tuition. "This is such a tremendous financial investment. You really want to try to make a good fit," said Janet Rosier, an independent educational consultant near New Haven, Conn. "Nobody's Web site looks bad," she said. "Look at the dorms, visit the facilities. Not everybody can visit everywhere, but to the extent you can, it's very helpful."

Some students think "a school is going to be perfect for them and they visit and find out, for instance, that the attitude is, 'if you want a quiet place to study, go to the library — we're not going to keep the residence halls quiet,"' said Dan Rosenfield, dean of enrollment management at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. "That doesn't work for all students."

Plus, taking the time to tour campus shows your commitment, said Katherine Cohen, chief executive of ApplyWise.com, an online college admissions counseling tool, in New York. "To have made that extra effort is like a little extra feather in your cap when your application shows up."

Once you've narrowed your list of schools, get the most out of your time on campus. Before you go, let the school know you're coming by signing up for a campus tour and information session, and ask about sitting in on a class in session and meeting with professors. Some schools are happy to arrange this, others less so, experts said.

On a practical note, "wear comfortable clothes and shoes — you'll be walking a lot," Cohen said. Also, "there's something to be said for sitting in the cafeteria, having a meal there, plopping down with people you don't know and asking questions."

Also, bring a camera — pictures will help you remember each campus when you get home — take notes, and collect e-mail addresses and business cards for possible follow-up questions.

Come prepared with questions to ask, including questions about academics, life on campus and financial aid. Financial-aid questions to ask include: What portion of the typical financial-aid package is loans versus grants and what percentage of need-based aid requests do you typically pay.

Find out how active the social scene is, how diverse the student population is, whether students of different backgrounds interact, what kind of food is served and what the residence halls are like.

Don't limit your questions to the admissions officer, but ask the student tour guide and random students on campus. Visiting the cafeteria, the stadium, and checking out what's posted on bulletin boards and in the student newspaper can all help give you a sense of what life is like on a particular campus.