Many students find an actual visit to the campus extremely helpful. College visiting time for the members of the Class of 2012 will be from Saturday, October 1 thru Wednesday, October 5. The Spring break of junior year is also a good time to do some preliminary visiting (there are many schools - big, small, urban, suburban, and rural - within a two hour drive of Philadelphia) to get a feel about what you like and don't like about a campus.
Colleges also expect prospective applicants during the summer months. The admissions' offices generally run tours throughout the day. You can call and sign up, or just drop in. If you wish to interview (many schools do not do on-campus interviews), call well in advance. Interviewing schedules and procedures vary. Call the school for specific information.
You should also contact GFS alumnae on the various campuses you wish to visit. If it is difficult for you to visit campuses, most colleges and universities now have web sites which enable you to take a "virtual tour." In addition, videos are available in the college room. They may be borrowed overnight. Once you have assessed what you want, obtained information and consulted with your college advisor and parents, you are ready to narrow the field of choices.