Upvote:0
Yes though in most cases you would have to exit and re-enter on your F1 visa prior to beginning school.
Upvote:0
Yes, you can do this, but it is probably not worth it.
Since you have a visa you can go, and you can either apply for a change of status (for a hefty fee) when you start your educational program, or reenter the US on the F-1.
Outdated:
Since you've already got your I-20, you have likely already made your mind anyways. It takes some time (and money) to apply for a B-1 visa, and you can enter the U.S. usually 30 days before the start of your program. I'd recommend that you go in July and have plenty of time to "visit your school" :-)