• • Do your research before you visit. Visiting colleges is a great way to affirm whether or not you can see yourself on a specific campus. It won't be feasible (in terms of both time and $) to visit everywhere you're curious about. Doing your research might also allow you to group visits together, so you can aim to see multiple colleges in the same area at once.

  • While you're on campus, it's a great idea to take notes -- this will help you keep track of your thoughts later on when you're making your college list. When you visit multiple colleges, you don’t want them all to blend in your head. Be specific in documenting your thoughts on what you like and dislike about particular schools, as this will help Ms. Madenberg and the College Office suggest other schools that you may like.

  • Be smart about when you plan to visit. A school’s atmosphere will be entirely different if you visit it when it’s in session or over a summer or academic break. Try to align your visits with the school’s calendar, so that you’re able to get an accurate picture of how the school feels with its student body!

  • Connect with the campus and students beyond the tour. This can be anything from asking questions to students you see on the quad, to joining the college's social media pages, to talking to a family friend who goes there. After the tour, go back to a few of the places you stopped -- what does the food taste like in the dining hall? What does the library look like? Can you look at a dorm that's not one of the model rooms? The students who work or volunteer for admissions can be valuable sources of information, but it’s also important to chat with other students that you see on campus, if you can, to give you a realistic sense of the vibe of the campus. Try to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to approach groups of students that you see, tell them you are a prospective student, and ask them whatever questions you have!

• YouVisit offers a collection of 360-degree virtual tours on-demand all in one place

• NACAC has an ongoing series of virtual college fairs from late August through mid-November. Some are region- or major-specific and some are general!

• SUNY page with ongoing events

• What supports exist on campus for first-year students (and first-generation students!) transitioning to college? (e.g. tutoring, counseling, advising, freshman seminar classes)

• What transportation is available to students to get off campus?

• How do residence halls vary in terms of room set-up, culture, class year, lifestyle, interests, etc.?

• Where are you most likely to find students on the weekend?

• What percentage of students live on campus? What does off-campus housing look like?

• What services exist to help me find a job, internship, or researching opportunities?

• How easy is it to change my major, or to move between schools if a university?

• What’s the average class size for freshmen (vs. overall average)?

• How do students on campus get to know their professors?

• What facilities are there to support student well-being? How easy is it to get an appointment? (health services, counseling center, gym facilities)

• How responsive is administration to student concerns and student voice?

• Do you see students interacting with peers from different backgrounds? (social, political, racial/ethnic, economic)

• What sustainability efforts is the school making?

• What DEI initiatives is the school making?

• What ways are there to learn about new clubs or activities I might want to join?

• What are the special events and traditions that bring the community together?

https://www.oberlin.edu/blogs/youve-got-questions-weve-got-answers-your-guide-asking-questions?utm_source=as_admissions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=counselor

Many colleges actively seek to increase access for students and to attract a class that is diverse in many different ways. One way colleges may seek to achieve this is through "fly-in" events, which often focus on students who may be underrepresented in some way. These programs are free --including transportation, overnight stays, food, and more-- in order to remove the barrier that visiting a campus can have for students and families. During these programs, students get to experience the school first-hand, getting to know the culture and environment of the school. Students may also have the chance to interact with admissions officers. Fly-in programs are a tremendous opportunity to visit colleges all over the country!

The chart linked here lets you search by school, eligibility, format, funding, and deadlines. Inform Ms. Madenberg if you plan to apply for any of these programs so that she can help support you in the application process.