Campus Visits

Visiting a college campus is a great way to access information as well as to get a feel for the overall atmosphere of a particular school. Schools may feel very different than what is conveyed through their literature and on their website. Therefore, it is very beneficial for prospective students to make a campus visit.

Nothing can replace a firsthand experience. You will get more out of your tour if you do a little preparation. A good visit will often include a tour of the campus, a meeting with the admissions staff, and a meeting with the financial aid office. You may want to have lunch in the school dining hall or even spend the night on campus. After visiting, write down some notes immediately. After several visits, you will find you get mixed up about what you heard where. Use your list and try to evaluate how well the school matched up with your personal criteria. Try to imagine yourself living on that campus for four years.

Tips For Setting Up A Campus Visit

• • When setting up a visit to a college or university, it is important to set up your visit at least two weeks in advance. Surprise visits are usually not productive visits for you or the college.

  • For many schools, you can schedule a campus visit online through their website. You can also call the admissions office to schedule a visit.

  • Before you contact the school you plan to visit, check out their web page and see if there are certain areas of campus that you are especially interested in seeing, for example: the work-out facility, library, etc.

  • Ask if you are able to meet with a faculty member in the area that interests you.

  • Ask if you are able to meet with a coach.

  • Ask if you are able to attend a class.

  • Find out if it is possible to stay over night in one of the residence halls.

  • Find out if lunch is provided during your campus visit. Remember, you are going to be at this college/university for at least four years so you want to make sure the food is edible!

  • Try and meet with the admissions counselor who works with your high school.

  • Find out about internship and research opportunities students have completed.

  • It can be very beneficial to visit a college or university when school is in session. You want to get the feeling of what the campus is like with students there.

What To Do Before You Go

In order to maximize your college visit, it is important to do some work before you arrive on campus. Before visiting the college, it is important you make a list of questions to ask (see list below). While you are on campus, you want to get as much information as possible.

What To Do While You Are There

• • Stop a student and talk to them, ask them questions about what they like and don't like about the college.

  • Introduce yourself to everyone you meet - make connections.

  • Pick up a campus calendar or newspaper to see what events and hot topics are taking place on campus.

  • Talk with the admissions counselor and ask them questions. Such as:

    • What are your admission standards/requirements/deadlines? What is required in your application process?

    • What impresses you the most in a student's application?

    • What are you looking for when you read students' essays?

    • What are some of the things you hate to see in an application?

    • Are admission decisions need-blind?

    • What kind of student does well here? What kind of student doesn't do well here?

    • What do you think your school is best known for?

    • What changes do you see taking place on campus in the next five years?

    • Are there on-campus jobs available for students?

    • How are roommates assigned?

    • How do meal plans work?

Additional Questions to Ask

• • What are the majors and best programs offered at your school? What is the most popular major?

  • How easy or hard it is to change your major? At what point do I need to declare a major?

  • What is the cost, including tuition, room and board, books and supplies, etc? What is the average debt upon graduation?

  • What percent of students receive financial aid? What is the average financial aid package? What information is needed beyond the FAFSA?

  • How accessible and supportive are the faculty? What percent of classes are taught by professors?

  • What type of advising program do you offer for students?

  • What type of academic assistance do you offer for students?

  • What is the four-year graduation rate at your school? Five year? What is the retention rate of students from first-year to sophomore year?

  • What do students like most about your school? Least?

  • What is a typical freshman academic schedule? How does the school help freshmen adjust to college?

  • Are first-year students required to live in the residence halls? Do most upper class students live on or off campus? Are residence halls co-ed?

  • What is the average class size? How many classes are taught by teaching assistants?

  • How would you describe the typical student here?

  • What role does technology play in the curriculum?

  • What is the social life like on your campus? How often do students typically go home? What activities are available on the weekends? How do students get around?

  • What types of extra-curricular activities does your school offer? Do you have fraternities/sororities?

  • How common is study abroad?

  • Are there Division I, II or III athletics at your school? Are there club or intramural sports? Do you have athletic facilities available for student use?

  • What changes do you see taking place on campus in the next five years?

  • What makes your school different from other colleges that are similar in size and reputation?

  • What types of extra-curricular activities does your college offer? Does your college have a greek system?

  • Where do most students live? Is housing guraranteed?

  • What activities and services are available to help students transition from high school to their freshman year of college?

Final Thoughts

• • It is hard not to, but try not to let the weather (especially bad weather) impact your impressions of the school.

  • Don't worry that everyone will think you are a high school student, you will fit in just fine.

  • Ask yourself: "Can I see myself here?"

  • Consider visiting a school more than once if you really like it. Your opinion of a school may change as you go through the process.

  • Journal-During the college search process, you will be taking in a lot of information in a short amount of time. Therefore, it is important to document your thoughts about a school immediately after you visit. What did you like about the school? What didn't you like? Try and pinpoint the things that provoked a positive, or negative reaction. You can take pictures or make lists of the positives and negatives of the school. Do whatever necessary to be able to accurately remember the important things about the schools and how you felt about them.