College Visits

MAKING THE MOST 

of your on campus college and university visits

A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. To really get a feel for the college, you need to walk around the campus, sit in on a class and visit the dorms.  A college catalog, brochure or website can only show you so much.A visit also gives you the chance to talk to students, faculty, and financial aid and admission officers.  All colleges have admission offices that can help you plan your visit. Take these important first steps:

• Contact the college admission office through the college's website or by email or phone to get details and make a reservation.

• In addition to the formal tour/visit, schedule time to be on your own. Walk around the public areas of the college and don't be shy about asking students questions.

Campus visits can range from a quick hour to an overnight stay (see additional notes below), from a casual guided tour to a formal presentation. Be sure to ask how long the whole visit will take so you can be prepared.

Most campus visits will include the following:

• An information session: An admission representative talks to you or your group about the college before the campus tour.

• A campus tour: These are usually led by current students. You’ll see the main parts of the campus and have a chance to ask questions.

At many colleges, you can also arrange to do the following:

• Attend a class

• Meet with a professor

• Meet with an admission officer and a financial aid officer

• Attend a club meeting or a sports practice session

• Eat in the dining hall

• Walk around the campus yourself after the formal tour

• Some schools offer Application Fee Waivers to students who visit

Overnight Visits

Many schools offer overnight visits, but might limit who is eligible. Some schools allow them during any stage of the process, some limit them to seniors and others make students wait until after they are accepted to take advantage of overnight stays.

Overnight stays allow prospective students to experience the campus as if they were a student at the schools. Prospective students are usually paired with a student with similar interests (either athletics, majors or activities) but please realize it is not true at every campus.

Prior to your visit

• Obtain a copy of your high school transcript as well as SAT/ACT scores to take with you

• Prepare a list of questions to take with you

During your visit

• Take a tour with and without a tour guide.  Check out the facilities (library, classrooms, dorm, athletic facilities, etc)

• Visit the Financial Aid Office

• Talk to as many students that you can about campus life

• Sit in on a class if possible

• Have a meal in the cafeteria (many colleges will treat you)

When you talk to students, ask…

• How many hours a week do you study?  Is this typical of students here?

• Are faculty members interested in students and accessible outside of class?

• Do many students go home on weekends?

• How is the food? What hours may students access food services? 

  1. What meal plans are available? Are Freshman required to purchase a specific type of meal plan? 

• Is it possible to study in your dorm/residence hall?

• What’s the library like as a place to study and/or do research?

• What do you most and least enjoy about this college?

• How easy is it to get the classes you want at registration?

• What activities are available for students?

If you attend a class, ask yourself...

• Are students interested in the material?

• Is there time for questions and discussion?  Do students participate?

• Am I intellectually challenged by what is taking place in the class?

• Is there good rapport between professors and students?

• Would I feel comfortable as a student in this setting?

As you tour the campus, ask yourself…

• Are the rooms in residence halls pleasant?  Quiet enough to study?

• Are common areas in the residence halls attractive?  Are there laundry and kitchen facilities?

• What is the cafeteria like?

• Are the grounds well kept?

• Is the setting and architecture appealing?

• What is the surrounding town or city like?  Would I feel comfortable here?

Additional questions to ask students and 

admission advisors during your campus tour

         ACADEMICS

1. What academic elements are considered in the admission process? For example, high school GPA, test scores, recommendations, interviews, etc? 

2. Is the college/university accredited? 

3. How many students return after Freshman year? 

4. What percentage of students graduate in four years or less? 

5. What academic programs on campus are the most popular? 

6. Will my AP previous college credits transfer? 

7. About how many students are in each class? 

8. Are there any special support services if I have special needs (if applicable) 

9. Is there an Honors Program? How would I qualify? 

10. What kind of career planning services are available? 

11. What percentage of graduates find jobs in the field in which they have a degree? 

          STUDENT LIFE

1. What percentage of the students are male/female?

2. How diverse is the campus?

3. What portion of the student body lives on campus? 

4. What activities do students participate in during their free time both on campus and in the community? 

5. What are the most popular extra-curricular activities? 

6. What intramural sports are on campus? 

7. Can freshmen have cars on campus? What is the fee for having a car on campus? 

8. Is it easy to get around campus? Can you walk to and from classes? 

       ADDITIONAL  SERVICES

1. Where do students go if they have a medical emergency?

2. What tutoring, counseling, and support services are available on campus and how are they accessed? 

3. What computer access will I have? 

4. What laundry facilities are available and how accessible are they? 

5. What are the safety issues on campus? How are they addressed? Ask for a crime report. Federal law requires schools to provide safety information to students. 

          HOUSING/FOOD SERVICES

1. How much does housing cost? Is it easy to get on-campus housing?

2. What housing options exist? For example, single-sex, co-ed, Greek?

         FINANCING

1. What is the yearly cost of attendance, including books, tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans? 

2. Does your ability to pay the full cost of attendance have any impact on the college’s decision to admit you? 

3. What financial aid forms are required? (The most common two are the FAFSA and the CSS profile, but some schools have institutional or school-specific forms and some states have special forms).

4. What percentage of incoming Freshmen receive aid? What is the average Freshman aid package? 

5. Will outside scholarships affect the amount of aid the school will offer you? 

6. How easy is it to find a job on campus? 

7. Are there work study programs available?

Write down your impressions of the college while they are still fresh in your mind…

• Were the people you met friendly and did they answer your questions fully and candidly?

• Did you feel that the students were the kind of people you would like to get to know?

• Is this an environment where you feel you can be successful?

• Did the campus itself impress you in any way?

• What do you think about the quality of instruction?

• What do you feel about the academic demands and atmosphere?

• Would you like to spend more time there?

After your visit

• Keep a notebook in your college files. When you leave a campus (either on the drive home, when eating dinner that night or in the hotel room if you are out of town for the visit), write down your impressions and any pertinent notes. You’ll always be able to look up information like average test scores and majors offered, but you only get once chance for a first impression.

• Follow-up with a thank you note to the counselor you met with, student tour guide and anyone else whom you interacted with on campus.