A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view. A catalog, brochure, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the institution, you need to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the buildings.  

Work with the admissions office to schedule your visit.  Most campus visits will include the following:

• An information session, during which an admissions representative talks to you or your group before the tour.

• A campus tour: You'll see the main parts of the campus and have a chance to ask questions. 

• At many colleges, you can also arrange to:

  • • Attend a class.

    • Meet with a professor.

    • Meet with an admissions officer.

    • Meet with a financial aid officer.

    • Attend a club meeting or sports practice session.

    • Eat in a dining hall.

    • Spend the night in a dorm to experience student life.

1. Take notes in your phone or notebook so that you don’t forget the details of your collegiate trips. 

2. Take pictures so that you can remember what the campus looks like.

3. Ask Questions!!  To the right is a list of various questions please click it to download and print. 

What to Do if You Can't Make an In-Person Campus Visit?  

All is not lost if you can't visit in person. You can still:

• • Check the admissions website to see if they have virtual campus tours or events.

  • Talk to students who currently attend the college.

  • Go online to see if the college has a newspaper you can read. 

  • View Campus Reel videos on BigFuture.

Websites that can help:

• https://www.campusreel.org/ - CampusReel is the only College review website with Campus & Dorm video reviews and video walkthroughs from real students. 

• https://www.youniversitytv.com/- YoUniversity- students can click on tabs such as “safest campuses,” “Most diverse,” “best campus,” etc. 

• https://www.campustours.com/ - View thousands of virtual college tours and interactive maps. 

• https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/ - 360 degree and virtual reality tours. 

• https://www.thecollegetour.com/tour-colleges/ - From campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities, and much more… each student-driven segment gives the audience an inside look at what it’s truly like being a student at the featured college or university.

You should take the time to attend at least one fair. It’s a great place to learn more about the options you’re interested in and talk to people with first-hand experience. By attending, you can better cultivate an ideal list.

Here are benefits of going to a fair.

• Get answers directly from representatives

• Discover new options that were not on your radar

• Narrow down your shortlist

• Find Out About financial aid, scholarships, and other opportunities

Before You Go

• Find out which colleges will be at the fair. (A list may be posted on the fair's website.) Jot down the names of the ones you want to learn about.

• Make a list of any questions you have.

• Bring your list, a pen, paper, and a bag to hold college brochures.

• Make sure the email address that you give out won't embarrass you. Remember, college admissions officers will see it.

While You’re There

• Get a map of the fair. Then plan a route to the booths of all the colleges on your list. If there’s no map available, do a quick survey of the room to locate your colleges.

• Visit the booths on your list. Ask college representatives questions. For example, you can ask, "What kind of student are you looking for?" or "What makes your campus special?"

• Take a minute to jot down any information you think is important before moving on to the next booth.

• Check out some other booths when you're done with the colleges on your list. You may stumble onto a great college you hadn't considered.

• Attend an information session, if any are offered. Typical topics include applications and financial aid. These sessions are good opportunities to get expert advice.

When You Get Home

• Ask yourself which colleges stood out and why.

• Organize the college material you collected and review it that week while it’s fresh in your mind.

• Go over any notes you took during the fair.

• Throw out the pamphlets of colleges you’ve ruled out so you can focus on the colleges you’re interested in.

• Do more research on the colleges you’re thinking about. Explore websites, contact the admission office or plan a campus visit. If you liked what you saw at the fair, it may be time to see the college in person

There are a variety of fairs that happen for all plans after high school.  Through out the year there are military fairs, vocational fairs, college fairs, and more.  Check the google classroom, your email, and listen to announcements for more information.