Visiting Universities

Visiting a university campus can be a crucial piece of information in your final decision.  Touring a campus, talking to students and visiting the town nearby can help you decide if you see yourself at that university.  It’s best to visit when school is in session, and during an official “open day” if visiting the UK.

Download and change the "College Comparison Worksheet" to meet your needs:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fpnjRSECcCvpUzI-lWXto86OHnoQL_EQ0eMX5ckqEVk/edit

A list of questions you can ask admissions representative/campus tour guides:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16tpuHPJdrL2kHtaP5fNC8b3XzlFERmAaVAiPAPzCx90/edit

An abbreviated version of tips from NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling)

When to Visit

• Visiting when classes are in session is best.

• Once you have narrowed your list in the fall of the senior year, you may want to make return overnight visits to schools to which you will be applying. On these visits, plan to go to classes and interact with students. 

• If at all possible, try to visit colleges before you apply. You may discover the school is not at all what you had thought it would be based on the on-line research you had done.

• Special Visitation Days: Some colleges will offer spring programs for juniors and fall programs for seniors. Check online or contact the admission office since you may need to make a reservation.

How to Plan a Visit

• Good campus visit takes two to four hours, including time to get a sense of the surrounding town or area. Don’t try to visit more than two schools in one day.

• Figure out an itinerary: where you want to travel, how you will travel, how far one school is from another.

• Call the admission office at least two weeks ahead of time to schedule your visit. Admission offices have set times for tours and information.

• Think of all the things you want to do when you visit and ask what the admission office can help you with: talking with an admission officer, taking a tour, attending a class, meeting with a professor in an area that interests you, eating a meal on campus, talking with a coach or advisor of an extracurricular activity that interests you, etc.

• Research each college before you go visit so you’ll have specific questions to ask.

• Contact students you might know at the school before you plan to visit.

What To Do When You Visit

• Focus on people, place and programs in your visit.

• Talk to as many people as you can: students, dining hall workers, tour guides, faculty.

• Look at a campus newspaper and check out campus bulletin boards.

• Wander through snack bars and student centers and observe how students interact with each other.

• Keep track of all names of people you talk with, especially in the admission office. 

• Go to the admission session and take the official tour. Listen to the tour guide, but don’t jump to a conclusion about a particular school based solely on your experience with a tour guide.

After the Visit

• Fill out the college comparison worksheet before you get to another campus.

  • Send a thank you note to any admission person you meet.

    • Some other helpful resources:

    •  1.     Printable “checklists” from “Big Future”, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/campus-visit-guide/campus-visit-checklist

    • 2.     U.S. News “10 Tips for an Effective College Visit”, http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-tips-for-an-effective-college-visit