College Visits

Seeing a college, particularly when classes are in session, is invaluable in helping you make your choices. Visit freshman classes; see the bookstore; read the college newspaper; eat the food. Arrange an overnight stay in the dorms. The admission office can help you organize your visit and arrange accommodations, often with students on campus. While you are there, ask questions. Get a feel for the personality of the institution. Begin looking at the colleges critically instead of worrying about how critically colleges will be looking at you. The college visit often results in the "aha!" moment when a student know that this school is the right choice for him/her.

Students should talk with their teachers and School Counselor before they leave on college visits, and are responsible for all school work missed during their absence. Some helpful guidelines to use when setting up college visits are:

Limit your college visits during the school year to those colleges that you are seriously considering and to which you have a reasonable chance of gaining admission.
You should condense your visits to colleges as much as possible to minimize the loss of school days. Try to travel on weekends.
Do your homework before you get to the admission office. Have some relevant questions ready to show the admissions counselor that you know something about the school.
Don't be afraid to say how interested you are in a college. Colleges like to admit students who want to be there. Asking questions shows that you are interested in a college. You should always have a question in mind about the college or your desired major.
When your visit is over write down your thoughts of the college while they are still fresh in your mind. Students who have done this, particularly if they visit several months before making their final college decisions, have found their notes valuable when it comes time to choose a college. Use the College Checklist (in the file section below) to take notes. Whatever you decide about a particular college, send the admissions officer, as well as any professors you met with, a note of thanks for their time.

Possible Questions to Ask Your Student Tour Guide

What is the transition like from high school to college?
How would you rate campus safety?
How do like the food and residence halls?
How would you describe your personal experience at this school?
Why did you choose this school?

Possible Questions to Ask Your Admissions Rep During a College Visit

How large is a typical freshman course?
What unique programs are incorporated into your school's curriculum?
What is the school culture like?
What do students like most about this college/university?
What academic and career services are available to students?
Does your institution have a teaching or a research orientation?
Are arrangements for meeting with faculty members formal or informal?
Are there any co-operative programs available with local businesses?
What interdisciplinary majors is your college noted for?
Can any classes be taken on a pass/fail basis?
How is the advising system set up and who does the advising?
What is the percentage of students who commute?
Where are the quietest places on campus for students to "get away?"
In what occupations are alumni employed?
What is the freshman attrition rate?
Is housing guaranteed? How many years are guaranteed?
How many students are housed in each room?
Do most students stay on campus for the weekend?
What is the most important social event of the year?
Do intramural sports here offer a genuine alternative to people who want to play, but may be a level below varsity?
What types of financial aid and scholarships are available? What percentage of demonstrated need is met by your college?
On what criteria are students evaluated in their courses (in order of importance)?
What do you (or students) like most about this school?
What do students dislike most about this school?
What are some major issues that students discussed or faced on campus this year?
What percentage of premed, pre-dental, or prelaw students earn admission to professional schools in the U.S.?
What percentage of students earn admission to their first of second choice grad schools?