Questions to Ask During College Visit

College visits play an important role in a student's decision to apply.

Students may find that they prefer a smaller school over a larger one OR vice versa.

This list is meant to provide incoming first years with ideas of questions to ask on a campus visit. Keep in mind that it is important to seek answers from a variety of students & college officials in order to get a well-rounded view of the college. A campus tour is the best time to ask questions! You get to see where classes are held & pick the brain of a current student – take advantage of it!

Questions about admission

·         Is admission need-blind or need-aware?

·         How many students are typically accepted through early admission or the waitlist?

·         What’s the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate?

·         What’s the four-year graduation rate? Six-year graduation rate?

·         Are things like family legacy considered in admission?

Questions about financial aid

·         What kinds of financial aid packages are offered, and what’s the average amount?

·         What percentage of students (not just how many students!) receives financial aid?

·         What’s the average percentage of financial need (not just how much aid!) that is met?

·         What kind of academic and need-based scholarships are offered?

·         Is there a work-study program? If so, what jobs are available?

Questions about academics

·         What’s the academic vibe like on campus?

·         How often do TAs teach classes?

·         What are midterms and finals like?

·         What reputation does my major have?

·         What student-faculty research opportunities exist for undergraduates?

·         What kinds of mentoring and advising relationships do students and faculty have?

·         Can my tests (AP, SAT Subject Tests, etc.) be used for credit?

·         What is the student-faculty ratio in my major?

·         How many students are in the typical freshman classes? What about upper-level classes?

·         Is the teaching innovative, discussion- and project-oriented, or is it mostly lectures?

·         How involved are academic advisors?

·         What tutoring services are available to students?

·         Are there any academic “extras” here like an honors college, learning communities, first-year interest groups, and major- or academic achievement–related fraternities and sororities? How many students participate in these “extras”?

·         Are any art or music practice spaces available to non-majors?

·         What are the campus computer labs like, and is there IT assistance?

·         How many quiet spaces are there for studying?

·         Does the school have access to any additional library collections (local or other school libraries)?

Questions for the students you meet

·         Why did you choose this college?

·         What are your favorite and least favorite things about going here?

·         How friendly and welcoming is the campus?

·         How accessible are professors typically?

·         What are the strong majors and what are the weak majors?

·         How hard do you have to work to get good grades?

·         How easy is to get around campus or off campus? Are there places within walking distance or do you need a car?

·         What is the relationship between the college and neighboring community like?

·         How’s the dining hall food? (Pro tip: eat it!) And what are the meal plans like?

·         Does the dining hall cater to food allergies or other special dietary needs?

·         What other dining options are there on and around campus?

·         What’s the social vibe like on campus?

·         What do students do on weekends? Do they all go home or hang around on campus?

·         What do students do for fun on campus and off?

·         How involved are students in extracurriculars, and which activities are most popular?

·         What’s Greek life like, and how do students feel about it?

Questions about the campus and dorms

·         What’s the res life vibe like?

·         What’s the campus crime rate like?

·         What does the college do to ensure campus safety in general? What about in the event of an emergency?

·         How large is the campus security force? Does it patrol the campus regularly?

·         How are residence halls secured?

·         Is there any sort of late-night shuttle service?

·         How many dorms are there, and how do they differ?

·         Are the dorms spread through the campus or clustered in one area?

·         What are the off-campus living options, and what do they typically cost?

·         What’s the availability of WiFi like on campus? 

Questions about the gym, health, and/or wellness center

·         What services does the health center offer?

·         What kinds of counseling and/or mental health services are available?

·         Are there any stress-relief programs during midterms and finals?

·         How popular is the gym, and how late is it open?

·         What kind of sports equipment does the campus have? Is it well-kept?

·         Do non-varsity players have access to all athletic facilities?

·         How active is the student body in terms of sports?

·         How popular are campus sporting events amongst fans?

Questions about the career center

·         Where have students interned, and are there any formal internship arrangements with local companies?

·         What’s the job placement rate for last year’s graduating class?

·         How long does it typically take recent grads to find a full-time job in their career field?

·         What career advising services are offered, and how long are they available to graduates?

·         What networking or career fairs are held each year?

·         How accessible and involved are alumni?

·         What kinds of on-campus or local part-time jobs are available?

Questions to ask yourself

·         How did you really feel when you were on campus?

·         How did the staff members interact with students? Were they friendly or authoritarian?

·         How would you feel about being in a classroom with the students you met? What about sharing a dorm with them?

·         Did the students try to make you feel at home? Were they helpful in answering your questions? How did they interact with one another?

·         Did the campus seem like a good size for you?

·         Were the dorms single-sex or co-ed? How did you feel about that?

·         Were the dorms too quiet? Too noisy? Too crowded? Too anything for your tastes?

·         Did it seem like there was much to do outside of campus?

·         Did you feel comfortable and safe?

·         Are there stores nearby where you can buy groceries, dorm supplies, materials for class projects, etc.