TASIS England is fortunate to have a large number of universities visit our campus each year. Families can view upcoming as well as previous university visits in MaiaLearning. This video explains how to find the university visits.
We encourage students to attend the visits to help universities to experience why TASIS students have something special to bring to their campus. The visits also give students an opportunity to broaden their awareness of potential options.
What Should You Ask About?
Feel free to ask visiting university reps about various aspects of their institutions such as (depending on what is most relevant/important to you):
academic environment (eg. student/faculty ratio, contact hours, style of instruction)
student body (eg. size, diversity)
majors (available programs, most popular/competitive courses, level of flexibility)
admissions requirements
acceptance rates
costs (tuition and living expenses)
specific elements of the application process (eg. essays, interviews, admissions tests)
campus environment and culture (eg. extracurricular activities, facilities, housing)
available student resources (learning support, career services, help with transition)
outcomes for graduates
You can find a longer list of sample questions you can ask the university rep during a visit here. Be sure to write down or take a voice note of your impressions, recording details on your university research chart.
Spring or summer vacations are a good time for Grade 11 to begin the process. Here are some tips to help you in your planning:
Try to visit when the university is in session. Register for an information session, campus tour, etc. Be sure that you are registering for the visit and use your TASIS email or an email address that you would eventually use for an application.
Register online at least a couple of weeks prior to your visit and inquire about campus tours and the advisability of scheduling an interview, particularly if you plan to apply.
The purpose of the visit is to help you find a comfortable university ‘fit’. Ideally, visits should be arranged to allow you the opportunity to attend some classes and spend a night at the dorm. Give yourself time to explore the campus, visit the cafeteria, library and bookstore.
Consider connecting with the International Admissions Office, as this office is typically responsible for advocating for your application regardless of your passport. A starting place to find this information would be looking for the university representative that has given TASIS their contact details for questions. You can find this information in Maia Learning through following this video to find the university contact details.
Talk to students, and try to make an appointment with a faculty member in your area of interest. Don't hesitate to ask questions; you are the consumer!
Do not try to interview or visit more than two schools in one day and schedule enough travel time so you are prompt for your appointments.
Be sure to write down or take a voice note of your impressions, recording details on your university research chart.
What made you decide to come here?
What they like about the university?
What are the classes like? (Lectures, discussions, relationship between students and faculty)
Who does the teaching?
What about the class size?
Are professors available after class?
How do they spend their free time?
Is there a range of campus activities?
Are most students in residence on weekends?
What about transportation?
Keep a diary of your visits, writing down your impressions of the college immediately after your visit. And be sure to write a thank you note to the tour guide and/or interviewer.
A visit enables you to evaluate more completely the environment and atmosphere of a particular university. During your visit, you should attempt to learn the answers to the following questions:
Does the university have an orientation program for first year students to help bridge the gap between high school and university?
Does the university have a strong Student Services department for both international and local students?
Does the university have a counseling service to assist in course planning and other items of an educational, vocational or personal nature?
What opportunities to participate in nonacademic activities are offered?
What opportunities are offered for social participation by all students?
What is the relationship between faculty and students? (Loose/rigid, formal/normal, etc.)
How good are the library facilities?
How good are the laboratory facilities? Are they up-to-date?
What are the conditions of the buildings and grounds? Are they clean? Are they well maintained?
Are housing and food services adequate?
What special services does the university operate?
Does the university operate a placement service for employment and do they offer internship programs?
How cosmopolitan is the student body? What percentages of foreign students are enrolled?
If in the US, are there students from a wide area in the United States or is it basically an in-state school?
Does the university offer the possibility of completing a Bachelor’s Degree in three years and a Master’s Degree in five years?
Be prepared for a possible interview with someone in the Admissions Office, especially for visits to American universities. An interview serves two purposes: You can learn about the university, and the admissions officer can learn about you. A neat appearance and useful, intelligent questions will help you to make a good impression.