10 Essential Tips: All you need to know when visiting college campuses.
There’s no substitute for visiting a college. Here are some tips on what to do before, during and after your visit. It’s up to you to make the most of a campus visit. You’ve got this!
1. Gather Information and plan out your visit.
a. Students should research the college’s website and register via the Admissions website page for a formal visit. The school wants to gain the student’s contact information, not the parents. Formal visits are necessary for a prospective student to gain ‘demonstrated interest’ which is what some schools factor into their admissions criteria.
b. You can email the admissions office to ask if you can arrange to sit in on a class, eat in one of their cafeterias and arrange to meet a coach if you are interested in pursuing a sport.
c. Arrive on campus early so you can make sure to find parking and have time to arrive at the admissions office without rushing.
2. Explore and visit the campus:
a. Typically, a visit includes a student-led tour, an admissions information session and/or a financial aid information session. Whatever they offer, attend! You are already on campus and the more you learn of the school, the better feel you will gain from the visit.
b. Schools offer discovery days and open house events throughout the year. These events typically provide more exposure to certain areas of study or offer tours led by specific students who are studying in a certain major (engineering, pre-med, etc.)
c. Ask the student tour guide questions
d. Check out first-year dorms and ask about whether or not you can choose your roommate during your first year and how housing works, in general.
3. Check out campus media:
a. Listen to the college radio station
b. Grab a copy of their student newspaper, follow their paper on twitter, Instagram, TikoTok etc. The student newspaper tells you a lot about campus!
c. Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews.
d. Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.
4. If you have any specific needs or questions about a specific resource- ask about what resources the college provides and go and visit the office such as:
a. Disability/Accessibility Resource Center: If you had an IEP or 504 accommodation, inquire about the school’s resource center. How many people work there? Do they provide training for faculty? Timeline for working with the DRC prior to enrolling and during each term, etc.
b. Mental Health Office: What type of services does the college provide? Does it provide a wide range of programming and services? Where is it located on campus? What are their office hours? How do they work in tandem with the university health center?
c. Housing needs: If you have specific housing questions ask them during your visit and go check out the office for residential life etc.
d. Campus Safety: Crime statistics, safety in classroom buildings, campus security patrol
5. Financial Aid: This is the time to ask about:
a. If the school is need-blind or need-aware?
b. Is there a work-study program?
c. What kind of academic and need-based scholarships are offered?
d. What percentage of students, not just how many students, receive financial aid?
6. Career center: This is an office that the admissions office and tour guides will talk about. Here are some questions to ask:
a. Where have students interned and are there formal internship arrangements with local companies?
b. What’s the job placement rate for the past few years?
c. How long does it typically take recent grads to find a full-time job in their career field?
d. What career advising services are offered, and how long are they available to graduates?
e. What networking and career fairs are held each year?
f. How accessible and involved are alumni?
g. What kinds of on-campus or local part-time jobs are available?
7. Here are a list of questions to ask your tour guide and/or students you meet during your visit:
a. What are the best reasons to go to this college?
b. What’s it like to transition from high school to college?
c. What do you do in your free time? On the weekends?
d. What do you love about this college?
e. What would you like to change about this college?
f. What’s it like to live here?
8. Get the business cards and names of the people you met during your visit and write a quick thank you note after returning home.
9. Upon getting home, write down your thoughts about the college: Your memory of each college visit will fade and blend into one another so writing down your thoughts upon returning home is helpful!
10 . Here is a list of questions to NOT ask during your visit:
a. Do you think I’ll be admitted?
b. How much financial aid do you think I’ll get?
c. Don’t ask your tour guide personal questions. They may offer information but don’t put them on the spot.
d. Don’ waste your time asking questions a 4 second Google search could provide you such as:
i. What’s the weather like here?
ii. How many students attend this college?
iii. How much is tuition?
A campus visit should help you:
Try to envision whether you would like to be on campus or not: class size, attentive professors, social and athletic activities, Greek life, etc.
Remember: It’s up to you to make the most of a campus visit. Have fun!!