Make sure school is in session when visiting. Ask plenty of questions, take pictures, eat in the cafeteria and visit a dorm or 2.
The best way to make the most of your college tour is to go in with some ideas of what you’re looking for out of your college experience. What do you want to study? What kind of relationship are you looking to have with both your professors and peers? What do you like about your high school that you want to have in college? What didn’t your high school have that you hope your college will? Where do you want to live for the next four years? In what kind of environment do you learn the best? You get the idea.
Find on the university website to get information
I think it is difficult for a family to know what to do for a college visit if they have never really experienced one. I tend to prep my families to do their homework and I give them a spreadsheet of important questions to ask based on my years of experience in the field. However, even with this guidance some families will still show up unprepared and realize their mistake a little too late. If you tend to operate like this, then I suggest that you go on a campus visit to a local university. Experience the day and make note of all the things you hear and want to know more about. This way if you make a mistake and feel you didn’t do enough homework before your visit, you can always go back easily and get those questions answered. Now that you have experienced such a visit, you can more easily make a list of everything that is important for you and your parents to understand and to gather about the college or university when you visit. See what information you can find on the schools website to answer your questions prior to the visit. If it is unclear, get that information clarified when you visit. If it is clear but requires you to experience it like how good the cafeteria food tastes…then make a point to do that while on campus. You should not treat your visit to campus any differently than your investigation into a new cell phone or any other purchase that you make. Most of us tend to go online, compare, read reviews, and think about what is most important for us. Why would you treat a potential $100,000 investment any differently than your next cell phone or iPad purchase? This early preparation should also allow you some time to just enjoy the day and take in the culture of the campus. You should allow yourself to have some fun while visiting right? Beyond this advice, I suggest that you make sure you speak with an informed admissions counselor about any specific questions you have. Also, if you have the courage, stop a random student on campus and ask them about their experience. Take their comments with a grain of salt because it is random…. Pick up the student newspaper to understand what the student hot buttons are at the moment. Observe what is happening in the hallways, on the sidewalks, in the classrooms. You heard all the propaganda and now you need to do some people watching to see if it is true. If you follow this simple advice, I believe you will be satisfied with the visit that you make. Remember, you should visit prior to applying to a school and I recommend a return visit prior to making your final decision. You are going to live there for four or more years so make the effort now to choose wisely!
Go prepared and ask questions about your interested field, quality of life and whether or not students leave on the weekend. Schedule a meeting with a current student and sit in freshmen level class. Also, read the school’s newspaper and the underground newspaper to truly appreciate daily life on campus.
To get the most out of a college visit, go prepared. First, do some homework ahead of time by visiting the school’s web pages and learn as much as you can about the academic programs offered, as well as tuition and financial aid available. Once you have some information, it’s likely you will have a number of questions. Type or write out a bulleted list of questions to help you remember what they are. Also, make sure you have good directions and allot plenty of time to arrive considerably early so that you can explore the campus on your own a bit before the formal schedule begins. Second, if you can, bring along a family member or dear friend who might help to ask some critical questions and to give you feedback about whether or not they think the school is a good fit for you. After all, the people who care about you probably know know you and want to see you thrive and get the most out of our academics. Finally, if you want to take it one step further, be prepared for an on the spot entrance interview. It is not uncommon that colleges and universities will give you an opportunity to interview at the time of your visit.
Make sure your tourguide is very involved on-campus, and has similar interests to you. Also, you should arrange to meet with a faculty member so you can see if they focus on the undergraduate student or the graduate student. If they can’t find a faculty member for you to meet with – then move on to a different college.
Well, there are two parts to this question in my mind– how do you prepare for a whole visit to campus, and then how do you prepare for tours and info sessions. I want to answer both of these questions, because they depend on each other.
Be prepared. Make a list of the things you want to see and questions you would like answered. Do more than take a tour and sit in on an info session. Take the opportunity to find out about things that are important to you. (i.e. prospective Art majors, should make arrangements in advance to tour the studios and speak with a professor.) Stop by the Career Center and check out what services and internships are available. Plan to have lunch in the dining commons to meet current students and hear the kinds of things they are discussing. “Walk the halls and read the walls.” Here you will see student artwork, research projects, and upcoming social events. Pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of issues students are concerned about. Before you leave, sit and write down your impressions so you can remember them when you get home. Don’t forget to check out the surrounding neighborhood as you drive away.
Make an appointment with an admissions counselor Develop a relationship with the same admissions counselor Ask their advice on when to complete applications (admissions, FA, scholarships, etc) Find out in advance what the info sessions are and the target audience (parent, student) Plan your trip using all of the information to get the most out of the day
First and foremost, be sure to sign-up for an official tour through the admissions office. The campus tour will likely lead you past brand new construction, the nicest dorms, and a trip to the international food court. The journey around campus will usually be led by one of the most energetic and positive students on campus. You may also attend an information session with admissions, administrators, professors, and/or students. These structured programs will reveal the best each college has to offer. Equally as important to a formal campus tour is venturing off on your own. Break away from your parents for a period of time. You might find that students are reacting differently to you when it is not obvious that you are a high school student on a tour with your parents. Sit for a while in a common area and observe. I like to perform what I call the “Hello” test. Try walking around and simply acknowledging students and professors on campus with a hello or head nod acknowledging there presence. Are they reciprocating your verbal and non-verbal communication? Are they making eye-contact? How welcome do you feel? Are students interacting with professors? Muhlenberg is one of many examples of a college that passed my “Hello” test. Students were very friendly and engaged in conversations with professors all over campus. You are likely traveling several hours for your visit. Make the most of your time on campus.
Closely question any student guides about where students lunch, where they go on weekends, and which dorms have what kinds of reputations. Student living patterns are very often much better indicators of how well students will do in classes than most people recognize. How many students have work-study jobs, and what kinds of jobs do they include; where are internships, and what does it take to get one; what summer projects or jobs does the college offer, both to make money and, perhaps, accelerate graduation. And where in a student union do students go to trade information; is there a student reported ranking of classes or faculty; and where do students go on dates, with what other colleges? Get a sense of the social and cultural environment: are plays and concerts less expensive or more frequent than football and basketball games? Does that pattern fit your lifestyle, or meet your social – as well as cultural – needs? Are other campuses open and collaborating (many colleges have shared programs or cultural activities, sports or travel options).
tips
When you step on a campus, you will get an instant impression…it may change as you continue with the tour, but pay attention to your instincts. Can you really imagine yourself hanging out with the students you see and talk to for the next 4 years of your life? Do you get excited about how the college engages its students in learning? If it’s only so-so, but it has your major or is “prestigious” in your world, scrap it! Do you get even more excited hearing the descriptions of classes offered, activity choices, and the vibe? If yes, follow up with the admissions counselor for your region and let them know! Colleges really appreciate knowing what students are really interested. If you’re in town for a couple of days, see if you can come back and sit in on a class or spend the day with a student or even better ask for an overnight. Still like it, put it on your short list of schools!
I’m infamous with my students for telling them that every campus tour is (basically) the same. Guides will take you to the campus’s flagship building (usually a particularly impressive science or business facility or whatever is the most recently constructed or renovated), the dining hall, the library, the athletic facilities, and a residence hall. They’ll consciously take you around the token ugly building (every campus has one!) and, in the end, you’ll have received a perfectly pre-packaged glimpse at a school – usually accompanied by nothing that can truly help you understand what it might be like to be a member of their student body.
Ask questions. The more questions you ask the more information you find out. Research the school beforehand and know what you need to find out. Listen to what others are saying, there is someone out there who wants to know the same information as you. If you need to know something specific to your major, sneak off and see an adviser quickly, they will usually help you out.
If you are even semi-interested in a school, I would plan to visit at least 2-3 times. It’s important that you try to visit during different times of the year. For example, if you visit a smaller campus during summer, you might get the impression that it’s really quiet and boring. That’s just because most students are at home and they do not offer a huge number of summer classes. Be sure to return to that campus during mid-week of fall semester to see what it’s like on, say, a typical Tuesday. If you visit a school during the cold months in an area that deals with winter weather, you might get more insight into how well the school manages snow removal or how important learning the bus system might be at a large school so you’re not walking 2 miles across campus in the freezing cold.
First, arrive early. This is will decrease any stress that you and your family may have when trying to find where you are supposed to be. Second, prepare a list of questions before hand that demonstrates that you have some knowledge of the campus, academic programs that you are interested in, and student organizations/activities that you would like to participate in. Third, ask your questions. Lastly, after your tour is over, wander around the campus on your own and ask students you pass by their campus experiences. This will ensure that you are getting the most honest information.
Tip #1 on Getting the Most out of a Campus Tour: Shedule a formal tour with the school prior to visiting! Families often plan a college tours that works best for them, but that may not be ideal for the school. Registering for your tour ahead of time usually allows for the student and his/her family to meet with a representative of the admissions office and ensures them that they will see and learn about all the important aspects of the school. You want an opportunity to view the living quarters, learn about programs that you never would have known to ask about, and hear about admissions strategies from the experts at that specific school. Tip #2: Do your research prior to attending. Don’t waste the valuable time with a college rep with questions that could have easily been answered with a quick look at the school’s website. Tip #3: After you attend the tour or info session, write notes down about what you learned and keep them in your “College Exploration Folder”. Write down cool facts, how you felt about what you learned at the session or what your felt like while walking on the college campus. This information will help you compare schools and eventually determine the college(s) that would be an ideal match for your personally.
Great question… The time to think about how to get the most out of your visit is to plan for it before you ever get to campus. Research the college a little so you will know what to keep your eyes open for, and what questions to ask, once you get there. If you go with a goal of learning about certain specific topics, you will be much more likely to leave with a good answer.
Prepare questions and research the campus before you arrive. If your first tour is also your first info session you will be overwhelmed and not get all the information you wanted. Before I went on tours I actually took my own tour of the campus first so I had questions that I could ask the ambassadors later. Also, if an ambassador knows you have done your research, he or she will most likely be more willing to answer your questions!
Come to the college having already done your homework by this I mean be familiar with the academic programs that are offered so you can ask intelligent and insightful questions. Take notes at the info session because after seeing an abundance of schools it is easy to get them confused.
Ask lots of questions. Don’t hesitate to go “off tour” to see the specific areas, programs, buildings you need to see to make the best decision for you. Sit in on a class, maybe in a subject you are thinking of majoring in. Tour the surrounding community. Lastly, document your visit. I have created a journal book for my clients to take with them so that they can write down their thoughts and impressions as well as writing down the name and contact information for those they meet on the tour, e.g., their regional admissions rep, their student tour guide, the financial aid officer, etc.
I have three main pieces of advice here. 1) Ask questions. It wouldn’t hurt to have a standard list of questions that you plan to ask tour guides and admission counselors at each college campus you plan to visit; do not hesitate to ask other questions as they arise throughout your visit. 2) Be observant. Look at community message boards, event postings, campus newspaper articles, etc. If something looks interesting or alarming, ask about it. In addition, pay attention to how students move about campus and what they are doing. Do they tend to lounge in large groups? Study alone? Do many students seem to be outdoors (this can be impacted by poor weather of course)? Can you see yourself being friends with your tour guide and/or other students you come into contact with? 3) Ask for contact information from those ambassadors you meet. Process your visit, keep in touch, and ask follow up questions. Make sure you keep good notes!
First, plan at least a month in advance. Think about the majors in which you are potentially interested and contact the undergraduate director or department head for an appointment. Be sure and have a list of questions prepared ahead of time about advising, courses and experiential learning opportunities. Ask to shadow a current undergraduate student for a few hours and visit classroom, departmental and lab space. If possible, spend the night on-campus with another student while Mom and Dad enjoy a night out. This will give you more of a flavor of campus life than just the walking tour.
The centerpiece of your college visit is the official campus tour and information session. However, it is important to remember that this is a polished presentation. You may need to dig a little deeper to get the real ‘essence’ of the campus you are visiting. Your tour guide may very well be a current student. Take the time to ask that student about their personal experience on campus. Ask about anything and everything. Of course ask about classes, technology, workload, sports, etc. Don’t forget to ask about other important aspects of student life such as the campus food and the dorms. Pick up a student newspaper if you get a chance. It may give you important insight to the school’s personality. Take the opportunity after the formal tour to just look around. See if you can walk around the halls of buildings and just talk to students and professors. Besides the fact that you are looking for a quality academic experience, remember that the school you pick is the place where you will spend four years of your life. You need to take into account both academic and social aspects of the school you ultimately pick.
Be prepared. Before you go, make a list of the things you want to see and questions you would like answered. Plan to do more than take standard tour and sit in on an info session. Take advantage of the opportunity to find out about things that are particularly important to you. (i.e. If you are planning to major in Art, make arrangements ahead of time to tour the studios and speak with a professor.) Be sure to stop by the Career Center and check out what services and internships are available. Plan to have lunch in the dining commons, not just to check out the food selections, but to meet current students and hear the kinds of things students are discussing. As they say, “Walk the halls and read the walls.” By doing this, you will often see student artwork, research projects, and upcoming social events. Be sure to pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of issues students are concerned about as well. Then, before you leave, sit and write down your impressions – both good and bad – so you can remember them when you get home. And as you drive away, don’t forget to check out the surrounding neighborhood
Be prepared. Before you go, make a list of the things you want to see and questions you would like answered. Plan to do more than take standard tour and sit in on an info session. Take advantage of the opportunity to find out about things that are particularly important to you. (i.e. If you are planning to major in Art, make arrangements ahead of time to tour the studios and speak with a professor.) Be sure to stop by the Career Center and check out what services and internships are available. Plan to have lunch in the dining commons, not just to check out the food selections, but to meet current students and hear the kinds of things students are discussing. As they say, “Walk the halls and read the walls.” By doing this, you will often see student artwork, research projects, and upcoming social events. Be sure to pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of issues students are concerned about as well. Then, before you leave, sit and write down your impressions – both good and bad – so you can remember them when you get home. And as you drive away, don’t forget to check out the surrounding neighborhood.
Be prepared. Make a list of the things you want to see and questions you would like answered. Do more than take a tour and sit in on an info session. Take the opportunity to find out about things that are important to you. (i.e. prospective Art majors, should make arrangements in advance to tour the studios and speak with a professor.) Be sure to stop by the Career Center and check out what services and internships are available. Plan to have lunch in the dining commons to meet current students and hear the kinds of things students are discussing. “Walk the halls and read the walls.” By doing this, you may see student artwork, research projects, and upcoming social events. Pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of issues students are concerned about. Before you leave, sit and write down your impressions – both good and bad – so you can remember them when you get home. Don’t forget to check out the surrounding neighborhood as you drive away.
Be prepared. Make a list of the things you want to see and questions you would like answered. Do more than take a tour and sit in on an info session. Take the opportunity to find out about things that are important to you. (i.e. prospective Art majors, should make arrangements in advance to tour the studios and speak with a professor.) Be sure to stop by the Career Center and check out what services and internships are available. Plan to have lunch in the dining commons to meet current students and hear the kinds of things they are discussing. “Walk the halls and read the walls.” Here you will see student artwork, research projects, and upcoming social events. Pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of issues students are concerned about. Before you leave, sit and write down your impressions so you can remember them when you get home. Don’t forget to check out the surrounding neighborhood as you drive away.
To get the most out of your campus tour and info session, make sure you come prepared with questions. Look at the website first, or talk with your family and friends about what things are important to you in a college. Make a list! Many schools will be refreshed and excited that you have good questions to ask. If you are going on a tour, bring a camera. Taking pictures can help you show friends and family back home, and can help jog your memory when you’re making decisions later. Be sure to get a business card with a phone number and email address where you can address questions.
The key on campus tours and info sessions is asking the right questions. Before you visit a college, figure out what’s important for you in a college. For example, maybe you are very concerned about how good their engineering program is. When you get on campus, be sure ask pointed questions like what percentage of their students get jobs in their field, how many professors have real-life experience, etc. Or if it’s important to you to have a lots of close, genuine friendships in college, then ask students about how many stick around on the weekends and what the community is like. If you just go into a tour and soak up the general information, you may not find out the answers to what’s important for you.
First, make sure you register your visit. Many colleges consider the interest you have shown when extending acceptances. Before you visit, check out the website and note any questions might have. Make sure they have the major you are interested in, the activities you care about, and the class size that you learn best in. As you tour, write down questions you might have and ask those questions when appropriate. Ask to sit in on a class. As you sit in a large style lecture class, ask yourself, “could I learn in this environment?” Visit a typical sized class and determine if the class type and size suits your learning style. Next, try to spend the night on campus with a resident student. Check out what students do at night. Do they begin partying in the middle of the week or do they study? Seeing students in action will help you to determine if the dorm is the place where you can do the work of a student – studying. Finally, write a thank you note to those you interacted with. Thank them for their time and try to mention some specifically that you learned/gained from time with them.
When visiting a campus always try to get: 1) a personal interview with the admissions office 2) talk to a faculty member within the department you are applying 3) talk to a student—most admissions offices are happy to pair you with a present student within your major.
Tips for maximizing your college visit.
EAVESDROP!! Yep, break away from the tour (which often is scripted and supposed to make you want to enroll) and visit the dining hall, or quad, or take in a performance and listen to what people around you saying…you get the “down low” on what it is really like to live and study there. Then, don’t be afraid to talk to current students–they are your best resource for the “real story.” Also, read the campus newspaper–it’ll help you get a feel for the climate of the campus. When visiting, use your cell phone to take tons of pictures… it’ll help you keep the campuses separate when you sit down to digest the visit. When a campus rep comes to your school to visit: sit in the front and ask an intelligent question. If you are super interested in attending, hang out at the end and introduce yourself. Firm handshake and a follow up question are important tools to use, too.
Take the campus tour and attend the information session. Pay as much attention to the other students on the tour as you do to the Student Ambassadors who are conducting the tour and the admissions rep who is delivering the information session. Ask yourself, can I see myself feeling comfortable with these students as peers and classmates?
First, you should conduct basic research about the college, which includes reviewing the website, reading printed college materials, and talking with your college guidance counselor. Armed with some knowledge about the college, you can ask more specific questions and gain deeper insights that can strengthen your application. Second, you should prepare a set of 5-8 questions that are important for you. Given that you might be in a group or talking with different individuals, you will be prepared to gain different perspective and contribute to group discussions. Remember to be an active listener because no one like to answer the same question twice. Third, you should have your pitch ready for why you want to attend the particular college. You never know who will ask you about why you want to attend a particular college. Even, if you are uncertain, you should be prepared to highlight the college’s strengths in your view. Fourth, you should arrive 10-15 minutes early to any event as a way to talk to admission officers before the crowd comes. Last, you should take notes and ask individuals whether you can contact them with additional questions later. The benefit is that you begin to build a relationship with someone at the college.
Attending campus tours and information sessions is a wonderful opportunity to learn about a college and get your burning questions answered. More importantly, these are chances for you to interact with students, professors, admission officers, and others. It is paramount that you are prepared. First, you should conduct basic research about the college, which includes reviewing the website, reading printed college materials, and talking with your college guidance counselor. Armed with some knowledge about the college, you can ask more specific questions and gain deeper insights that can strengthen your application. Second, you should prepare a set of 5-8 questions that are important for you. Given that you might be in a group or talking with different individuals, you will be prepared to gain different perspective and contribute to group discussions. Remember to be an active listener because no one like to answer the same question twice. Third, you should have your pitch ready for why you want to attend the particular college. You never know who will ask you about why you want to attend a particular college. Even, if you are uncertain, you should be prepared to highlight the college’s strengths in your view. Fourth, you should arrive 10-15 minutes early to any event as a way to talk to admission officers before the crowd comes. Last, you should take notes and ask individuals whether you can contact them with additional questions later. The benefit is that you begin to build a relationship with someone at the college.
College visits provide excellent opportunities for you to experience college first hand. I generally encourage students to visit several different types of colleges (e.g., public, four-year; private, four-year, etc.) in order to get a better sense of the similarities and differences between college types.
If you want to get the most out of your tour, you will need to be an active participant. Too often I see student slagging towards the back, appearing very disinterested. Ask questions, take photos, jot down notes and even ask the tour guide for their email, to ask follow up questions.
ASK THE TOUR GUIDE QUESTIONS! Come up with a list of common questions that matter most to you and your family, and create a Google Doc that you can update after each campus visit so can compare the facts and your thoughts about each school during the college application process.
Begin by scheduling your visit through the admissions office. Most colleges will allow you to schedule online. Often you will be given the opportunity to attend an information session, possibly presentations by particular departments or schools, and a campus tour.
Most colleges understand that their tour guides are “johnny on the spot” for first impressions. As such, I recommend students query tour guides about social reality, amazing professors and opportunities for work-study. In addition, I encourage clients to research concerns pertinent to their interest before visiting. The questions I consistently encourage students to raise address graduation rates, study abroad options, opportunities for community engagement and the relationship of the college with the local neighbors. Also relevant are access to popular classes and potential summer internships or opportunities for undergraduate research. Most of my clients ask who the last relevant/famous speaker or presenter was who visited the campus.
One of the best ways to make sure that you get the most out of your time on campus is by doing your research in advance. Scour the website (specifically the area for current students; not just the prospective student area) and come prepared with questions related to the topics of interest to you. Contact faculty members in advance and ask to meet with them or see if you can connect with current student in the departments that interest you (not the tour guides, but ‘regular’ students). Spend some time in the student union during the lunch hour, get a sense of if you can see yourself at the school. Contact the career center, athletics, or any of the departments that interest you. Learn more about how these departments work with students and how you can make the most of your time at the school.
Schedule your tour while school is in session in order to see the campus environment in full swing. Visit the library, eat in the cafeteria, hang out in the quad. Observe and consider engaging in student conversation and take note of community resources and businesses that you may have access to.
If you want to get the most out of your campus visits, go in prepared. Do some homework ahead of time so that you already know the basics. Don’t waste your time asking if the school has your major or how many students are admitted each year – this is information you can find on the school’s website. Instead, think about what has been important to you in your search. Are you concerned about internships? Ask for examples of places that students in your major secure internships. Are you concerned about leadership development? Ask for examples of leadership programs and workshops that are available to students. Ask informed questions and you will get answers that will help shape your opinion of the school.
Ask your admissions officer to talk to a professor or two in fields you might be interested. Two reasons for doing this:
I always encourage students to take the official tour and make time for the admission presentation. Students should do some research in advance – have 3-4 questions about the campus, your major or other interest areas to speak with the guide or other students on campus. After touring, check out the dining hall and student union, how are students interacting with each other? Talk to a student attending the college – find out why they selected that school and ask if they are happy with their choice! If you have time, check out the local coffee shop, you will find more students to talk to about their experience.
Always come with an open mind to take in lots and lots of information. Write down lots of questions to be answered and/or asked at information sessions if they are not covered in the presentations. Visiting a campus is a lot like shopping for the right pair of shoes. You have to check out everything in detail. Remember: Everyone you meet on campus is a critical contact.
To get the most of your face-to-face time with college admission representatives, ask questions that cannot be answered on their website. And always try to have one more question for them. It’s best to ask for examples rather than statistics. For instance, ask for stories about professors meeting with students outside of class. Instead of asking about the average class size, try asking, “How many students are in the largest class?” To get information about the grading system, try asking, “Last semester, how many multiple choice tests did you take compared to the number of papers you wrote?” Any time you can ask for real stories instead of generalities, you’ll get more out of your conversations.
A major part of the college application process is touring various campuses of interest. Most of these tours may seem scripted and the tour guides and admissions staff will highlight the major accolades for their school and their stellar program offerings. While touring each campus a great item to pick up is a student newspaper. Since the college newspaper is written by the students for the students, it will give you great insight on the buzz in and around campus and may give you information you may not have otherwise been told on your campus tour.
– Read as much as you can about the school before you go on the tour- the tour will provide interesting details about the campus itself as well as facts about student life, but if you know as much as you can, the tour is an opportunity to picture yourself as a student at the school and seeing if you like it instead of learning everything from scratch. It also gives you time to prepare any questions or doubt you may have so you can ask the tour guide while you’re there, and not think of it on the drive home when it’s too late! – When you’re on the tour, remember the guide is there to make the school look its best. The students who aren’t the tour guides will have the most honest opinions about the school- asking one of them might show just how much they love their school or bring up some problems you hadn’t thought of. – Read the flyers posted up on billboards and lampposts- do the events sound interesting and/or fun? – As you walk around, picture yourself going to class or sitting on a green talking with fellow students. Does it seem realistic? If you can’t imagine yourself as a student there, that’s not the best sign. Many times a college visit can come down to a gut feeling. If it doesn’t feel right, best to move on to other schools.
– Read as much as you can about the school before you go on the tour- the tour will provide interesting details about the campus itself as well as facts about student life, but if you know as much as you can, the tour is an opportunity to picture yourself as a student at the school and seeing if you like it instead of learning everything from scratch. It also gives you time to prepare any questions or doubt you may have so you can ask the tour guide while you’re there, and not think of it on the drive home when it’s too late! – When you’re on the tour, remember the guide is there to make the school look its best. The students who aren’t the tour guides will have the most honest opinions about the school- asking one of them might show just how much they love their school or bring up some problems you hadn’t thought of. – Read the flyers posted up on billboards and lampposts- do the events sound interesting and/or fun? – As you walk around, picture yourself going to class or sitting on a green talking with fellow students. Does it seem realistic? If you can’t imagine yourself as a student there, that’s not the best sign. Many times a college visit can come down to a gut feeling. If it doesn’t feel right, best to move on to other schools. – Another great way to interact with people is to pretend that you’re lost. I know it sounds funny, but being lost and asking for directions to a building is a great way to open up a conversation with a student and start to get their honest opinion (and to see how friendly students are 🙂
You’ve arrived on campus and you’re ready for your visit to begin. You find the Admissions office and you’re there on time. Be sure to sign in and make sure that you, do it, not your Mom or Dad. If you don’t sign in, the college might not know you’ve visited!
Campus tours and info sessions are a great way to determine if the school is a good fit for you, but don’t stop there! Contact the admissions office in advance and ask if you can shadow a student for a day and night (including staying in a dorm, if possible.) I know that the university where I worked had a program like this as well as Open House days where we held Q&A panels with current students, the ability to sit in on a freshman-level course, to visit the student union, and other great “day in the life of” experiences for prospective students.
Do some homework on the college before you visit. Know about majors and programs ahead of time, and take a list of questions with you to have answered. You don’t have to ask all the questions–many will be asked for you or answered in the info session. Pay attention, take notes. Look around. Listen. And after the visit, hang out in the coffee shop for as long as it takes you to have a mocha-something and write down what you saw, heard, felt, and smelled that day. Believe it or not, later these notes will trigger memories to help you keep all your college visits clear. Another thing–don’t make any decision about applying to the college based on your tour guide. Chances are you won’t hang out with him or her, have classes together, or even share anything in common. Trust your own instincts–not those of someone else.
There are several tips to getting the most out of campus tours:
1.Call the admissions office and ask what days of the week they do tours and which days tend to have fewer campus visitors. This will increase your time with the tour guide to ask the questions you have without competing for attention from other students.
Prepare for your visit by planning to sit in on a class before your tour or session, if at all possible. Thoroughly review the college’s website and note any questions for which you cannot find the answers on the website. When asking questions, be certain that they are significant and will give you information needed to help you decide whether or not to keep the college on your wish list. Dress comfortably and appropriately, but avoid extremes in fashion statements. Use a small notebook and pencil (no pens if you are prone to excessive “clicking”) with which to record your impressions of the campus. Have a meal or snack at the student commons and engage with a student or two. I like to ask students, faculty and staff: What do you like most about your college? What needs improvement?
Be present. I mean really be present- ask questions to learn, listen and observe with the intention to be reflective, and be fully involved. Be present…
There are a number of things I recommend: 1. Do some basic research before your visit – go to the college website, read up about the school, gather info at a college fair, websites such as Unigo, get a general idea of what programs/depts.you’d like to see and learn more about – SHOP WITH FOCUS! 2. Email, call or register for the visit on the website about 2 weeks before – CHECK OUT TIMES OF TOURS AND SESSIONS AND WHERE TO MEET (get addresses/directions) and give yourself extra time so you don’t arrive rushed or stressed. 3. Try to visit when students are on campus 4, Ideally try not to visit more than 2 schools in one day. 4. Sign in at admissions (so they know you came and are interested in the school) 5. Take notes during the information session and feel free to ask questions 6. Gather up business cards of the presenters as well as tour guides – you can use this to follow up your visit with a brief thank you, notations about what you liked seeing, and to ask any additional questions you may have 7. After the info session and tour, go to a dining hall for lunch or a cup of joe. Visit the student center and the library. Check out the bulletin boards and find a school newspaper to read. Observe the students you see. Engage a few in casual conversation. Ask questions about the academics (requirements, size of classes, teacher access, etc). Ask questions about social life (What is there to do on weekends? What are the hot issues? How is dorm living? Quality of food? School traditions? etc). Ask students if they are happy at the school. See if you can imagine yourself as part of the campus. 8. Take notes on what you saw and heard and your basic impressions while they are fresh in your mind (many colleges ask in their supplements “Why College X?”) – You can use these notes to prepare for any interview or when you answer the college supplement 9. If you visit with your parent, agree to have some time alone to explore the campus. Then compare notes when you meet up with your parents. Don’t forget to explore the town or city where the college is located and see if it has all that you want it to have. 10. Don’t feel disappointed if you find the college is not all you hoped – it’s OK to eliminate colleges as well as add to your list; on the other hand, don’t be quick to judge a college by the weather that day or the tour guide. Consider all aspects before you pare down your list. Remember you’ll experience both sunny and inclement days, positive and negative comments wherever you visit. So use this time to enjoy the visit, learn about the college, ask questions, make contacts, record your impressions, talk honestly with your parents and “try the college on for size.” When you return from your visit give yourself time to do additional research (such as use the Unigo contacts) before you make a final decision whether or not to apply.
When I visit campuses I have found it invaluable to talk to students. They have given me a wealth of information about the campus. I always sit in the registrar’s office to watch how university staff work with students. Are they polite? Are they brusque? I also eat at the cafeteria and talk to students. Remember that it is important to check in with admissions and take an official tour. Ask your tour quide what other schools they applied to. If you know what major you will be enrolling in, ask to sit in during a class and make sure you meet the head of the department. If you are visiting a great many schools, I encourage you to take notes – you may be reviewing your notes many months in the future. I give my students a form they use to keep notes about each school.
In addition to participating in the obligatory campus tour and info session, it is equally as important to explore campus without an official tour guide. Asking questions of random people you encounter will give you a more authentic, unscripted response to your queries while their willingness to help you can help you gauge the friendliness of the campus in general.
One of my biggest tips to students visiting a college is… TALK TO STUDENTS!!! Of course it’s important to take a tour and listen to the info session, but make sure you interact with students. Ask questions like: What programs are considered outstanding? What activities on campus draw the largest crowds? What is the personality of the student body? What is like on the weekends? What is the academic reputation of the institution? What do students complain about on campus? What do students love about the campus?
Eat lunch at the cafeteria and talk to current students. If you don’t like the food now, you won’t like eating it for the next four years!
Utilize your technological supports. The internet is full of tips on what questions you should ask and what you should look for in your campus tour. Always go prepared with a checklist of items that are important for you to find out and a lsit of questions to ask. For example, you may want to know about housing costs/options,food available, # of students per bathroom in the dorms, # of students in each class, availability of the library, the list can go on and on. Make a list of what is important for you to know then make a checklist or matrix so you can document the information from each visit and then compare your findings to find the best fit.
The main purpose of a campus tour or information session is to help you decide if this school offers the education you are seeking in an environment in which you can thrive and grow, and in which you would feel comfortable. Prior to your visit, it helps to draw up your own checklist of what is important to you personally, and to bring this with you when you visit a campus. In addition to the arranged tours, you can attempt to get a feel for the school by picking up a student newspaper, seeing a dorm room, and most important of all, talking to students. You can usually find some students to talk to in the cafeteria, student lounges, or around the campus. You can request to see facilities of particular interest to you if the have not been included in the tour, such as theaters, laboratories, computer centers,or the sports complex. You might also want to evaluate how accessible the school is, what the surrounding area offers, and what security features the school has in place. Before you leave, stop in at the admissions office to introduce yourself, and to get a name for future contacts. Immediately after the visit, jot down some notes to help you remember what you particularly liked or disliked about this school.
Do some research on the school you are visiting before you visit and come prepared with some questions for the tour guides and the admissions counselors in the info sessions. Have lunch in the cafeteria at the school and try to spark up a conversation with some students.Do they seem friendly? Look around the campus and notice the students– does it look like youll fit in?? Take a walk through the local town/street and see how it feels.
Make sure you are organized and have a way to record what each school has to offer in the most important categories that a college must have for you so after your campus tours, you have a way to compare each school. To get organized, make a list of questions that you would like to ask and be sure to ask them. Visiting a prospective college in person is still one of the best ways to determine if it’s a good fit for you. With the internet, you can find out alot of information about a school. And while the “virtual tour” can be helpful, there’s no substitute for how a place “feels to you in your gut” when you visit and speak with the people. When you visit, take some pictures as you walk around. Jot down your impressions while you are there in the moment. Ask questions of your tour guides and also of the “average” student that you may run into in the cafeteria for example. Find out why they came to this particular school and what they like now that they are there as well as perhaps what they don’t like. Check out all the facilities, peruse the campus newspaper and hang out in the student center. To get the pulse of the campus, be sure to visit when people are present as opposed to “vacation” time. Visit a class if you know your intended major and have spoken with a faculty person in a particular department. Introduce yourself to an admissions counselor before you depart if you are really interested. If you are a student-athlete, make plans to meet the coach, or a representative from their department before you go on the campus visit. Again, have a list of questions to ask the coach and/or players and drop off a game video of your play. If possible, stay and watch practice or take in a contest if your sport is in season to see where you may “fit in”.
Be sure you allow for enough time to see what you need to see. Ideally, you should be prepared to spend a half day on each campus you visit. Try not to visit more than 2 colleges on a single day. Obviously, the earlier you can plan your visit, the more likely it is that your schedule will work out.
Go prepared. Do some advance research so that you can ask questions that yield information and an understanding that goes beyond what is offered on the tour. The school has a message its wants to share, but you need to know as much as you can in order to be sure that it is the right place for you. Ask about program, about financial aid, the make-up of the student body, the realities of the social life, and grad school placement rates. It is all relevant to your ultimate decision, and the school should welcome your desire to get to know it as well as you can.
Because most campus tours are guided by students, the tour itself is not as important as what can happen after the tour. If you are visiting from out of state, you may want to call the Admissions Office and see if you can sit with an admission representative for a few minutes. Additionally, remember that a tour is guided by them. After the tour, ask yourself: “what part of campus did they not show me”? Then, check out that area as well. Visiting a campus is also a good time to ask questions especially if you eat in the food court. Ask students a few questions while you eat, they will know in advance that your are visiting campus.
Do some research and get the basic information ahead of time; i.e. SAT/ACT requirements, costs, male:female ratio, class size. Look at some of the academic programs the school has to offer and ask about them.
Go with a list of some questions you want answered, that way you can make sure you leave with that knowledge. Don’t know what to ask? Think about what it is you want out of your college experience, and ask questions to see if you can create that experience on that particular campus. On tours, don’t just look at the buildings to see if they are pretty, look at the people using them too. Are there no students in the library or is it packed? Are students interacting with each other? Do they look happy? Ask your tour guide what a typical Wednesday (day and night) is for her/him, and also what happens on a Saturday. Ask about the tour guide’s favorite class and professor. Ask what other colleges the tour guide applied to and why they chose that particular school. You can learn a lot more from a tour guide and info session if you are proactive and ask questions!
I have about 1,000 tips on this topic, but for the sake of brevity, here are a few:
Think of the tour like a shopping trip. You want to be able to get the most information you can while you are there, but also to inspect the campus. So, most likely the first stop is the admission office. Since this is a rather important place, the first stop for most families, how have they designed it? Does it feel warm and welcoming? What kinds of materials do they have out to read?
First of all, wear very comfortable clothing. Do wear nicer jeans or khakis and shirt. Don’t wear ripped jeans and and old t-shirt. You will be walking a lot on the tour, so you need to be comfortable. The tours are usually the same no matter what day you visit. The tour will consist of “showing off” the college in the best possible light. You may visit the new multi-million science lab or new Olympic-sized swimming pool. However, you may not be interested in any of that. You should tell the admission office (prior to you visit) that you are interested in seeing the theater or other department of interest.
Lots of campus tours are very similar. The entail an admissions information session that lasts approximately 45 minutes and a walking tour of campus that takes almost 1 hour. The best thing you can do during your visit is to come prepared with questions about the admissions process and campus life.
The college application process is generally pretty wacky, but this part is rather idiot-proof. Just a few things to keep in mind:
Short Answer:
Observe- when looking around the campus, see how the students interact with each other, read activities announcements, is the campus well kept, how does this particular college campus makes you feel, can you see yourself attending classes, sitting on a grass and reading a book. Ask specific questions not percentage/number questions- what is this college known for, what kind of specific academic or other scholarships this college offers, what kind of internships students are offered, can they apply in their first year what about research opportunities, etc. Make connections with tour guides and admissions officers who are leading the information sessions. Tour guides are the best source of knowledge-ask about their experience- also information sessions can be an opportunity for you to create a personal connection with an admissions counselor especially if you are a borderline student- show your interest and continue be in contact with that counselor because it can make a difference in terms of their admissions decision.
A campus tour is your opportunity to decide whether the school is right for you. Think of a campus tour as your chance to be the admissions director – does this school meet your criteria? Does it deserve to be on your desired list?
Talk to the students that actually go to the school. The guides tend to give you fluff answers since they do not want to make the school look bad, getting you their is your job. The regular students have no bias, they will give you straight answers and will usually be honest with you.
Split up with your parents and take two different tours, or after the same tour, split up and wander around campus separately and compare impressions later. Come up with questions that are important to you and ask the same ones at each campus. Ask questions that require an evaluative answer – instead of “Do you like it here?”, ask “What are the three best things about this school?” Take photos and notes. Don’t visit more than two schools a day. Treat every visit like that school could be The One, because it might be!
First of all, speak to your high school counselor for a list upcoming campus tours. Before the tour really think of what you as a student would like to get out of being in college.Make a list of the questions and make use of the list during the tour. Most tour guides do a great job explaining the greatness of the and offerings. Important questions to ask would be about campus safety, campus life, class size, residence halls, food, how does the campus tour guide like the school. During the info sessions its important to ask about your major and classes.
It is best if you do your research prior to a campus vist or an info session. When you go you should have a list of your questions. This will allow you to have all of your concerns addressed at that time.
The campus visit is your opportunity to evaluate college fit. It’s not necessarily when you’re going to try and get FaceTime with the admissions officer. If you’re too focused on making a good impression you won’t be able to take in your surroundings. On the Admissions sponsored activities, like the campus tour and info session, pay attention to information that goes beyond statistics you can find on the website. If you can, build in time to walk around campus independently. Visit the student center or the cafeteria or the library. If you feel comfortable, talk to as many people as you can. Just say, “I’m a prospective student and I’m interested in your school. What’s it like here?” Before your visit see if you can connect with a professor in a department you may be interested in. Ask them about their impressions of their academic department, the student body, and the tone of the faculty/student relationships. The main point is, the campus visit is less about the information you gather and more about how you feel when you’re there.
TOURS–Don’t judge a college by its tour guides. Not all tour guides are created equal. If the tour guide is a dud–leave the tour and go off on your own. Don’t count out a campus because of that. On all tours, see what else is going on around campus. Plan on going back and visiting. Perhaps classes are getting out and you can go speak with kids. Maybe there is an activity going on in the quad. After tours and info sessions, plan on spending some time on your own (away from family and friends) exploring the campus. INFO Sessions-Go with a list of questions to info sessions and listen to what other people ask as well. Introduce yourself after the info session and get the card of the presenter. Perhaps that person can introduce you to some professors or programs on campus.
I make two suggestions to all students about campus visits:
Believe it or not, positioning is important. If you are taking a group tour, situate yourself in the front of the line near the tour guide. If you are participating in an info session, come prepared with a number of questions, specifically as they relate to the school you are touring
These sessions can be a TON of fun as long as you’re willing to put yourself out there!
Research the college before you visit the college and come armed with the questions you want answered. While you are visiting, ask yourself whether you feel like you would fit in at this college. Take notes and photos, so you can remember what you have learned on your visit.
I believe that a student should have the opportunity to visit with students that are not conducting the tour. Ask questions of these students that deals with your values, and your reasons for wanting to attend that specific school. Also, if you know what your major field of study will be, spend some time in that building and talking to those professors.
To get the most out of any campus visit ask questions! You should always have questions to ask, if you don’t you aren’t prepared. This will be your home for the next for years you should have a minimum of 10 questions to ask, from administration, to students, cafeteria workers, maintenance, teachers, and anyone else on campus. Ask, ask, ask away. It will be your money you are spending.
Go on each tour with the idea that you’re going to ENJOY yourself. Relax, take a look around and absorb the atmosphere. Don’t get so busy asking questions that you forget to see what’s around you.
Campus Tours- generally hit most of the same sites: dorms, dining options, athletic/recreational facilities, bookstores and academic buildings. You may be interested in the science labs or fine arts facilities. Make a list of your must see spots and questions regarding the student body, social culture or administration. Jot them down on an index card and refer to your list prior to the tour. Ask the guide if you will be seeing a science lab, for example. If it is not on the tour, ask if you could see it afterward. If you are uncomfortable asking some of the questions during the tour, speak with your guide individually.
The reputation of the college or department’s academic rigor and successfully matriculation to graduation success. What are the college’s individual departmental majors for noted awards, honors, achievements? Ask questions about job placement rates for students in a particular field of interest, internships as part of the curriculum, professor and instructors background and knowledge of content, support services available. Sit in on lectures to observe instructor teaching styles, visit residential halls for incoming freshmen, are the living accommodations suitable or meet your expectations?
Part of it is asking questions. A lot of them. Be prepared to exhaust your tour guide or orientation leader. Also, be sure you know what you’re looking for in a college.
First of all, sign up ahead of time, so there is a record of your visit. Some colleges recognize this as an indication of sincere interest in their school. Also, this will get you on the college mailing lists and you will have more points of contact.
I have participated in tours that were very comprehensive and showed practically all areas of the campus while others turned out to be just a tour of the various residences.
Campus tours and information sessions can be a great way to learn more about a college. Here are few things you should keep in mind before you visit a college:
It may seem counterintuitive, but my primary suggestion is to research the institution carefully before you go on a tour/info session trip. There is nothing more wasteful of everyone’s time than to visit a campus only to find out it doesn’t have the major or program you want. When I worked at a small New Enland liberal arts college, I often went through my information session only to have someone ask about our engineering program, whihc we didn’t have. Be prepared to ask some questions about specific programs offered by the college. This is not only good for you, it also impresses the admission officer.DOn’t be a wise guy and try to trip up the admission person with some obscure fact or rumor you heard about on the internet. Listen, ask substantive questions, and move on, Parents, do not speak for your kids. In fact, let them go on the student tour by themselves while you grab a cup of coffee in the student center or in town. Let you children ask the questions they need to ask of their peers while you get a sense of the atmosphere of the place. In fact, if you think you can do it, let you kids do the info sessions and the tours while you relax with a good book or walk around campus yourselves. Meet for a meal later and see what your teens have learned. IT’s a great way to start them on the way toward making this big choice. You can talk about what questions to ask beforehand, then listen to the answers later. Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen whatever happens, and your children will appreciate that you trust them to take the whole thing seriously.
Try to visit campuses during times when class sessions are in- students will be on campus and visitors can get a better feel of the school. Also, register for the official tour. Yes, sometimes it’s boring, but usually filled with useful information and then the student will be on the college’s list of interested students.
Campus tours are extremely important! Campus tours will give you a feel for the campus and the students who attend. Before you go, do your research so you can ask higher level thinking questions about your major at that school. Create a list of questions. Develop your own ranking list so you can look for answers about things on campus that are important to you and your interests. Try to visit during a normal day of classes on the campus and not when the students are out on break. If you are interested in schools in another part of the country at a great distance from your home which you can’t make in a day trip, ask your parent(s) to plan a trip to that area in the summer or on a long break. Make every effort to visit the top three schools or your choice. Take the standard tour that is offered in groups, but also ask if you can take a personal tour with someone from your major area of interest if possible so you can ask more specific questions. While on campus ask students how they like the school. Also ask to meet with the head of the department in your major. Attend all info sessions and update your list of questions as you learn more about the schools. Whenever reps from the schools come to visit your high school, make sure you schedule a visit with them.
At the far ends of the continuum are, on one end simply showing up and being another warm body on the tour and at the session. On the other end of the spectrum is someone who has done their research and can ask questions not answered in the school’s promotional literature; someone who knows enough about the college to notice when the admissions representative shares something that gives you real insight into the college. Do your research before getting to campus. Once on campus, take a good look at the enrolled students. Do they look like people you would want to hang out with? Eavesdrop (in this context it’s allowed) on their conversations. Are they talking about things that interest you? Go to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat. Not only will it give you a chance to sample food that you might be eating for 4+ years, it also offers you a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the campus culture. Can you see yourself here? As you go on the campus tour notice what’s posted on the bulletin boards. Do the outings and announcements interest you? I know it can be awkward, but force yourself to talk to some enrolled students. Ask them what they like best and least about the college. Ask them where else they were accepted and how they chose this college. Grab a college newspaper and see what the issues are. You are a spy. Find out as much as you can about this place and its people so you can make an informed decision about whether this could be a good match school for you.
All too often, prospective students and families invest time, money (and sometimes torturously long journeys) to make college visits, then leave having gained little more than knowledge of the campus map and the dining hall menu. Make the most of your campus visits and get the information you need to make informed decisions about whether or not a school is the right fit for you by planning ahead, taking advantage of campus tours, and then venturing off on your own.
Ask questions
Short Answer: Be an astute observer and a critical thinker when visiting a college and listening to an admissions counselor.
Before your visit, it is important to research the school. Look at majors, minors, special opportunities, internships, study abroad, student life, etc. Then when you visit, you will be more prepared to ask questions. During the information session, pay attention to not only the school’s requirements for admission, but also what the school offers you. Talk to current students and find out what they like and dislike about the school. Visit the buildings you will be in the most – dorms, your major’s department, the athletic center, the student center, the disabilities office, the career center, etc. Look at kiosks and pick up a student newspaper to read about the current issues on the campus. Eat the food, sit in on a class and try to schedule an interview. Don’t forget to drive or walk around the area surrounding the campus to see what it offers. Remember, you will be attending this college or university for at least four years. What you require as a freshmen is very different from what you will require as a senior.
My suggestion on getting the most out of a campus tour is to get in the front of the group. This does two things. First off you are able to hear the tour guide well, but second and most important is that you can ask the tour guide the questions you want to know the answers to when they are not talking to the group. This will give you insight on the campus from the students perspective.
I always tell families and students as they visit colleges to be sure, during the campus visit, that they look around, take in the surroundings and imagine yourself (or your child) there. As a student, do you feel like you would fit in? Do the students and teachers seem friendly? Could you imagine yourself happy and productive in this kind of environment? Don’t discount the surrounding area and the town in which the school is situated. Can you imagine weekends in that town and on that campus? Listening is probably the best way to get the most out of the info session. Listen to the counselor giving the session, and listen to the feedback you might get from student panelists. Take copious notes. There’s potentially a wealth of advice in what seems like a monotonous, repetitive process. The most important part of the info session is the opportunity to hear from other students and families who are sitting there and asking questions. Take notes and don’t doze during the Q&A. Chances are, someone is going to ask all the questions you might have had and have some extra compelling ones to add to the mix. After the tour and interview, get out on campus to where the students congregate. Strike up a conversation at the cafeteria, the student union or in a library. Ask the students directly about their experiences and the reasons they chose this institution and how it has been. You’ll get a lot connecting with the other students on campus…and if you have a particular area of study you want to explore, don’t be afraid to get out to a particular building and talk to the students currently enrolled in that major program. This is your opportunity to really do your research–don’t be shy!
There are few better ways of determining if a college or university feels right and fits right than the campus visit. But one can only determine this if they have done research about the school ahead of time to determine if they offer what you are looking for in a school. In other words, tours and information sessions are great if you know what you’re looking for and want more information than a website and view book can provide. Bring your questions. Its one thing to know about a college’s biology department…its another thing to how often a student gets to do summer research with professors within that department. This is the kind of question that will not only benefit you as you make your decision to apply or not apply, but will also demonstrate your sincere interest in that school.
If you have been to several info sessions and tours, you may begin to feel bored and believe that all info sessions are basically the same. Not true!! Each school has a unique story to tell. The best info sessions emphasize what is most important to the school. Listen carefully. There will be opportunities to use that information in your application essay. For example, at the info session at Cornell’s College of Human Ecology, the admissions staff stresses that “interdisciplinary study” is an extremely important part of their vision. That’s something that might not be so important to another school, but it would be a great point to incorporate into your “Why Cornell/College of Human Ecology” essay!
Yes, it is most helpful for students to see the campus “live” in other words when college is in session. This can give a prospective student the real feel for what it is like on campus. Also, it is helpful to see dining halls, dormitories and classrooms, especially for those for first year students. Stop and talk to students you see along the way, ask what they like best about the college.
I have two ways you can get the most out of college tours and information sessions. First of all, ask LOTS of questions. Questions are good. Ask questions about whatever issues you are interested in or concerned about. Ask about housing, financial aid, student life, academics. Ask about things you won’t learn by visiting the college’s website.
Make sure that you arrive with some questions in mind by doing some research before you arrive on campus. Dive deep into the schools website by looking into specific program concentrations or check out freshman course requirements. Having an agenda will allow you to make the most of the visit. Also, make sure you connect with a representative and get a contact. Having a person to connect with during the admissions process can be extremely helpful. Finally, make sure you reflect immediately after the visit and write down those reflections. It is easy to forget or mix up schools when you are visiting a few colleges.
As you are on your tour make sure you look around at what is happening on campus and the students that are around you. Are they active? Do they seem happy? Make sure you see a dorm room and eat or at least stop by the dining facility to see what,themfoodmis like. Are the bulletin boards full of notices? Is the campus clean? Looke beyond the tour guide.
Campus tours and info sessions can really be a fun process! Use them to ask questions, questions, and more questions. Treat it like a job interview whereby you are the employer looking to “hire” a college. Ask the not-so-obvious questions like what is NOT included in the brochures, what ‘quirky’ trivia can you learn about the school or town or where’s the cheapest cup of coffee in town because as a student, you’re going to need caffeine and cheapness! Make sure you sit at the front, use your manners and dress the part. First impressions go a long way.
Come prepared to the visit with a list of questions that you want the answers to. What do you want in a college? Your visit is the opportunity to find out if that particular college has what you want. Can you picture yourself on campus? Do you see yourself flourishing and growing at that particular institution? Do you connect with the tour guide or the students that you met? These should be the questions lingering in your mind.
To me a few of the best places to learn about a campus community is through any student newspaper or publications, community bulletin boards (including ones posting club and activity information), and then just informally talking to students around classes, student unions, dorms, etc. How many different clubs and activities are available, how are they advertised, and how many of them are you interested in? How safe do students feel on campus and are there crime issues on campus are two important questions that are often overlooked! Many admissions offices will arrange for you to spend the night in dorms, go to athletic events, plays or musicals, etc. I think it’s important to see the students’ spirit and passion for their school. Certainly calling ahead of time and having someone from the admissions office arrange an opportunity to sit in classes and to meet with a professor or department chair from the academic area you are interested in is important, but so is talking to students who aren’t being paid by the university.
The most important part about campus tours and info sessions is to meet the counselors and people who are new to your college too. Either way you will get to know the campus very well after starting classes, and the first few weeks there will be information booths around for freshmen who cannot find their classes. Bring pen and paper to your info session because you will receive lots of handouts and information so it would be best to take notes. Don’t worry if you miss anything because you can always call a counselor to ask or find it on the college website.
To me a few of the best places to learn about a campus community is through any student newspaper or publications, community bulletin boards (including ones posting club and activity information), and then just informally talking to students around classes, student unions, dorms, etc. How many different clubs and activities are available, how are they advertised, and how many are you interested in? Many admissions offices will arrange for you to spend the night in dorms, go to athletic events, plays or musicals, etc. I think it’s important to see the students’ spirit and passion for their school. Certainly calling ahead of time and having someone from the admissions office arrange an opportunity to sit in classes and to meet with a professor or department chair from the academic area you are interested in is important, but so is talking to students who aren’t being paid by the university.
I would do a few things:
In order to maximize your time on a campus, try your best to visit when school is in session. This way you can get a better sense of the campus on a “typical” day. Open houses are a great way to have full access to many offices and resources so I highly recommend those events as well.
Get a list together of the questions you want to ask, the departments you want to visit and the classes and special sites you want to see. Ask to see a dorm room, the cafeteria or local eating establishment. Try the food, not just the fast food resaturants, but what they cook in the cafeteria. Talk to students and faculty and make sure you are familiar with the counseling and admissions staff. They will be the ones who will review your application. Ask as many questions as you can about student life and by all means pick up a school newspaper. Make a comparison chart for all schools you visit and representatives with whom you speak. It’s your choice for the next four years of your life. Try to make it the most enjoyable and don’t get blindsided by things you forgot to ask about.
Some random observations (not in any particular order):
Try to go when classes are in session! That way you will have a chance to see what the campus feels like when students are on campus. Plus, you may be able to sit in on a class or two after the formal tour, so as to get a stronger feel for the college. I also recommend taking a look at the school newspaper as well as perusing the campus bulletin boards to see the kinds of activities in which students engage.
Some colleges always have classes available for you to visit or dorms for you to see. Some don’t. Before you head to campus, make a list of everything you want to do, e.g. see a dorm, eat in the dining hall, sit in on a class, or see the career services center. Next, check the website to see if any of the things on your list are part of the standard tour. If they’re not, call the admission office to see if they can accommodate your interests. Don’t just show up for the tour and expect to see everything on your list.
I would say that Number one is to plan ahead, make sure that you have some familiarity with the college and what things are that you want to investigate or ask more about because each college has it’s own unique aspects and so you want to know what appeals to you and, therefore, know what you wanna ask the tour guide and what not. Students should have a very distinct idea of what the school offers and what they want from that school. You wanna keep in mind that essentially every time you come in contact with someone from any particular college it’s usually considered an interview because they do most colleges keep track of the interactions that they have with their students or with the students that are interested in applying and, demonstrated interest is a big part of college admissions. So, whenever you are speaking with anyone representing the admissions office or connecting in any way in the admissions office, you wanna make sure that you are enthusiastic about the school and that you are asking intelligent questions and not questions that are in the guide book or whatever.
You should not go on a tour and be asking questions that you could answer using online resources. For example, size of school,, available majors, gender breakdown to name a few.
To get the most out of campus tours and info sessions, come prepared with a list of questions about the things that are important to you. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Find out if you can sit in on a class and visit the student housing so you can get a feel for what it is really like to be a student at the school. Take notes on each school so you don’t forget what you’ve learned and you can compare features later.
Always VISIT!!! Even though it’s fun to visit during the big “preview weekends,” I advise visiting during a typical school week, visiting several classes in your major of interest, staying in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria. Schools typically roll out the red carpet during the preview weekends or weeks so it’s important to experience the “typical” day in the life of a college student.
Think about it. If you were an employer,y ou would have several interviews with a candidate before making the decision to hire. Well, your education is being provided to you by … in a sense … people you hire to teach you … so prepare for the tour as an employer would prepare for an interview with a potential candidate. Have a list of important questions like:
The best way to get the most out of your campus visit is simply to ask lots of questions. If you have a chance to stray from the tour and talk to students who aren’t paid to represent their school you might get the most candid responses. When you visit the student center, try to get a sense of what events are advertised; are these things you would want to attend? Try to sit in on a class in your field of interest; do these students feel like people you would want to be your peers? Is the professor willing to speak to you? These are all ways to get the best sense of a school.
If you are going to take the trip to a college campus, make sure you are prepared to get as much information as you can. Why? Well, you’ll probably visit a lot of colleges and will hopefully have several schools to pick from when it comes time to commit to a school.
Student newspapers aren’t usually among the handouts in the admissions office, but when you find them in the student union or the classroom buildings, pick one up. In my view, they often serve to expose the nature of the climate and discourse on campus.
Make sure you visit campuses when classes are in session. When you see students walking around and professors teaching, you get a better idea of whether or not the campus is a good fit for you. Try to schedule a time when you can sit in on a class that is in session. Make sure to meet with a professor from the department that you will be majoring in. Ask them to show you a degree plan and to explain the different types of classes that you will be required to take. Find out the average GPA of students who enter with your same high school GPA and ACT/SAT score. Make sure to ask the percentage of students who are immediately placed in their chosen career.
Most important is not to just stroll the campus, but participate in a formal student or admissions officer led tour. Note everything they say, and then start asking students, librarians, and campus police more realistic questions. Ask students where else they were admitted and why those chose this particular school? Pay attention to their answers as they may be important to you personally.
If you’re taking a tour with a college student, pay close attention to everything that the student is showing you or talking about on the tour. Current college students will give you all of the inside tips and interesting ideas about campus life. The best advice that I would give a student when going on a campus tour, is to see if you could envision yourself walking around that campus – do you feel like you fit in with the other students? It’s important to attend each of the info sessions and to ask all questions that come to your mind. This is the best time to get useful information to help you determine if this is the college/university for you.
Look at bulletin boards/ eat in the cafeteria/ arrange beforehand for an official tour/ take home a school newspaper/ make a list of important things that you want in a college/ sit in on a class/ schedule an interview/ have questions for your tour guide you cannot find on their website/ take pictures
When I visit campuses I have found in invaluable to talk to students. They have given me a wealth of information about the campus. I always sit in the registrar’s office to watch how university staff work with students. Are they polite? Are they brusque? I also eat at the cafeteria and talk to students. Remember that it is important to check in with admissions and take an official tour. Ask your tour quide what other schools they applied to. If you know what major you will be enrolling in, ask to sit in during a class and make sure you meet the head of the department. If you are visiting a great many schools, I encourage you to take notes. I give my students a form they use to keep notes about each school.
It is important to visit the colleges and universities that you are considering, however taking a leisurly walk around the campus on a Sunday afternoon is quite different from becoming a part of the college tour provided by trained students. Remember that you must prepare yourself for a prepared college presentation. Tour guides are selected and trained on what to show and what to say. They rarely deviate from the script and be careful if they do because they are not the experts they are there to give you the icing that catches the eye with a few historical tidbits, and to point out some important parts of the campus that are unique to that campus and for the audience at large (minority focused, academic focused, athletic focused, etc.) The best way to enhance what you gain from the tour is before you ever leave home do your research and write down the questions that you still have after studying the available information that is already posted online.
Before visiting a college, do your homework! Peruse the college’s website, take a look at other resources like Unigo.com and get a general feel for what the school is all about. It’s important to get your general questions answered (e.g. Do you offer my major?) before arriving on campus. Come up with a list of questions you’d like to ask before you walk out the door. Think about what you really want to know about a school that you can’t find out anywhere else. If you’re planning on being a biology major, maybe you want to setup a meeting with a biology professor. If you’re a swimmer, maybe you want to check out the pool facilities. After your visit, jot down some notes about what you saw and your general impression. This will be very helpful after you’ve seen multiple campuses and they begin to meld together in your mind!
•Most visits will consist of a tour and a Group Information Session/Q & A. Each generally lasts an hour. The GIS is usually given by an admissions officer and the tour guide is a student.
College tours can be stressful, particularly when you are visiting multiple schools with a parent or two in tow. To get plenty out of these sessions, follow a few basic guidelines: 1.) Dress presentably, but try to fit in. Don’t wear a coat and tie (unless the college has a dress code), but don’t wear sweatpants or a lurid t-shirt either. Split the middle with a collared shirt or blouse, nice jeans or khakis, or a skirt. 2.) Don’t be afraid to ask questions in information sessions. College admissions counselors and tour guides would much rather answer a student’s question than a parent’s. Your parents will almost certainly ask a variety of questions; you can preempt them by asking your own. 3.) Try not to get embarrassed by your parents and their questions, and do not allow any embarassment to prompt moments of immaturity. 4.) Remember that tours and information sessions are designed to present a college at its best. Spend some time on campus away from the tour. Eat lunch in the dining hall. Sit in the library for fifteen minutes. People-watch and eavesdrop. You will get a much better sense of the “true” community by doing some independent reconnaissance. Then you can compare that with what you learned on the tour and in the information session. 5.) It is better to schedule a tour than to drop in, and you should fill out a card at every opportunity. Colleges keep track of visits and contacts to gauge your interest in their school, so improving that level of interest can help you in the admissions process.
When visiting a college it is important that you ask intelligent questions during the information session. DO NOT ASK standard questions that you can find out on the website: how many students go here? do you have a business major? Ask questions that show you have done your homework. Ask about particular programs you may be interested in, ask about housing and if they have learning communities, ask about first year programs, or ask about a particular feature about the university (such as a great outdoor program or leadership program.) Show the college admission representatives that you have really looked into their university. During the tour, ask questions. Don’t let your parents upstage you. Colleges want to know that your have driven the college application process, not your mom or dad. Read my blog about what parents should not do on a campus visit at http://collegeadventures.net/blog/2009/08/11/campus-visitswhat-parents/!
I would suggest that some preparation be done prior to the campus tour and info session. Go online and visit the website of the college you plan to tour. Get a feel for the college — take a virtual tour. Familiarize yourself with the college. If you have questions about the college or do not understand something being presented during the info session, speak up. Ask your question, get as much information as you possibly can about the college, the programs offered, the social life, the college community and the environs in which the college is located. It is also helpful after the info session and the campus tour for you to take your own walkabout, getting a ‘feel’ for the campus and a ‘feel’ as to whether it ‘feels’ right for you or not. Talk to students. Ask them why they decided to go to college there, what they like about the school, what some of the things they don’t like about the school. I also suggest driving around the college town or the city to get a sense of what would be available to you if you were to choose to go to this particular school. And, please, try to avoid doing three or four college tours in one day. Let me assure you that such an itinerary can create an incredible blur, a montage of different facts and thoughts that might not be correctly associated with an individual school. If you do such a whirlwind itinerary, then I suggest you take notes or record your thoughts after each school. And digital cameras with pictures snapped of the campus and life on campus are also a wonderful way to recount later some of your impressions about that particular school.
One of the most valuable sources of information for the visiting student is to use time before or after the organized sessions to talk frankly with current students. When asked directly “So, what do you dislike about this college?”, students not on the payroll are generally very truthful. If the reply is “There is no ultimate frisbee” and visitor doesn’t care, then the college can stay on the potential list. If a major interest, however, isn’t evident in this conversation, then the college might not stay on the list of colleges for that individual student.
Your college search is one of the first steps you will take to more fully become the person you will be throughout your life. So your college visits are a great place to begin developing the critical thinking and observation skills that will serve you well in every aspect of living. Be a smart consumer of higher education. Do your homework before you go, and be an astute observer and critical thinker when you visit.
Take a camera along when visiting colleges. Photographs from memorable campus locations will help to jog your memory after many college visits (you’ll find that details about each school will start to blur together in your mind). I also recommend keeping a college visits journal. After each campus tour and information session, write down your impressions in a journal. These notes will serve prospective college students well and may be useful when writing colleges’ supplemental essays.
Be prepared! Go to the visit with a list of questions! Determine what is important to you. Do you want to know what activities are offered? How many students are typically in a class? Do they have a freshman cohort for studying? Is there a meal plan? Check out the surrounding area too! Do you want to be in a big city? small town? What are the dorms like? The more questions you have the better you will get to know the school to see if it is a good fit!
Plan in advance with the recruiter a day visit during the school week where opportunities to sit in on a class and meet with an instructor about the individual classes. Tour the campus in the morning or when the majority of the students are present. Visit the student unions, libraries and living facilities.
Prepare for you visit by reading up on the college in one of the college guides such as Fiske’s Guide to Colleges and looking at the school’s website. If you know any students currently attending the college, contact them in advance and see if you can meet up with them during your visit. If you are interested in a particular program or major ask in advance if you can see a class or meet the relevant professor. During your visit ask questions, take notes and photographs and take in the atmosphere.
Study their website. Arrive early and have a short look around campus on your own. As with admissions interviews, prepare and ask only questions that may not be answered on the website; this will show both interest and rigor in your preparation. After the tour, go to the department of the school in which you are considering studying and strike up a conversation with a student (or your mom will do this as she will not be embarrassed to do so!). Or go to the bookstore and in the process of buying something, ask the student help there for some information. You want to get some un-prepared, spontaneous answers…..
After touring a few college campuses, they all start to look alike. The info session, the dorm room, the cafeteria with the description of the declining balance “swipe” system. You know the drill. But it is still really important to get your feet onto a campus in order to see the students there and get a feel for the place. So how to make it more personal? I always like to hang out at the student center after the tour. Get a copy of the student paper. ASK students (not your tour guide) if they like the school. They are astonishingly honest! You can also get some good information out of your tour guide without embarassing them or making them go too far “off script”. Find out what they did last night, and last weekend. Ask what they would change (not food or parking!) Ask what they wouldn’t want to change! If you have special interests or departments you want to see, call ahead and make an appointment to meet with faculty or students in those areas. Many schools will arrange overnights or classroom visits for interested seniors, but again, this takes some planning, so think ahead!
While college admission counselors and tour guides are prepared to work with students and parents who know absolutely nothing about their institution, the best and most productive campus visits occur when students and parents do some research and prepare a handful of questions ahead of time. Getting a lot of the basic information out of the way before you arrive on campus (via the web site or a brochure) allows you to go into greater depth about the specific things that can really shape your college experience. I always found it amusing when students would apologize for pulling out a spiral notebook that contained some of their questions, but I quickly assured them that I found it extremely helpful that they took the initiative to think about what they wanted to know ahead of the actual visit. If you can relay to an admission counselor or tour guide the issues that are most important to you, they can tailor the information to your specific needs, and that should eventually lead to you finding the right fit for your college home.
It is so important to see a campus before applying to a school. Many students want to go to a school for all of the wrong reasons and when they get there they find they do not like it as much as they thought they would. It is absolutely necessary to go on a campus tour, while school is in session. You want to see what the campus looks like but also, would you fit in. What are the students like? Is it an active campus, do you like the feel. Also, do you like the area the school is in, the ride up there-was it too long? too short? Be sure to ask your tour guide questions. What is the food like, is there a lot to do on the weekends or do students go home? are there many clubs or activities? Ask about tutoring and on campus jobs. These are all valid and important questions that should be asked and answered. Make yourself stand out. Even if you know the answer ask just so that they know you are interested. Get their name and send a thank you.
As far as the campus tour is concerned, try to go when classes are in session and talk to students around campus. Look at the bulletin boards to get a feel for the campus culture. Notice if the buildings and grounds are in good condition. Take photos and make notes because if you are on a tour of several schools you might not remember details when you return home. At the end of the information session, ask questions. Which of the application components are considered the most important? Does the college have a lot of applicants from your geographic area? Are optional questions on the application really optional?
Introduce yourself to the territory representative from your area. One of the best ways to distinguish yourself from other applicants is to form a relationship with an admissions representative. Don’t be overzealous, though. Be polite and courteous, but ask to speak with the representative from your area.
To get the most out of your experience wonder away from the group. The student representative taking you around campus has a biased view of their college. They are (more often than not) not going to clue you in on how difficult course registration is, or how cramped the library gets during finals. You want to get the most of your hour or two on campus and here’s how.
You need to be prepared for a campus visit. You must call ahead and make an appointment whether it be an individual tour or an “open house” day for interested students. I would research the school online, talk with others you know who may have attended the school, etc. Many of the “open house” campus visit sessions will give you a general overview of the college/university and show you all of the programs they have available to you. If you would like a more personal experience (I suggest this), call the college/university offie of admissions and make an appointment to have a personal tour. in addition, you can seek out meetings with specific personal/college departments, but you must call ahead to make arrancgements. Please be an active participant – have a list of questions that you are seeking answers to.
Have questions ready before your visit. Take plenty of notes during your visit. Try to talk with students taking classes in areas of personal interest.
Campus tours are a time for you to get a “feel” for the university. I have always encouraged students to take campus tours if it is something they can do. Campus tours give you an opportunity to walk around and view the campus setting. When you are on a campus tour I recommend asking the tour guide if you could get a peak inside a building or classroom. Some tours will include this, but it does not hurt to ask! When you go inside a building or view a classroom it allows you to visualize yourself in the setting.
Prepare for you visit by reading up on the college in one of the college guides such as the Fiske Guide to Colleges and looking at the school’s website. If you know any students currently attending the college, contact them in advance and see if you can meet up with them during your visit. If you are interested in a particular program or major ask in advance if you can see a class or meet the relevant professor. During your visit ask questions, take notes and photographs and take in the atmosphere.
Come prepared with questions a head of time. Be familiar enough with the college that you know different options for majors. While you are setting up your campus visit request to meet with a professor for the majors you are interested in. Make sure to ask the admissions counselor our student tour guide what types of student organizations and other clubs you can get involved with.
Colleges and Universities come in all shapes and sizes, and selecting the one that fits you and your goals best is extremely important. Before we get into the specific aspects of this journey please take a moment to reflect upon thisstatment: this choice is about you – your development personally, academically professionally.
Colleges and Universities come in all shapes and sizes, and selecting the one that fits you and your goals best is extremely important. Before we get into the specific aspects of this journey please take a moment to reflect upon this statement: this choice is about you – your development personally, academically professionally.
Colleges and Universities come in all shapes and sizes, and selecting the one that fits you and your goals best is extremely important. Before we get into the specific aspects of this journey please take a moment to reflect upon this statement: this choice is about you – your development personally, academically and professionally.
One way to combat the sometimes emotional and irrational tendencies that go into making a decision on which college to attend is to keep meticulous notes about each college visit. For instance, take an “College Visit Information Sheet” with you on each visit, so that you can document the information that is important to you. Once you have done this for each school, you can then go back and compare your notes for each school. Remember, you always want to try and make your notes right when experiencing something so that you get an accurate understanding of what you were feeling at the time of having said experience.
During your campus tours, ask the tour guide to take you through several living quarters, the dining halls, academic buildings where classes are held (hopefully you can view a class being taught by a professor), student support service offices, health offices and any other facility you may want to explore. Ask questions like, ‘what do students do on the weekends’ and ‘what types of clubs and activities are available to students’. Definitely try to tour the campus when school is in session (fall or spring is best) and not during holiday breaks or summers if you can avoid it. During the informational sessions, ask questions on topics like:
The best tip is, always visit any campuses you are interested in.Many students feel they already know which campus is “right” for them. But the reality is, you won’t find out until you actually visit them, once you’re there, you might feel right at home, or you might feel like you’re in a different world that you don’t belong in. The best advice once you’re visiting the campus is ask questions, even if they seem simlpe and not very intelligent, ask away. I’ve taken many students on campus trips and the best questions are always related to how the student guides feel in school. Are they liking the classrooms, the teachers? But make sure you have a list of possible questions before you go… Once there, visit the dorms, try and find a student mentor there, and go with them to classes, many schools now offer this option of attending classes with current students for a day. And finally, always ask about financial aid and scholarships.
I like for each person visiting to have their own Checklist and Q&A sheet. (Call or email for ours) All family members can share their perspectives when reviewing the visits back at home.
Go prepared to campus tours and info sessions. I’d recommend bringing the following with you when you go:
First, you want to make sure that you are attentive and listening to everything that the admissions representative says in an info session and the tour guide says on the tour. You don’t want to leave anyone that works in the admissions office with a bad first impression because you were talking, sleeping, texting or goofing around. Second, make sure you prepare a few questions for both the info session and the tour. These questions should be the most important factors you are considering in the college you want to attend. The info session is a good time to ask admission questions like SAT/GPA numbers, what is their acceptance rate from last year and most popular majors to name a few. The tour is where you can ask more specific questions like placement in jobs for a specific major, how many students live on campus and what are the meal plans. At the end, make sure you introduce yourself to the tour guide and they know you were there because that can help them know how much you want to go there and they have a record of your visit.
Ask questions about what you’re interested in or concerned with. Guides give dozens of tours and they are rather broad because all groups have different interests and it’s the guides’ job to make everyone love their school. Don’t be afraid to ask pointed questions about the guides’ experience.
People think that if they have taken the official tour and attended the information session, they have “visited” a college. There is so much more you can do, as you’ve just scratched the surface! On the tour, ask to see a dorm room. In admissions, try to schedule an interview with an admissions officer ahead of your scheduled visit. Also try to attend a class.Admissions can help you with this request. Go and have lunch in the cafeteria and ask to sit with a bunch of students. Tell them you are considering applying and you’d like to get information from their point of view. Ask a lot of questions, i.e. What do you do on weekends? What do you do on weeknights? How is the advising system? Are professors available to you? Is it difficult to find internships? How much time outside of class do you spend studying? Is there anything you don’t like about this school? Ask whatever you want!
People think that if they have taken the official tour and attended the information session, they have “visited” a college. There is so much more you can do, as you’ve just scratched the surface! On the tour, ask to see a dorm room. In admissions Try to schedule an interview with an admissions officer ahead of your scheduled visit and bring some questions to ask during the interview. Also try to attend a class. Admissions can help you with this request. Go and have lunch in the cafeteria and ask to sit with a bunch of students. Tell them you are considering applying and you’d like to get information from their point of view. Ask a lot of questions, i.e. What do you do on weekends? What do you do on weeknights? How is the advising system? Are professors available to you? Is it difficult to find internships? How helpful is the career office? After all, that’s why you’re going to college! How much time outside of class do you spend studying? Is there anything you don’t like about this school? Given the chance, would you choose to attend this school again? Ask whatever you want! Take a camera along with you and take pictures because after you;ve visited a lot of schools, they tend to run together. Finally, when you get into the car, write down what you liked and didn’t like about the school so it’s fresh in your mind! This will also help you answer the “why X” college essay, if it’s on their application!
It is ALWAYS a good idea to attend campus tours and open houses. Most campuses will have campus tours available daily so you can fit it into your schedule. Holiday breaks are also a great time to visit some schools you are interested in that aren’t in your immediate area. When you go on tours and open houses its a good idea to bring a list of questions with you. That way you get all of the information you came there for and don’t forget or miss anything. Ask questions about residential life, campus safety, campus events/activities/clubs, athletics, specific questions about majors, etc. If the tour guide can’t answer the question, ask them if they can put you in touch with the person that can. Most importantly, pay attention to how you feel while you are there. Do you like the atmosphere? Can you picture yourself going to school there? Many times the tour guides are current students so they can tell you exactly what its like to attend that school.
When going on campus tours, in order to get the most out of the visit, it is critical to have a list of questions prepared before attending. It is important that the student and parents discuss what is important to them in regards to college needs. What academic, personal, career needs does the student find important that they believe their college should be able to provide assistance with? What needs do students have if they decide to live on campus? Also, be aware of how you feel on the campus you are touring. Do you feel safe? Does it feel like home? Do you feel welcomed, and so on.
The best tip I can give students is to do some research before arriving at a campus. I have everyone prepare a visit sheet which can be used on all visits, because everything starts to run together after the first few. Before you get there, know some basics about the school, the population, the location, strong programs and extracurriculars which may make a difference for you. Keeping good records makes it very easy to answer the “Why College X question” on your application. It also makes it easy to focus on the tour and the information session, and to have great questions for your interviews.
If you are visiting a college with your parents, take seperate tours whenever possible. This way you feel free to ask your own questions, and your parents don’t have to worry about embarassing you when asking theirs. After the tours, is a great opportunity to talk to each other and share information and impressions of the school. Make sure to always sign in with the admissions office (many colleges keep track of contacts), and in information sessions, don’t ask questions if the answers are easily found on the college’s web page. Do try to find out or get in contact with a member of the department in which you are majoring. If traveling a long distance, try to set up an interview on the same day.
Evaluate the campus…Don’t just look at the pretty buildings. Notice what kinds of students the campus attracts. Are they interacting with faculty? Does the environment seem welcoming? Do the students look a lot like your friends? Ask at least 2 questions on the tour or information session…Ask about the majors you’re interested in, and try to meet with a faculty member in that department for at least 15 minutes. Engage in your visit and try to determine if this school will be a good fit for you based on a logical assessment – not your “gut feeling.”
There is a contact card that admissions officers will fill out. You need to make sure that you fill that out because they will keep an online database of who has visited campus. In addition, you should write down the names of people you meet, names of buildings and memorable things on campus for 2 reasons. Reason 1.) After you have visited several schools, they all seem to look alike and your notes will help you distinguish the colleges. Reason 2.) Using the proper names of people, places and memorable moments from your visit will help you write a really outstanding college essay if in the event you end up applying to that school.
One of my favorite strategies when visiting schools is to follow the tour guide who I think is most like me. Even if they divide the group up, I don’t necessarily stick with my assignment.
Look at the schools website. Bring any questions you have with you. Take notes.
When families visit several colleges, it is hard to remember specifics about each one. I suggest that my students take photos and keep a journal about what they liked and disliked for future conversation/consideration. Introducing oneself to the info session leader is a way for them to connect a name with a face, making it a more personal experience. Sending a thank you email to the session leader is a nicety, as well.
If you go into a tour blind, you will limit what you get out of it. Research each school you tour and why you are interested in it. Ask questions during the tour, observe a class, speak to a professor in your discipline. This next tip, a parent of one of my students gave me and it is terrific. Go to a local student hangout, not a bar, but a coffee shop, pizza place, etc and look around at the students and how they interact with each other. If you can see yourself with this crowd, you will know whether it is a good fit.
There’s nothing like being on campus to give you a sense of whether you will get the kind of 24/7 learning experience you are looking for in a college. Visiting as many college and university campuses as you can is the best way to learn which college is right for you. It’s never too early in high school to start. But go when students are there, summer time will only show you the buildings. Here are some questions that you might think about to help you discover which schools are the “best fit” for you. • Do I want to be near a city or in a rural setting? • How far away from home seems comfortable-what do my parents think is comfortable? • Do I want a small or huge campus population? • What university offers the academic programs that I’m interested in?
Leave time to wonder around on your own, eat in the dining hall, and talk with students.
I believe that the best way to get the most out of campus tours and information sessions is to research the school ahead of time so that you know as much as possible about the school environment and its offerings before you get there. Listen carefully during the tour and the info sessions, and be ready to ask well-considered questions. (Try not to ask a question that has just been answered in the presentation.) Don’t leave the college without finding out what you want to know; someone will be able to give you the answer.
It is important to take notes on key points that will help you identify the elements of fit. When I take students on a Burton College Tour they all have a field guide with a campus profile and a blank assessment for each school they visit. Students should take notes during info sessions and take time to reflect on their campus tour as soon as the tour is over. I caution students to write their personal reflections before sharing with others. Reflections are key and will allow students to compare and contrast the schools they visit. The notes will also be useful if a supplemental application question asks why a student would like to attend. Remember that once you are on campus go beyond the tour and info session to truly connect on campus.
1. Ask specific questions. Don’t throw your guide softballs like, “So, what are your most popular majors?” Instead, ask questions that will produce unique responses. Try asking, “What are some of your unique on campus traditions?” or “What’s your favorite thing to eat in the dining hall?” or “What type of student wouldn’t fit in here?”
Takes notes, ask many questions, eat lunch in the cafeteria, talk to students,
Take notes, ask many questions, eat lunch in the cafeteria, talk to students. Try and meet the counselor from your region if available.
Before leaving for the college, be sure to do your research! Use the school’s website, books such as Fiske and Barrons, and websites such as YouTube, unigo, etc., to view the school, hear student opinion and find out the latest happenings on campus.
http://nsse.iub.edu/pdf/NSSE_PocketGuide.pdf
Campus tours and visits should be arranged/scheduled. Don’t expect the college will be receptive to you just ‘dropping in.’ Almost all schools list their visit schedules and most have a reservation system right at their website. Registering for a tour also adds your name to the school mailing list, which is helpful if you are looking for more information. Be prepared when you visit campus, do your homework, research things about the school, it will make your tour more personal and valuable. If the tour does not include things like a loop around the student center or dining hall, after the tour take the time to go on your own. It is advisable to have a snack or something to eat prior to the tour. There is nothing more miserable than being hungry during the tour, your mind will not be on the visit. Ask questions of your tour guide. If your questions aren’t answered, don’t hesitate to contact someone in admissions after the visit. Most tours end at admissions, therefore, you could go in and ask a counselor on duty or get a business card and email them your questions once you return home.
You might attend some tours with a lot of knowledge about the school beforehand and you might attend others without too much knowledge about the institution. Either way — try to go with an open mind. Try not to let others’ perceptions and opinions about a school cloud YOUR feelings about the place. You might be surprised at the things that appeal to you and the things that don’t. And try not to be too stressed out as you visit colleges and attend informational sessions. You are just gathering information and facts — not committing to four years!
I’ve taken thousands of campus tours and listened to countless information sessions over the last decade as part of my educational consulting practice resulting in my attaining the title Certified Educational Panner. There is nothing that excited me more than exploring a campus I have not seen! The critical question for me is how to draw back the curtain and see behind the glossy photos and snappy PowerPoint presentations. That said, before I offer my “Dos” please abide by my “Do Nots”. Please do not be the “empty barrel” who makes the most noise at the info session. We know you are only speaking to either hear yourself speak or to attempt to make an impression (which is seldom positive in this venue.) instead, nurture that relationship with your admission counselor with follow up emails with thoughtful content and enthusiasm. No gimmics please. Also, avoid being the “squeaky wheel” on campus tours. You may think you are “getting the grease” but really if you attempt to monopolize the tour guide with private dialogue, the rest of the group suffers. I advise that for a truly efficacious campus visit, be uninhibited with the “unscripted” folks: leave your parents at arm’s length and sit in the dining hall. Approach current students with questions such as “Are you happy you decided to come here?” “What would you change about your college is you were given a million dollars.” “How easy/difficult is it to register for the classes you want?” “Is it cool to be smart here?” If you are willing to make yourself vulnerable and ask around, you will truly reap the benefits of time well spent.
I encourage students to keep one notebook in which to take notes during and after the visit. Information given at the info session will help students write the answer to the “why” questions. After the tour and the info session, write down your feelings about the school….what you like and what you don’t like. It will keep the experience fresh in your mind because after a while, the schools will blend.
Take lots of photos, if you are doing a tour it helps to remember the place and also acts as a memory jogger for what you were being told at the time; think of one or two questions and ask the same one at each college you visit to be able to compare the answers – make sure it’s a question relevant to you, not your parents. If you can, do a different tour from Mum and Dad – they have a whole different set of questions they need to hear the answers to. Only ask at the info session a question that you can’t get on the webiste – do your homework before you get there – good questions are memorable to the admissions counselors.
Some of the best sources of information on a college campus are students who are NOT campus tour guides. Though the thought of prospective families mingling with random, unpaid, possibly unhappy students might make the Admission Office cringe, you can absolutely gain some valuable insight into a campus by doing just that during your visit. One word of warning: Remember that each student you chat with is just ONE part of the campus puzzle and that their experiences and opinions aren’t necessarily those of the larger population. That being said, it’s not a bad idea to hear a few of the grumblings about “Pristine U” every now and then to keep things in perspective.
– Ask your student tour guide questions about student life, academics, campus culture, etc. – Notice the campus facilities: buildings, dorms, library, cafeteria, location, surrounding town/city, transportation – Snag a copy of the student newspaper. Here’s a chance to get beyond the Admissions Office’s marketing hype. – Eat in the cafeteria or in town. Check out the students and listen to what they talk about. – Picture yourself as a student on that campus. How comfortable do you feel? – After your visit, write down your impressions of the college, noting pros and cons. After a few visits, details start to blur, so get your thoughts down while they are fresh.
Before you attend information sessions or campus tours, figure out what is important to you in a school and do some research on the school of interest. You want to have a pretty good idea of 1) what you are looking for in a school and 2) some of the basic information about the school. Don’t waste people’s time by asking if they have XYZ major when it is easy to find that information on the school website.
As an admission presenter at Boston University, I always hated it when a student asked questions that they themselves could find the answers to on their own with a little research. I always recommend making reservations ahead of time if possible as college tours have become quite popular.
Before you visit a school, research it thoroughly. In addition to researching a school, however, know enough about yourself to know what you are looking for. What do you need in order to thrive? How do you learn best? How do make decisions? What opportunities do you need? If you have time after the tour and information session, hang around and speak to the students on campus–not the tour guides. Find out what why they chose the school and what they love the most as well as what they don’t like. Ask about practical matters such as availability of professors, hands-on opportunities, graduation rates,class availability, and job placement rates. If possible, have a one-on-one dialogue with an admissions officer, but come prepared. Visiting a school is the most important factor in determining whether or not a school is a good fit, but in order to make the most of your time, come prepared and come with curiosity.
College Tours are a great way to get a real sense of the campus and its culture. The best time to do this is when the college is in session and the students are on campus Attend the information talk that the admissions offices give and take the campus tour. Ask questions of your tour guide and then, after the guided tour, take one on your own. Visit the student center and see what kinds of clubs and activities are popular on campus. Get a copy of the school newspaper and find out what the controversial issues or hot topics are. Don’t be shy about asking questions of students you meet–it has been my experience that students are happy to talk about their college experiences. Use this campus visit wisely–if you have a learning difference and expect to use accommodations, make an appointment to see the Office of Disability Service. You will get an idea of what accommodations they can provide, see how well the office runs and get a feel for how user friendly they are. If you play a sport, make an appointment to see the coach. Eat in the cafeteria so you can sample the food and also see how the students interact. If you are seeing more than one campus a day or several in a week, take good notes or the details may get forgotten!
WHEN YOU ARE GETTING A COLLEGE TOUR TRY TO GET TO SEE THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER, THEIR LIBRARY AND COMUNICATE WITH THEIR COUNSELORS. ALSO GO ONLINE AND FIND WHAT TYPE OF CREDENTIALS AND VALIDATIONS THEY HAVE.
Be sure to go online and read about campus visits before showing up on campus. Most colleges have scheduled tours and information sessions. Be sure to check dates, hours, and find out if a reservation is necessary.
Turn your phone to silent. Only use it to take notes or photos of the tour. It’s okay to tweet a photo with a hashtag of the university, but don’t chat with your friends while on the tour. They can wait. Your job is to listen to the person giving the tour, and ask good questions.
Upon scheduling your campus visit, inquire about opportunities to speak with admissions reps, sit in on classes, meet with faculty, talk with current students, and if possible, partake in an overnight experience. It’s important that you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during your visit, so that you’re able to determine if the college is truly right for you.
Make sure that you ask all the necessary questions when looking for the right schools, do not take no for an answer when wanting to visit certain areas of a schools cmapus. Ask for a student guide when touring, this will help to ensure that you get a good feel from someone with firsthand experience as to what the atomosphere and environment is like at that particular campusl.
Ask questions that no one else asks! Request to see a typical dorm room (often the tour guide will be open to showing their own room a friend who lives in a dorm on the tour route).
If you look on college planning websites or talk to your counselor, there are a lot of worksheets that help you get the most out of college tours. They list typical questions that students want answers to. Don’t be afraid to ask anything! You should spend some time on the school’s website before going, and plan some questions of your own. Make sure you see the classrooms and the dorms, eat the food, ask about activities, ask about having a car or public transportation.
Do your homework before you show up on campus. Are there specific programs you have questions about? Is it important that you are able to meet with someone from the department you are applying to? Does the campus offer overnight stays in the dorms?
Hopefully your college tour will be conducted by a student, which is a critical component to taking a campus tour. What kind of students go there? Are they enthusiastic? Brainy? Sporty? And while it is important not to pigeon hole a school by one student, it can tell you a lot.
Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. Current students and admission counselors what to help you get the correct information about their school to help you determine if it is the right fit for you. They will give honest answers so that you have information to decide if it is a good fit.
Research the college before you go so that you already have the basic information. That way you can listen for and ask about more in-depth information.
Take some time to write down what is most important to you in regards to choosing a college. Write down any questions you want to ask. Spend some time on the college’s website. Dress appropriately and comfortably.
All college tours are run by the admission office and the tour guides work for the admissions. I would offer the following tips for you: 1. Ask the tour ask the student why they decided on this campus? 2. Ask the guide where else did they apply? 3. Go and eat in the student union and sample the food, get a copy of the school newspaper ( read about the issues on campus) and ask students what they like and do not like about the school. 4. Before you go on the tour be sure to have called the financial aid office to set up an appointment. 5. Schedule an interview if one is strongly recommended. Follow up with thank you note. 6. Take pictures ( the more schools you visit the more they tend to look alike )
If possible bring questions with you. Ask any question that come to mind. Introduce yourself to the guides and admissions representative Take in the scenery as well as the information being given. Take the tour while school in in session. Watch the student interaction. See if you can sit in on a class. See where you may be living and eating. After the guided tour take a tour on your own and ask questions of the students you meet along the way.
• Take notes and pictures! You think you’ll remember . . . but you won’t. This is especially important if you’re visiting several schools in a short period of time. As soon as possible after visiting, make a pro-con list and take a few notes about your gut feeling. • Pick up a copy of the newspaper and read the editorials. What are students upset about? • Look at the fliers on the bulletin boards. What’s being advertised? Are you interested in these activities, events, or topics? • Visit the dining hall during the lunch or dinner rush. How hard will it be/how long will it take to get food? Is there enough variety that you’ll be happy? • If the tour doesn’t go into a freshman dorm, ask to see one. These are usually the worst dorms on campus; if you can live here for a year, it’s only going to get better. • Ask the admissions rep lots of specific information: do they superscore the SAT or ACT? Will you be automatically considered for scholarships or do you need a separate application? Is there a priority deadline for scholarships? Are you guaranteed housing? What specific distribution requirements will you need to take, and how much flexibility do you have with them? • Your tour guide is your best resource for insight into the college. The student probably loves talking about the school. Pick the student’s brain! o Ask open ended questions of the tour guide: o Instead of “Is the food good?” ask, “What is your favorite and least favorite thing about the food?” or “What meal does everyone rush over to get?” o Instead of “How big are the classes?” ask “How many students have been in the biggest and smallest classes you’ve taken?” o Instead of “Do you like the classes?” ask “What’s the best/most unusual class you’ve taken?” and “What types of classes did you take for your distribution requirements? What did you like about them? Did you have some choice?” o Ask what he or she wishes she had been told about the school before coming. o Ask what he or she would improve or change about the school if money were no object. o Does he or she know anyone who has transferred? Why did these people leave? o Is Greek Life a big thing? Do you have to be part of Greek Life to feel included on campus? o When was the last time he or she knew of someone who needed to use the Blue Security Lights?
Schedule early. Campus-based tours and appointments tend to fill up quickly, especially during the height of admissions season, so schedule a visit with an admissions office at least several weeks prior to arriving on campus. Upon scheduling your visit, inquire about opportunities to speak with admissions reps, sit in on classes, meet with faculty, talk with current students, and if possible, partake in an overnight experience. It’s important that you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during your campus visit, so that you’re able to determine if the college is truly right for you.
Make sure you’ve really done your research about a school before going on the campus tour so you can ask specific questions about particular programs or aspects of the school you are interested in. Not everything can be talked about during a campus tour, so knowing what aspects you are most interested in and being able to ask about those to a current student or admissions counselor is important (and a lot more personal than asking by email).
I think a student will get the most out of a college visit by coming up with some questions beforehand. Doing some research online to get an overview of the school is very helpful so that the student knows the “basics” and can devise a list of questions. Making sure to visit campus centers and cafeterias allows students to get to know the student body better, since every college has its own “culture.” This allows a student to see if it’s truly a good fit for them.
There are many tips. Here are a few: Ensure classes are session when visiting. Ask any questions you have, take pictures, eat in locations you will be dining regularly on-campus, and visit a living situation. Ask about the process and timeline for applying for work-study jobs. Call the department(s) you interested in and/or arrange to sit in on a class. See about staying in the dorm/on campus overnight.
Talk to everyone!!! Ask any and everything that comes across your brain, because more than likely everyone has had that thought. Think about what you enjoy and think about how this college will or will not allow you to enjoy yourself in that college .
Go prepared. Know what the college has already published in print and on their website, and create your own questions based on what they haven’t told you yet. Bring your questions and areas of interest written out (I create a printed form, with space for recording answers to each area of interest, but that may feel too geeky for you!). As you tour, read bulletin boards, the chalk scribbles on pathways, look for information not presented by admissions marketing. Talk to people – professors in your possible majors, students anywhere you find them (know that they once were in your shoes, touring this campus). And feel the vibes through your pores: what would it feel like to spend four years on this campus?
Be prepared prior to attending campus tours and information sessions. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with the school before you go, the whole experience may be difficult to discern among your other college visits. Research the school’s website and take notes about admission requirements, majors you are interested in and campus life. Compare your findings with the information they provide while you’re on campus. Ask for clarification on discrepancies and specifics on areas in which you feel you need more detail in order to make an opinion about the school and how it fits your needs.
These are such wonderful ways to get information about a college! Just as a student will do with interviews, he or she should come equipped with a question of two about the college. Depending on the size of the group, he may even be remembered later on for asking his or her question in the information session! I always recommend that someone along for the trip (often the parent) take notes. The information divulged in the information session or on the tour may be very useful in addressing questions on the applications or in actual interviews. If a student has a choice of tour guide, he or she may select a guide who has a similar academic interest. (Sometimes colleges introduce the tour guides beforehand.) I find the attitude and interests of the tour guides stick with the guests long after the tour has concluded. If possible, see a dorm room on the tour!
Planning to visit a college? Get started by collecting important information. Use the internet to “get to know” the college you are planning to visit. Review the admissions requirements, majors, and other areas of interest including financial aid and scholarship options, internship and study abroad opportunities. Learn about “what is happening” on campus. What activities do they have that interest you? Do they have honors programs? What about special dorms for certain majors? Once you have gathered your data, you will want to call the college to see when tours and information sessions are available. Be sure to sign in when you get there. Arrive on time and dress in casual but neat attire. Shake hands, introduce yourself, and remember to turn off your cell phone. You may want to forgo gum chewing as well. Come prepared with questions and be ready to jot down some notes. Take the tour and use this time to talk to your tour guide about their personal experience on campus. Stop in a dorm, the cafeteria, the library, and pick up a school newspaper. If you are interested in a particular major, see if you can attend a class (plan this ahead of time too!). Before you leave campus, be sure to pick up a business card of your representative. After your tour, take some time to think about what you liked and what you did not like about the institution. Write some notes to yourself and then follow up with a “thank you” to the college admissions representative for taking the time to share information.
The worst thing you can do when visiting a campus, is to go in clueless. Once you’ve found a college you’d like to learn more about, research the school using tools like Naviance or any of the college guidebooks. Once you know the basics (i.e. size, location, admission statistics, etc…) visit their website. The college website can provide you with a multitude of information including majors offered, graduation requirements, tutoring services, internship and research opportunities, extracurricular activities, and finally employment opportunities post graduation. The campus visit is a great time to ask clarifying questions about what you’ve learned from your prior research. In addition, the campus visit can help you figure out if the college is the right fit. Meaning, can you see yourself on that campus for the next four years? Is there enough to do? Is the area safe? Are there enough businesses in the area to provide internships in your major? Is the campus too far away from home? Etc…
Take advantage of your campus visit by talking to current students. The tour guide and the info sessions will give you the basic information. Students can help you get a feel for the campus and the student body itself. Ask them about what campus is like on the weekends, is it easy to find an internships, and are the professors truly accessible to the students.
Here are some things to look out for while you tour different colleges. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many buildings, programs and informational tours. A preplanned checklist of what you want to see is a good idea.
it is always better to ask questions when you are prepared and have done some homeworks. feel free to ask some personal questions about his or her experiences in college throughout the tour. as to the info sessions, they are good for you to find out some satistical information such as majors and clus, etc.
The only way to get the most out of a campus visit is to participate in all that the college is offering. That means that you attend the information session, go on the campus tour and, if possible, attend a class. When all this is done, stop into the student union or dining hall and just watch what is going on. Do the students look happy? Stressed? Engaged with each other? You might also stop students on campus and ask about whether they have enjoyed their experience at the college, what year they are in, and other student life questions.
Hang out in the dining halls at meal time. Listen to the conversations around you. Try and imagine if you’d fit in at this college.
To maximize the benefits of campus tours and info sessions, it’s always a good idea to “know what you want to know.” You can easily do this by jotting down a list of questions you want answered by the tour or session. Be specific and thorough. If getting a degree in Engineering is your issue, prepare questions about those courses. If dorm life is important to you, research the most attractive dorm so that when you see it, your questions can be more practical. It’s also important to spend some time on campus, after the tour is over. Again, preparation can be a key. Get a feel for the layout, note buildings, facilities or recreational areas that sound attractive and check them out in person. Students will often get a vibe from a school and it is different for everyone. A little casual “hang time” can help determine whether this is the place you want to spend the next four years.
Information (info) sessions begin to all sound alike. Each campus will tout its outstanding faculty, great facilities, and wonderful opportunities etc. How can you see past this “sameness”? First you need to understand that the purpose of the Info session is to sell as many students as possible on applying to that school. So, you need to be awake and aware of what makes each visit different. Try not to judge the school on its’ food court alone or its new gym. Can you “see” yourself as a student on that campus? Also and this is tough- do not judge the school based on the personality of the tour guides alone, because the odds are that if you attend that school you will NEVER see that annoying Jock/nerd/diva again.
School is out and students are celebrating–but now is not the time to waste away the summer tanning at the pool! Summer is a great time to get a head start on researching colleges.
Get off the beaten path. Go to the dorms, the student center, the gyms, the dining hall. Sit in on a class, stay overnight, visit a student party. Look on what students post on their doors or the graffiti in the bathroom. Keep an eye out for deferred maintenance, often a sign of financial issues.
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