Tips for Visiting Colleges

Many of you are taking time to visit college campuses. That is a great idea! More than any other college exploration tool, this can be one of the most valuable! When you tour a campus, keep the following tips in mind:

• Call or email ahead to see when tours are offered. Be sure to sign up for the admissions office information session often offered with tours. These will fill up fast


• Try and schedule your visit when classes are in session. If you want a true feel for campus life then being there with current students is the only option. It allows you to ask questions of students on campus, to see bulletin boards loaded with advertisements for clubs and activities, and it affords you the opportunity for reading a college newspaper over a meal in the dining hall. If you are going to spend four or more years living somewhere, you want to make sure it is a good fit.


• If you want to schedule a class visit or want to talk with a department head, arrange this ahead of time.


• Arrive early. Sometimes parking on or near a college campus can be scarce.


• Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes. Cute heels or sandals may not cut it on a 90 minute walking tour.


• Ask questions. Ask them of your tour guide. Ask them of students you meet. Ask them of faculty and staff. You are there to decide if this is worth $50,000-200,000 of your money, so don't be afraid to ask a question.Some questions to think about may be:


• What is campus life like on the weekend?


• Is Greek life present on campus and what percentage of students participate?


• Ask your tour guide about walking on campus. Does he/she feel safe? Are there campus police available to walk you home from the library at night?


• Do professors meet with you outside of class?


• Are there services or centers for tutoring or help in writing a paper? Do they cost money?


• Do most students live on campus all four years?


• You may want an overnight visit. There are some things you learn spending the night in a dorm that you will never see otherwise. What are the bathrooms like? Are there enough showers available? Do hallmates spend time with each other?

These are just a few tips to keep in mind when you tour. Go ahead. Schedule a tour now! If you can't do a physical tour because of distance, money, or time try a virtual tour.