Your Guide to College Visits
If you鈥檙e visiting a college, that probably means you鈥檙e serious about the school. You’ve done some research, and you鈥檝e taken time out of your busy schedule, maybe even traveled several hours, just to see this school. But how do you make the most of that college visit? How do you decide if the school is right for you?
For a quick rundown, check out our Campus Visit Checklist. For more details, keep reading!
See it.
When you visit campus, you鈥檒l probably . Don鈥檛 zone out! This is your chance to see where you might be taking classes, living, eating, and studying. Engage with your tour guide and ask follow-up questions. Current students often lead tours, so take the chance to ask questions about their experiences.
If you can, set aside time to look around campus on your own after the tour. Get a feel for the campus. Can you envision yourself there?
Taste it.
Eat in the cafeteria! If you attend this school, you鈥檒l spend a lot of time in the dining hall or cafeteria. Check out the food options available and the mood of the students. Does it seem like a friendly environment?
Get a 鈥渢aste鈥� for the school鈥檚 academics by sitting in on a class in your area of interest. Is it engaging? Can you see yourself learning from this professor? Some schools offer opportunities to meet with faculty one-on-one or in small groups. Don鈥檛 miss the chance to chat with your potential future professors!
Live it.
Take advantage of the overnight visit opportunities many colleges offer. By staying in the dorms for a night, you鈥檒l get to know current students and see dorm life firsthand. This is a great way to find out if the campus culture is a good fit for your personality and interests.
Research the school鈥檚 extracurricular offerings. Then, while you鈥檙e on campus, learn more about the ones that interest you. Are you an athlete? See if you can join a practice. Are you a musician? Ask to sit in on a rehearsal.
Ask about it.
When you visit, don鈥檛 forget to ask plenty of questions. You may even want to prepare a few questions to have ready when you tour. Not sure what to ask? Here鈥檚 a list of questions to get you started.
Want to learn more about the college visit experience? Check out these resources:
鈥�.鈥� College Board.
鈥�?鈥� College Board.
鈥�.鈥� The Princeton Review.
