School breaks are a great time to do an official college visit. Starting or continuing your tours during the spring is best, as you will see students on campus and get a feel for the culture. Showing interest, regardless of whether it is used by admissions in their decisions, will give you an understanding of the characteristics you are looking for in a college experience. Here are some tips:
1) Organize your colleges by location. This will make it easier to schedule visits and tours. Try not to do two or more in one day as it can be overwhelming.
2) Go to each college admissions page and find "visit." Under that section, you will see a calendar of information sessions and tours. Book the date and time that fit your schedule.
3) Create folders on your phone with the names of each college you will visit. When taking pictures, which we highly recommend, you can save them to the prospective folder so you can refer to them when we discuss your visit and answer, "Why the School?"
4) When on tour, consider that you will be living on campus for four years. Do you like the facilities? Are they modern? Is the campus easy to navigate? Are there activities listed on different bulletin boards? Is the dorm adequate?
5) Consider the traveling distance you took to get to the school. This is an important factor for many students, as they want to go away, but once at the college, they become homesick and are far away.
6) If looking at a state school, consider the number of in-state students attending the university versus out-of-state students. How will you feel as an out-of-state student?
7) Ask the tour guide about the size of the classrooms. Are they small or large classrooms? Is the professor or a teaching assistant leading the class? Does the professor schedule discussion periods to clarify questions?
8) The Career Center is an important resource for your future career. When and how does the staff at the Career Center assist students with their resumes, interview skills, and submitting applications for jobs?
9) What are some of the weekend activities offered? Are there concerts, sports, and cultural events that anyone can attend?
10) Learn about the Academic Center and tutoring support for students.
There are many questions you can ask, such as research opportunities, internships, and Honors Programs. The more informed you are, the better prepared you will be to make sure you want to apply to the school because it offers you the resources you need to succeed.
Questions to ask the tour guide
1) Are professors accessible to answer questions?
2) How do students get involved on campus and in the community?
3) Are classes taught as lectures only, or are there opportunities to collaborate with classmates on projects?
4) Does the school offer mentorship in research?
5) Are internships easily available, and how do students pursue them?
6) Do you have a single advisor for four years, or does the advisor change once you enter your major?
7) What courses do first-year students usually take?
8) How are undecided students supported in selecting their major?
9) How is the town outside the campus?
10) How is campus life on the weekends?
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