College Visits

Reading brochures and articles about a college are helpful in choosing what colleges to apply to and/or attend, but visiting college campuses is by far the most beneficial things you can do. Visiting college campuses can give you a more personal, overall understanding of schools. Since you will be spending the next 4 years at the college you choose to attend, it is important to know what you are getting into and to make sure that you will enjoy it. Also, college visits can also help your chance of admission in some cases. You should visit during your junior year or your senior year. That helps the most).

Before visiting

• Plan your visit. This means you should choose the colleges that you're going to visit, when you are going to arrive, and all the other details. If you don’t plan ahead, you could wind up missing the guided tours most colleges offer.

• You should visit different types of schools. For example, large public vs. medium-sized, private vs. small, liberal arts vs., etc. Also, avoid visiting during holidays and finals week. Try to visit during regular school season to get an accurate feel for the school.

• Re-read the catalog and the brochure to get a general feel about the college that you’re visiting. Know basic facts of the school so that you can ask more in-depth questions during your visit.

• If possible, call the admissions office and make an appointment beforehand. Some schools provide tours, forms to fill out, and even interviews during your visit. Ask them and take the advantage of that.

• Give enough time for your visit. You cannot learn enough about a college in half a day. Generally, it’s a good rule to visit only two colleges a day if you are driving by car. Visiting too many can give you a lot of breadth but not too much depth.

During the visit

• Go to the admissions office and talk to officers there. Hopefully you've called them and made an appointment beforehand. Here’s a few things you can ask the admission officers on your visit:
  • What do you consider when choosing your candidates?
  • How does financial aid work?
  • What kind of general education requirements does this college have

• Talk to the students at the college. Here are a few question you can ask:
  • Are you happy with your decision to come to this college?
  • Are the professors passionate about teaching?
  • How many hours a week do you study?
  • Is housing guaranteed all 4 years?
  • How’s the social scene here?
  • Does this college offer my major of interest?

• Take a campus tour and see if you are comfortable with the environment.

• Sit in classes and listen to lectures.

• Check out the surrounding areas or surrounding cities.

• Have fun.

After the visit

• Keep a record your visit. You might want to keep all the brochures and informational packets to look at them later on.

• Choose where you want to apply from those visits.