How To Prepare for a College Visit
Posted: March 01, 2022 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 5 minutes
It’s that time of year. College application season. For future college students, you’ve been accepted to colleges and it’s time to start narrowing it down to your final choice. One of the best ways to do this is to plan a campus tour of your choice universities. Not only do you get to see what the campus itself looks like, but you can learn all about different programs and colleges within the university that may interest you. You also get a good sense of what life is like in the dorms and the culture of the community.
In order to get the most out of your college tour experience, it's essential to prepare for your college visit. Plan ahead so you know what you’re looking for and when you step onto campus, you can get one step closer to determining where you’ll spend the next several years of your life. Here are some pointers to help you get ready for your first college tour.
How to Prep for a College Visit
Start Planning Now
It’s a good idea to get a jump on signing up for tours before they fill up, and it’s an even better idea to tour colleges from spring to early fall before your senior year of high school so you have a more clear vision of what you are looking for in an institution. However, if you completely space planning a college tour before senior year, don’t despair! There is still time to schedule a tour, but you might just be a little late to the party. And if you don’t feel like touring in-person, there are so many virtual tour options on college websites that you can check out!
Do Your Homework
Before you go check out a university, do some research about it. Think about the kind of college experience you can see yourself thriving in and ask yourself questions like this;
- How big is the campus?
- How many students attend the school?
- Does this university have the desired program or degree I want to pursue?
- Is the location desirable to me?
- Do I want to be able to drive home on the weekends, or live far away?
- Do I want to live in a city or in a small college town?
- What’s the weather like there?
- Does it snow or get really hot?
- If I do get in and choose to go to this school, how much does tuition cost?
- How much financial aid will I receive here? Do they offer scholarships?
- Has it received any awards for exemplary academic achievement or a great program in your area of study?
- What makes this school special and unique?
Another thing to take advantage of is when a representative from a college or university visits your school to talk to students and answer their questions. You can check to see if your desired secondary education institution plans to attend and ask them questions without having to spend the money on a campus tour. College Fair days are especially good for things like this.
It’s also a good idea to do a little research about the university’s history as well. Learn about how and why it was founded. What are the school’s values? A school’s motto can say a lot about their vision for their students. You should also read up on the internet or on social media about the university. What do people have to say about their own experiences there? Do you know anyone who went to this college and what questions could you ask them? Does this school sound like somewhere you want to be?
Make A Reservation
As mentioned earlier, campus tours have limited slots, so be sure you don’t just show up. Look up on the website how to schedule a tour and where you sign up.
Prepare Questions
Make a list of questions to ask your tour guide so you can get as much information as you can about the institution. Some questions to ask might include;
- What clubs and organizations/ service opportunities do you offer?
- What’s the average class size in a general education class?
- What about in a class for my major?
- Do most freshmen live on campus?
- Do most upperclassmen live on campus?
- Where can students seek academic advising?
- How and when can I meet with an admissions advisor?
- What are some of the traditions or “freshman experiences” that students can participate in?
- What are the best places to eat on and around campus?
- What activities are there in the community?
- What can students do in their down time?
- Are there any facilities that are for student use (i.e. gym, library, etc.)?
- What’s the average graduation rate?
Other Things to Do on Your Visit
There are lots of things that you can do on your visit besides ask questions. Here are some other things to do on your visit so you can have a better idea of the overall impression that the institution left on you;
- Take pictures to document your visit! Compare what you did and didn’t like.
- Meet professors of your desired department and ask them about the program.
- Check out the dining hall, the student center, or any other popular places that enrolled students frequently visit.
- Ask about campus safety policies.
- Check out housing and dorm options on and around campus.
- See what kind of services and stores are available in the community.
Check out this article about some Effective Tips for College Visit Planning to get more ideas about what to do on your campus visits.
Get Excited!
This is a super exciting time of your life! As overwhelming as it might seem, the more colleges you tour, the faster you’ll be able to decide on one. Your future awaits!
That’s all there is to it! Each campus you visit can help you better define your standards for what you want your college experience to look like. It’s also a great way to figure out what resources are available to you as a potential freshman and the overall environment of the campus. As overwhelming as it sounds, preparing for college visits and exploring each one means you're one step closer to your first semester as a college student.
Tags: Student Life