How to Plan College Visits

Mar 15, 2022 8:00:00 AM by Delaney Healey

While the internet has helped many students learn more about potential schools, there is no substitute for an in-person college visit. Here are some tips when planning a college visit.

Talk to students besides the tour guide. It may be awkward to start a conversation with someone you don’t know on a busy college campus, but it’s worth the effort. Tour guides will give you lots of helpful information, but their version is the “official” story. Talking with other students can give you insight into what it’s really like there. Some good questions to ask are, “If you could do it over again, would you choose this school?” or “What do you do on the weekends here?”
Get a look at a real dorm room and bathroom. While some schools use actual students’ dorms on tours, there are some schools that show “mock” dorms. See if you can get a glimpse of an actual room. Could you see yourself living there?
Grab a meal while on campus. Four years is a long time to deal with food you don’t like. Be sure to check out a campus dining fall to see if you like the food. Dining halls are also a great place to set a sense of campus atmosphere.
Before or after your tour, walk around campus on your own. You’re probably visiting campus with your family, but try to break away for 10-15 minutes to walk around on your own. Ask yourself, “Can I see myself here for four years?”
Talk to professors and sit in on a class. Before your visit, reach out to the admissions office to see if you can sit in on a class in your intended major. It may feel intimidating, but you’ll be able to get a feel for the academic atmosphere.
Explore the surrounding areas. This is where you’ll be living for four years, and you won’t be on campus the entire time. Check out what the town is like. Are there good restaurants? Close-by shopping? Do you feel safe?
Take pictures and write down your impressions. After a few visits, the tours can start to blur together. To avoid this, take photos and write down your thoughts after each tour while it’s fresh in your mind so you can come back to it later. This can help you realize your likes and dislikes, as well as help you make your final decision!