Tips for Planning a Great Campus Visit?

Answer 1

It’s important to visit several college campuses before deciding where you would like to go. However, it’s not enough to just show up and go on the tour. To get the most out of your visit, you must prepare and have an idea of what you’re looking for.

• Define your priorities. Make a list of things you are looking for in a college. Consider things like programs of study, dorms, food service, campus layout, extra-curricular activities, proximity to a city, transportation etc.
• Schedule meetings with students. If possible, it’s a great idea to schedule some time to talk with a student on campus, preferably one with similar interests. Prepare a number of questions to ask these students. These questions could be about a specific course of study, campus life in general, or a specific extra-curricular activity you might be interested in.
• Schedule meetings with professors. It’s also important to schedule meetings with professors in departments you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in studying political science and French, schedule meetings with a professor from each department. To get the most out of each meeting (and show the professor that you respect his or her time), prepare a list of questions you have about the courses in his or her department.
• Get to know the campus and surrounding area. In addition to touring the campus, it’s a good idea to get to know the city the campus is in (or a nearby city). Visit the local restaurants, coffee shops, etc. to see if you would enjoy spending time there when you’re not on campus. Also, imagine what your transportation situation would be if you were to attend that school (Is it bike friendly? Is there public transportation? Would you have to have a car on campus? What is the parking situation?).
• Imagine yourself attending school there. During your visit, really imagine what it would be like to be a student there. Would you be happy living in the dorms? Are the academic programs everything you want them to be? Etc.
• Make a pro/con list. After your visit, make a list of “pros” (the good things) and “cons” (the bad things) that you learned about the school.