Once you’ve done the preliminary research to determine which schools you want to visit, it’s time to sign up for tours and information sessions. In the “Admissions” section of each school’s website, there will be opportunities to do so.
The primary goal of these visits is to make sure that the campus—which includes its vibe, professors, student population, amenities, facilities, and local surroundings—would be a good place to explore your academic interests, pursue extracurriculars, and develop new relationships.
A secondary goal of the visit is to let the school know that you are on campus visiting – that you are exhibiting what they call “demonstrated interest.” Not all schools include demonstrated interest as a factor in the admissions process, but there’s no downside to signaling your interest in attending. Be sure to register for an official tour and info sessions; don’t just walk around on your own. You’ll learn more this way (which will be helpful when it comes time to make decisions), and the school will see that you made the effort to come learn about them in person.
Before you go
• Doublecheck your schedule for tours and info sessions.
• Download and print out our Campus Visit Checklist ADD LINK. Bring a notebook and pen on your visit, as you’ll want to take notes.
While you’re there
• Take notes! And pictures (include a photo of the college name so you remember which campus is which). The Checklist will remind you to assess important details of the campus and help you capture your feelings about the school. It asks you to look at things you might not have thought of—like the bulletin boards for upcoming events or whether the library seems like a good place to study. When you’re done with the tour and back in the car, or having lunch at a local restaurant, jot down a few impressions, preferably by hand on the sheet or in a notebook. You’ll be surprised how much your own handwriting will help you remember how you felt when you look at your notes in the future. Make these notes while the experience is fresh in your mind. If you wait too long, your impressions become vague and much less helpful.
• Talk to students. It may seem awkward to approach a stranger, but one of the most valuable aspects of a campus visit is the chance to speak to real students. Talk to them in the cafeteria or the café and ask them what they like best and least about the school. The answers you get from your tour guide will be more polished (they work for Admissions); you’ll get more candid thoughts from students you meet at random. As you walk around campus or go for a meal, look for opportunities to engage with students.
Helpful questions to ask them include:
• What do you like the most about the school? The least?
• How much work do you get? Is it manageable?
• How competitive is it?
• Are professors available? Do they know your name?
• How many kids are in your classes? What have been your biggest and smallest classes?
• Are there things to do on campus during the weekends? What do you usually do?
• See the dorms. This is one part of the tour that everyone loves. You hold your breath and cross your fingers that the dorm will be spacious, have a great view of the quad, include common space with a big-screen TV and a hall kitchen where you and your roommate can throw together a meal when the dining hall is serving burgers for the umpteenth time. Alas, most dorms don’t meet those standards. Do yourself a favor: unless the dorms are truly unliveable, don’t dismiss a potentially good school because the dorms may seem rough around the edges. The quality of the dorms increases with your grade level; by the time senior year rolls around, you’re usually living off-campus or in apartment-style dorms with your own living room and kitchen. Dorm living is part of the college experience, and an enjoyable one. Once you put up some posters, rearrange the furniture, and get yourself a small refrigerator, the space will feel more like home.
• Have a meal. It’s worthwhile to get a sense of the various food service options. In recent years, many schools have made efforts to specifically accommodate kosher, halal, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free students, along with other dietary needs and preferences. Some schools tout their sustainability accomplishments and purchase as much food as possible from local sources. Food might not be a dealbreaker in your decision-making process, but it can certainly contribute to the pros and cons.
• Keep an open mind. We know it can be hard when you have your friends and classmates sharing their opinions – or things they heard from their friend’s friend about the school you are visiting. Do your best to put those remarks aside and try to see for yourself. Believe it or not, you are the best judge of how you feel. The rest of us (the Plan the Path team and your parents) are here to help you, and we will. But you need to trust your own feelings and try to articulate what felt good (or not so good) about a particular place.
After you leave
• Write it down. Be sure to write down your impressions as soon as possible. See our tips for evaluating schools after the visit here (ADD LINK to How To Process Your Campus Visit blog).
Researching schools online is important, but there’s truly no substitute for being on a campus, walking around, seeing the buildings, meeting the students, and trying to get a “feel” for what life at a particular school is like. You’re considering spending the next four years of your life here, so it’s important to make sure it feels comfortable and can meet your needs. Pay attention to your gut feeling as well as the facts and figures. All the information adds up to tell you what you need to know.
Don’t forget
Download our Campus Visit Checklist LINK. Print one out for each school you visit!