College Campus Visit Tips

  • Attending a college visit can be overwhelming. To help make the most out of the visit, students are encouraged to review the College Evaluation Checklist and the College Comparison Worksheet. To learn more, view the campus evaluation web page. Below are some helpful tips that students should keep in mind when examining the school:  

    1. Surroundings and atmosphere

      Does the campus seem peaceful or overly isolated? Is it active enough or too rushed? Do the members of the faculty seem to be friendly and helpful in the attitudes and relationships with students? How do students relate to each other? 

     

    1. Facilities and buildings

      Does the college have a good, up-to-date library? Do the laboratory facilities appear to be adequate and are they arranged to assure a reasonable degree of safety? Does the college have a good student social room, union center, or commons that serves as a major center of student activities? What leisure-time facilities are available? What is the condition of the health, housing, and dining facilities? 

     

    1. Departments of interest

      What opportunities exist in your intended field of study? Does the college have adequate instructional equipment for the department or major in which you are especially interested? Do freshmen have an opportunity to take some of their courses with full-time professors? 

     

    1. Student life

      What types of entertainment are offered? What provisions does the college make for acquainting freshmen students with the college before and after arrival? What percentage of the students belong to fraternities and sororities?

     

    1. Classes

      Sit in on one or more classes, if possible. How would you fit in? What is the typical size of classes for freshmen? Do teaching assistants (TA's) or professors teach most freshmen classes? 

     

    1. Extra-curricular activities

      Look into the operations and existence of fraternities, sororities, service clubs, organized sports, informal sports, school paper and magazines and social events that are of interest to you. If the college is not coeducational, what arrangements are made for students to meet members of the opposite sex at dances, parties, or other social functions? 

     

    1. College Costs

      What is the average total cost per year for students, exclusive of travel to and from home? What does the typical student of this college spend on books each year? What is the total of all fees required? Can the payment of college costs be handled on the monthly or through a deferred payment plan? What scholarships are available to entering students? 

     
    At the end of the visit, students need to be able to answer these questions: 

    1. “Do I feel comfortable here?”
    2. “Will I be academically challenged?” 
    3. “Will I have the opportunity for a variety of social and academic/career-oriented experiences?”