Campus Visit Checklist

Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college — and life at that college — is like. This can help you decide whether the college is right for you.

Gather Information

Find out what you need to do to apply, and see if the college’s class and major offerings are what you want:

1. Take part in a group information session at the admission office.
2. Interview with an admission officer.
3. Pick up financial aid forms.
4. Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms are like.
5. Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you.
6. Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors.
7. Get the names and business cards of the people you meet so you can contact them later if you have questions.

Explore The Campus

Get a feel for student life, and see if this college is a place where you will do well:

• Take a campus tour.
• Visit the dining hall, fitness centre, library, career centre, bookstore, and other campus facilities.
• Talk to current students about the college and life on campus.
• Check out the freshman dorms, and stay overnight with a student, if possible.
• Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play.
• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.

Check Out Campus Media

Tune in to learn what’s happening on campus and what’s on students’ minds:

• Listen to the college radio station.
• Read the student newspaper.
• Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.
• Go to the career center and learn what services it offers.
• Browse the school’s website and any campus blogs.
• Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers, and literary reviews.

Get The Most Out Of A Campus Visit In 6 Steps

• Decide Where And How

See if your school arranges group trips to colleges or if you could get a group of friends together and visit the campus. A family trip is another option and allows you to involve your family in the process.

• Prepare For Your Visit

Before you set out, get a map of the college campus and pick out places of interest. Call the college’s admission office to schedule a guided tour of the campus.

• Take Your Own Tour

Just wandering around the campus on your own or with friends can be the best way to get a feel for what a college is like.

• Explore The Facilities

Find the spots on campus where students gather or ask a student where the best place to eat is to get a feel for the character of the college. Visit the library and check out the gym or theater. Ask an admission officer if you can tour a dorm and a classroom.

• Make Connections

Talk to current students. Ask the students at the next table or sitting nearby what they like best about the college.

• Take Notes

During your visit, write down some notes about your experience. What did you see that excited you? Are there aspects of the college that you don’t like? If so, what are they?

Questions to Ask During Your Visit:

Ask Tour Guides/Students

• What are the best reasons to go to this college?
• What’s it like to go from high school to college?
• What do you do in your free time? On the weekends?
• What do you love about this college?
• What do you wish you could change about this college?
• Why did you choose this college?
• What is it like to live here?
• What does the college do to promote student involvement in campus groups, extracurricular activities, or volunteerism?

Ask Professors

• What are the best reasons to go to this college?
• Can a student be mentored by professors, graduate students, or upperclassmen?
• How are professors rated by the college? Does the college think mentor and meetings for project guidance are important?
• How does the college help students have access to professors outside class? Do professors join students for lunch, help with community service groups, or guide student organizations?
• How many students do research or other kinds of projects for a semester or more?

Ask The Financial Aid Office

• How much has your total college cost for each student risen in the past year?
• How much do your students usually end up owing when they graduate?
• What is the average income of graduates who had the same major that interests me?
• Will my costs go up when your tuition goes up, or can we use the same tuition rate I started with so I’ll know the costs for four years?
• How many students usually graduate in the major that interests me? How long do these students usually take to get their degree? In what ways does the college help students graduate in four years?