Use the list below as a guideline of questions to ask on a college visit.
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TIP: Use file folders to store your notes, brochures, maps and other college materials. Also, plan to take a camera along. Photos can help you remember the details.
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- Schedule Appointments and Prepare Questions
- Schedule appointments with an admission counselor, financial aid officer and a faculty member from your major course of study. You may want to visit with others based on your personal interests (such as a coach or band director).
- Prepare a list of questions beforehand and ask about any required applications and deadlines.
- Admission and Financial Aid
- What are the GPA and SAT®/ACT® test score requirements for admission and scholarships?
- Is there an admission application fee? If so, when is it due? Is it refundable?
- Can you apply for admission online?
- What applications and other documents are required to apply for admission and financial aid?
- What are the application deadlines for admission and financial aid? Does the school award institutional scholarships? How do you apply?
- What’s the cost of attendance? What items are included in the cost of attendance? Are there other costs (lab fees or health fees)?
- What types of payment plans are available? When is payment due?
- General
- Is a car necessary? How many students have cars? Is there parking available, and if so, is there a charge to park? What type of public transportation is available?
- Do many students use bicycles around campus or town? Is there a secure place to keep or store a bicycle?
- Are there computers in the residence hall rooms or are the rooms equipped for them? What about wireless Internet access?
- What types of meal plans are available? Are there alternatives available besides the dining hall?
- What’s the weather like?
- Does the college offer a student orientation program?
- Academic
- What type of academic calendar does the school have?
- What’s the retention rate?
- What’s the job placement rate? Do most students who graduate obtain a job in their field? Do they get admitted to graduate school? Do employers do on-campus job recruiting?
- How long, on average, does it take students to graduate? Is it difficult to get into the classes required for graduation?
- What’s the student/faculty ratio? Does faculty include teaching assistants or do professors teach the majority of the classes?
- Are tutors or academic support services available? Are these services free of charge?
- What’s the average class size? Are the professors accessible to students?
- What’s the academic advising system like? Are you assigned an advisor or do you choose your own?
- How are AP®, CLEP®, Postsecondary Enrollment and Dual Enrollment courses treated?
- Student Life
- Are fraternities and sororities on campus? Do you have to be involved to have a social life? What other student activities are available? What about religious organizations on campus?
- What are the housing options? Are there options to live in a sorority or fraternity house? Is housing guaranteed? Are students required to live in the residence halls? Are the residence halls coed? Is there a deadline to secure student housing? Can you choose a roommate?
- What’s the crime rate on campus? Is the campus security adequate? Does the college have safety procedures and precautions in place?
- How diverse is the student body? What’s the male/female ratio? Do the majority of students come from within or outside of the state? Is there a diverse mix of ethnic and racial backgrounds? How many international students are there?
- How do you characterize the area surrounding the campus? Is the town or city safe? Are there places to eat and shop? What types of cultural events (music, theatre, art) are offered? Are airports, bus stations, etc. nearby for travel?
- What types of athletic programs does the school offer? Are the athletic teams important to the campus? Do a lot of students attend the events? Is there strong school spirit?
- What clubs and organizations are available on campus? Are there intramural sports?
- Is health insurance offered?
- Are student employment opportunities available either on or off campus?
- Are internship/co-op programs available?
- Explore the Campus
- Take a campus tour. Tour guides are a good source of information, but remember, they’re college advocates. Speak to other students as well to get unbiased opinions, and explore the campus on your own.
- Explore the campus on your own. Attend a college event, listen to the college radio station, read the college newspaper and check out postings on bulletin boards.
- Stay overnight in a residence hall. See what life is like living on campus.
- Dine in the cafeteria. Could you eat there every day? Is there a variety of foods?
- Attend a class to get a feel for what a college classroom is like.
- Are you comfortable at the college? How did you feel about the academic demands and social atmosphere?
- Could you be friends with the students you met?