Campus Visits
Experience the College for Yourself
Websites, videos, virtual tours, and social media can help you research a college, but visiting a campus gives you a chance to experience the environment firsthand.
A campus visit isn't just about seeing buildings. It's an opportunity to ask questions, explore your academic program, understand student life, and decide whether you can picture yourself learning and living there.
Plan Your Visit
Whenever possible, schedule your visit in advance.
Depending on the college and your interests, you may be able to:
- Attend an admission presentation.
- Take a campus tour.
- Meet with an admission representative.
- Visit your academic department.
- Talk with a professor or program representative.
- Meet with financial aid.
- Explore residence halls.
- Eat on campus.
- Attend a class or student event.
Tell the college what you're interested in when you schedule your visit. They may be able to customize part of your experience.
Do Some Research Before You Go
You don't need to know everything about the college before visiting, but basic research will help you ask better questions.
Before your visit:
- Review majors and programs.
- Look at admission requirements.
- Review estimated costs.
- Identify activities or services that interest you.
- Write down questions you haven't been able to answer online.
Spend your visit learning things you can't easily discover from the website.
Explore Your Academic Program
If you know what you might study, try to learn about that program specifically.
Ask:
- What courses will I take?
- What makes this program different?
- Are there special admission requirements?
- What facilities and technology will I use?
- Are internships, research, clinical experiences, or other hands-on opportunities available?
- How are students supported academically?
- What do graduates commonly do after completing the program?
If you're undecided, ask how the college helps students explore majors and career options.
Look Beyond the Tour
The official tour is useful, but pay attention to what you observe as you move around campus.
Explore:
- Academic buildings
- Library and study spaces
- Residence halls
- Dining options
- Student center
- Recreation facilities
- Career services
- Health and wellness resources
- Transportation and parking
- The surrounding community
Notice how students use the campus and interact with one another.
Ask Students Questions
Current students can provide a perspective you won't always get from official materials.
Consider asking:
- What surprised you after enrolling?
- What do you like most?
- What do you wish you had known before attending?
- How accessible are professors?
- What do students do on weekends?
- How easy is it to get academic help?
- What is campus life really like?
One student's experience doesn't represent everyone, but these conversations can give you additional perspective.
Consider Financial Fit
A campus may feel perfect, but you also need to understand whether attending is financially realistic.
Use your visit to learn about:
- Scholarships and grants
- Financial aid deadlines
- Scholarship renewal requirements
- Housing and meal-plan costs
- Additional program expenses
- Work-study and campus employment
- Payment options
Remember that your financial aid offer will provide much more specific information after you apply.
Pay Attention to How It Feels
Some aspects of college fit are difficult to measure.
As you walk around, ask yourself:
- Can I picture myself here?
- Do I feel comfortable asking questions?
- Does the environment feel too large, too small, or about right?
- Are the resources I care about accessible?
- Does the campus community feel like somewhere I could belong?
- Can this college support my academic and career goals?
Write down your impressions shortly after the visit while they're still fresh.
If You Can't Visit in Person
An in-person visit isn't always possible.
You can still learn more through:
- Virtual campus tours
- Online admission events
- Virtual information sessions
- Conversations with admission representatives
- Meetings with academic departments
- Current-student panels
- College fairs
Try to experience the college in more than one way before making your final decision.
After Your Visit
Review your notes and compare the experience with the priorities you identified during your college search.
What moved up on your list? What concerns remain? What questions do you still need answered?
Then compare the college with your other options using the same criteria.
