Campus Visit Guide
Visiting college campuses is one of the best ways to determine if a college is the right fit for the student and their family. When your family is touring campuses, remember that there will be things you like and don’t like; no college is perfect. Try not to base your decision on the tour guide alone, everyone has an off day.
Before you go:
Scheduling: Schedule a visit ahead of time. Generally, visits are hosted by the Office of Admissions. When scheduling, ask if housing information is included on the tour. If not, ask if they have a separate housing tour to sign up for. Separate tours are common on large campuses. If an Admissions or Information Session is available, please sign up because the host of this session will give you an overview of the campus and insight to the admission process.
Parking: Parking on most college campuses is challenging. The Visitor Center will give you instructions on where to park. You may have to pay for parking. Bring cash - some parking lots are cash only. If public transportation is available, consider using it to get to campus because your student will likely use public transportation, especially in urban areas.
Walking: Most campus tours are walking and can be over an hour. Wear comfortable shoes!
Eating: Be sure to plan meal breaks on campus. If possible, try to eat where the students eat to get a full campus experience.
Student alone time: Please make sure the student walks around campus by themselves for 10-15 minutes. It can be uncomfortable, but it’s important for a student to explore on their own.
Questions to ask of the student tour guide:
What has been your favorite class/professor and why?
Why did you select your major? Has that always been your major?
Did you feel supported by professors and the campus leadership?
What is your favorite campus tradition?
What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans this coming weekend?
While visiting campuses, look for:
Is this campus community a place I would like to spend four years?
What are the students wearing? Are they wearing that college’s swag?
Where are the dorms? How far are they from classrooms? Dining hall? Athletic facilities?
How do students get around campus? Walking? Bikes? Scooters? Skateboards? Shuttles?
What flyers do you see around campus? What is on the front page of the campus newspaper?
While on each campus, choose one “fun” thing to do. Examples:
Visit the bookstore to grab swag.
Eat in the dining hall.
Visit their special faculties: art gallery, recreation center, etc.
After each visit, write down at least three adjectives about the campus. Be specific!
Summer can be a good time to visit college campuses, but will feel different than during the school year. There will be fewer students on campus and often a lot of construction or summer camps. It can be hard to get the full vibe of the place but visits in the summer are still valuable. If your student decides to apply but has only visited in the summer, you may want to return when students are on campus to ensure it’s right, ideally after the student has been admitted.
Interested in working with me? Send me an email at hello@apariciocollegecounsulting.com and we can set up a complementary 15 minute conversation to see if I would be a good fit for your family.
