What makes the campus visit such a big deal?

That’s where you finally get a sense of whether a college is right for you beyond everything you’ve read in the brochures, seen on the Web, and heard about from friends, high school counselors, and your Aunt Freida who graduated in ‘92. It’s not going to happen like magic.  It could happen like stories you’ve heard: “I got out of the car, looked around, saw those pretty buildings and leafy trees…and just KNEW I wanted to go there!”  And so could love at first sight, but for most students the college visit is real work, and if you do it well, it’ll pay off in a great college education at a place you love.

Before you go anywhere… Do your—ugh—homework!

Most college visits last only two to three hours. That’s not much time to gather the information you need to make one of biggest decisions of your life. So, make the most of that time by doing some advanced prep.

• Make a list of the top 4-6 schools that meet your criteria, and get all the material you can about them. Call the admissions office and order the catalog and any other publications they have addressing your major or interest areas, and review the school’s Website. Make a list of faculty and facilities you want to see, and any questions you have about what you’ve read.

• See what the college guidebooks have to say about your schools. The information they have is usually unbiased and often includes student reviews.

• Read the campus newspapers on the Web to get a feel for the issues students are talking about.

• Visit a couple of colleges in your area, just for practice. You’ll get better at asking the right questions.

• Talk to your friends who’ve either visited or attended the colleges on your list, and ask them what to see and who to talk to.

• If the college offers special open houses, interviews and overnight stays in the residence halls, as well as meetings with faculty, do it, and make sure to schedule those well in advance. Schedule your interview after your tour, so you can speak knowledgeably about the school. Be aware, though, that some open houses can look and feel too big and too impersonal, so don’t dismiss a school on the basis of an open house. Go back and visit again later, when you can arrange for a personal tour with an admissions office staffer.

• Pick your time wisely. Avoid summer break and other vacation times, if possible, because you’re going to want to talk to students and faculty, sit in on a class in your major or interest area, check the bulletin boards to see what the social and cultural opportunities are on campus, and see how students decorate their dorm rooms. If you going during exam time, students will be stressed and grumpy! If you go during special high-activity weeks, you may get an unrealistic view of what the campus is really like.

• Plan on touring no more than 2 colleges a day. Otherwise, you’ll get totally burned out.

The last week before you head out…pack, don’t panic!

• Allow time for getting lost and not finding a parking space. Most schools will provide directions to the school and a campus map on the website. Check them in advance.

• Bring comfortable shoes for the loonnnnnng walks around campus, and dress nicely for any interviews you’ve set up with the Admissions office or professors in your major. These are the folks who can help you get in to that school!

• Look back over your high school record so that you can answer questions about your standardized test score, grades and activities.

• Pack an overnight bag (hopefully you’ve arranged a stay in the dorm), and a camera and notebook to record your impressions.

• Get clear with your parents about how much you want them to be involved in the visit. They’ll probably want to come, since they may be paying for the trip. But, if you want to be the one asking questions about everything but the money stuff, it’s a good idea to work that out in advance!

Hey, I’m here! Now what?

• You found the campus, and you’re ready to take that guided tour! Oops, the one you were scheduled for left an hour ago. Try to be on time, because there may be other families taking the scheduled tour with you.

• After the guided campus tour, strike out on your own. Look at areas of the campus the tour guide didn’t show you as well as the surrounding area. Is this a college town you can live with?

• Eat in the dining hall to check out the food, and ask the students how they like it. Word to the wise: most students have something negative to say about “dorm food,” no matter how good it may be. If there’s lots of variety, even that can get boring after a while.

• Notice how well the buildings and grounds are maintained. That can say a lot about the school’s financial health.

• Check out the campus computing facilities. How current are they? Is there wireless access everywhere? Is there a good “Helpdesk” to answer questions about viruses and crashed hard drives?

• Talk to the right people: a professor in your chosen major or interest area, a coach in your chosen sport, a counselor in the career center, students everywhere. Ask for directions to break the ice. Get business cards and/or names of these folks for future contacts and follow-up questions.

• Sit in on a class of a subject that interests you. Do the students seem engaged or bored out of their skulls?

• Check the facilities for the study areas that interest you… labs if you’re into science or engineering; performing arts facilities if you want to either major in that area or participate as an extracurricular activity; athletic facilities if you want to play sports; the library if you are going to need research materials… or just like a selection of good books with a cup of coffee to relax with.

• Spend the night in a residence hall with a current student. The Admissions Office will set this up for you.

• Get a sense of student life on campus…Scan the bulletin boards to see what the student organizations are up to, what concerts and films are upcoming, what the politics are like. Browse the bookstore, listen to the college radio station. Hang out in the campus center coffee place and ask questions!

Ask the really tough questions to get to the heart of the place.

Go beyond the brochure factoids and guidebooks. Avoid simple “number” questions: what’s the student-faculty ratio, how many men/women, what’s the average class size, how many clubs and organizations? So, the average class size is 12. Your freshman English class could still have 120 students in it. Even if the student/faculty ratio is low, you could still have grad students teaching you instead of regular faculty with Ph.D’s.

Here are some tips for what to ask:

Ask the admissions staff:

• How available is the major I’m interested in? What if I want to change majors; how easy is that to do? What if I have no idea what I want to major in?

• What percentage of students take part in non-classroom learning opportunities such as study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, and leadership development programs?

• Where do my SAT scores and academic record fall in the range of your accepted students? (You can ask about your chances for acceptance, but don’t expect a firm commitment.)

• What scholarships, loans, and campus work opportunities are available?

• How easy is it to get into the activity that really interests me (campus radio/TV station, varsity sports, etc?)

• Tell me about the orientation programs available for new students.

Ask the faculty:

• What do you like about teaching here? What are the students like?

• Why is your academic program different from that at any other school?

• Does your program offer opportunities for undergraduate research? Study abroad? Internships and co-ops?

• Tell me about the alumni from your program. Where are they, and what are are they doing now?

• (For engineering and science majors:) Can I use your best lab equipment as an undergrad?

• Do you, personally, ever work with undergraduate students on research projects?

• Do students have difficulty getting the courses they need to fulfill their graduation requirements? How many of the students in the major are able to graduate in four years? (Remember that experiences such as co-ops or study abroad may delay graduation for some students, but that’s not necessarily a negative!)

Ask the students:

• Why did you choose this college?

• What do you like best/ hate the most about it?

• Do your professors know you by name? Do you see them outside of class? Are they excited about teaching?

• How and when did you decide on a major? Is it easy to switch majors here?

• What are the classes like—lecture, discussion, presentation, or?

• Did you complete a study abroad program or internship?

• Do you have trouble getting into the courses you want to take?

• Is the work easier or harder than you expected?

• Is the campus up-to-date on computer technology? Is there enough tech support?

• How many students were in the largest class you’ve ever taken?

• How often do you see your advisor? What for?

• Was it easy to get to know people here?

• What’s life like in the residence halls?

• What campus-related activities are you involved in outside of class? Is it easy to get into the orchestra/chorus/play or athletic team of your choice?

• What do you do on the weekends? What’s there to do both on and off campus?

• Do you feel safe here?

• When you ask for help, do you get it? (How responsive are the counseling center, writing center, tutoring center, health center, etc.) Do faculty and staff genuinely seem to care about you?

And finally ask yourself:

• Can I see myself attending this school for four years?

• Are there academic programs that interest me and will challenge me?

• Would I enjoy spending time with the people I’ve met?

If so, then… Follow through!

• Pick up the catalog, if you don’t have one yet, along with financial aid forms and any other publications specific to your interests.

• Try to visit the campus once without your parents so you’ll feel comfortable asking questions that might embarrass both of you.

• Review your notes. They may suggest additional points of discussion with parents and counselors.

• If you’re definitely interested in the college, follow through with a formal application as soon as possible.

Okay, you’re totally stressed. Time to put it all in perspective!

No college is perfect, and obsessing about finding it will make you crazy. Remember, the personal qualities that you bring to any school—drive, curiosity, creativity—are what matter most in your college education. You could go to an average school and become an amazing student leader who morphs into a CEO 5 years after graduation! A top state school could be so big you get lost in the crowd, even with a 4.0 average. You’re in charge…not just during the college search, but for everything that comes after. So look for a place that fits you best, not the other way around!