Making the Most of a Campus Visit

by David Hawsey, Vice President of Enrollment, Albion College

Question: "How will I know if I will like living, studying, and making new friends at Anywhere College?"

Answer: Schedule a personalized visit to the campus!

New Feature: Click to Read Campus Visit Reports

Most counselors, teachers, college guides, and admissions professionals agree that the best way to get a "feel" for life on a college campus is to arrange for a visit. The typical campus visit consists of a tour with a student guide, sampling a classroom experience, speaking with faculty in your areas of interest, meeting with admissions, financial aid, coaches, trying the local "cuisine" in the cafeteria, and possibly staying overnight with a student host.

Sound like a full schedule? It is! However, to make the most of your visit, here are a few tips on when to visit, what to see, and what to ask while touring your top college choices. First, arrive early and walk around by yourself. Do people smile and say "Hello!"? Does it seem as though you "fit right in"? Take along a video camera and a note pad so you can review and compare your college visits later.

Next, if you can, go to breakfast or lunch, even if you have been scheduled to attend a meal with a student or other college representative. If you are with family, take them along. Look around and listen to the various conversations. Do you hear discussions about classes, tests, athletic events, roommate anecdotes, and campus activities? Sometimes you can "pick up" issues that help characterize the campus. Do faculty and students share meals together, or do professors have their own dining facility? This is another unique way to discover if faculty are accessible beyond regular office hours. And, while you are there, remember to record the variety and quality of food service offered.

Next, ask your tour guide to take you to specific areas of the campus that interest you. Most will "detour" for a few minutes, but understand that others on the tour may not share your interests. For a personalized tour, ask for a student from your home town, or one in your academic area, to take you on an individual tour. Want to know the student-faculty ratio? Ask to see the largest class you will be in--for example, most biology classes have a lecture component. Then ask to see the typical smallest class or lab you might encounter. Go see a class in session. You will see firsthand how many students interact with a faculty member!

If possible, stay overnight. You will get a clearer idea of campus life after your family has left! Spend lots of time looking for practical things, such as the laundry, the fitness center, and relaxation areas (such as food courts, game rooms, and TV lounges). Are they crowded? How well-kept and clean are the acilities? Are you able to determine if students have safety concerns after dark? What personnel and resources are there during the evening to address these issues?

If possible, schedule your visit during a popular athletic event, or during a play or concert. How well-attended are these? Do faculty seem to be part of campus life after classes?

Finally, visit a few weeks after the semester starts, or a week or two after mid-term exams. Students and faculty are more accessible, and you'll be able to experience the campus community on a "routine" day!

Further Reading:
Visiting College Campuses (5th Edition) by Janet Spencer, Sandra Maleson, et al. Combines both general information on how to make the most of college visits as well as specific information on hundreds of the most frequently visited campuses. Check our review.