Tips for Visiting Colleges

  • Try to visit when school is in session. That may not be possible given your schedule, but it is the best way to see the campus. Try to schedule an individual visit, if possible. Open Houses and accepted students’ weekends are great ways to learn a lot about a school in a short period of time, and it's nice to meet other students, but you won't get the personal experience you have on an individual visit.
  • Plan far in advance – interview slots often fill up quickly.
  • Be on time! And check in at the front desk.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. The campus tour may be an hour or longer and you can cover some real distance on these tours. Also, dress appropriately for the weather. Some schools will offer ponchos or umbrellas if it's raining but it's better to come prepared.
  • Be open. You may think you know how you feel about a school, but nothing compares to actually seeing it for yourself.
  • Ask about issues that are important to you. Don't let your parents do all the talking. They won’t live there for four years. You will.
  • Try to take in as much as you can. Schools often offer tours, interviews and information sessions. These sessions may be a bit repetitive, but they can be very informative. Some schools also offer overnight visits, the ability to sit in on classes, day hosts, passes to eat in their dining halls or invitations to campus events. These activities allow you to experience the campus firsthand, away from the prepackaged view offered by the admission office.
  • On the ride home or later that night, write down all your impressions. If you are seeing several schools in a short period of time, you must do this or they will all blend together in your mind.
  • Try not to let one bad interaction sour your feelings about a school. Your tour guide may say or do something you don't like, you may not have anything in common or you may run into someone who looks unfriendly. Try to look beyond this first impression. One person cannot possibly represent the entire school. If before your visit you really liked the school and then something like this happens, try to visit again. If that is not possible, call the admission office and ask if you can speak with another student via email or phone. See if the school offers a chat board or other ways to talk to students. Talk to as many as you can.
  • Be polite to everyone you talk to on the phone and on campus. Negative behavior has a way of getting back to the admission committee. In particular, you never know who might answer a phone. In some offices, it isn't unusual for admission officers to answer the phone during busy times.