How to Have a Great College Visit

A college visit is the best way to evaluate whether a campus suits you. If possible, do a college visit for every school that you are strongly considering. No website, guidebook, or testimonial will give you a better feel for a school than you’ll get by seeing it for yourself. Many students change their minds after a college visit, and this is obviously preferable to changing your mind after you enroll. Get the most out of your time on campus with our college visit checklist. Here are our top tips for making the most of your college visit.

1. Research each school before you visit. Read materials from the college and check out their website and social media. If you are visiting more than one on a particular day, refresh your memory about that school just before you arrive. Be sure to spend at least a half day at each college.

2. Evaluate the environment of the campus. Is the campus too big or too small for you? Do you like the nearby town, or do you feel isolated? Consider how you would get around campus—particularly in the rain or snow—and what transportation you would use to get home.

3. Take the student-led tour of campus. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about campus life from a peer. Recognize, however, that tour guides are not necessarily typical of all students since they are often paid to formally represent the school.

4. Sit in on classes and check out the library. How is the rapport between students and faculty in the classroom? Look through the books and explore the technology available at the library. Look for group study spaces and quiet places to study.

5. Look into life beyond academics. Check out the athletic facilities, theater, and student center. Read the notices posted in the dorms or on bulletin boards. Can you see yourself joining in? Pick up the school newspaper for hot topics on campus.

6. Write down your impressions of each college you visit. After a while, the visions of different schools start to blur if you don’t stop to record your thoughts. Keep a list of pros and cons for comparison, and consider taking some photos to help you keep track of the campuses you visit.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services