Be a Campus Detective
Learn from a College Visit

Sure, most college visits hinge on the same few activities—an admissions presentation, a student-led campus tour, and lunch (if you're lucky!). So, how can you find out what it's really like to be a student on a particular college campus? With a few questions in your arsenal and a little preparation, you can be a campus detective on any college campus!

Location, Location, Location!

• What does the campus look like? Are there green spaces to play sports or sit with friends? Are the classrooms clean and bright?

• What does the campus feel like? Are students and professors friendly and welcoming? How is the food in the cafeteria?

• Is the campus in an urban, rural, or suburban location?

• Are you near a metropolitan area with internship opportunities at local businesses?

• Is there a local town nearby – somewhere to buy groceries and eat pizza?

• What kinds of entertainment options are available? Are there shopping malls, movie theaters, and restaurants close to the university?

TIP: Don't just take the guided tour; it is designed to show you only the most beautiful parts of the campus. Take your own walk around campus after the guided tour.

 

Size: How big is too big?

• How many students attend the college? Are they undergraduate, graduate students, or both?

• Is the campus walkable, or do you need a car, bike or bus between classes?

• What is the average freshman class size? (Most college literature shows the average class size for all undergraduates, but freshmen classes are usually much larger!) What is the smallest class on the campus? The largest?

• What is the student-to-faculty ratio? If the college is large, are faculty accessible to students?

TIP: Don't rule out a college on size alone – with the right activities and involved faculty, even a large college can feel small. The question is: Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?

 

Cost vs. Financial Aid: Don't break the bank!

• What is the tuition per year? (Looking at the cost per quarter or semester can be misleading!)

• Does the tuition include lab fees, student activity fees, and athletic fees?

• How much does parking cost?

• Are the housing and meal plans affordable? What is the cost difference for dorms, suites, and apartments? What is the cost difference for a 15 meals-per-week plan versus a 19-meals-per-week plan?

• What is the deadline for financial aid consideration? Is the deadline different for the FAFSA than for scholarships?

• What types of scholarships, work study, and financial aid are available?

TIP: Don't forget to ask what percentage of students on campus receive financial aid – this is a good indication of a college's generosity, as well as the background of students on campus.

 

Academic Programs: How selective? How strong?

• Is your major offered? Is the college known nationally for producing strong graduates in this field?

• Are there separate admissions requirements for your major? (Some majors require higher ACT/SAT test scores and higher G.P.A.'s.)

• Is the college accredited? Regionally, nationally, or internationally?

• Are you allowed to sit in on a class in your major?

• Is a faculty member from your major willing to meet with you? Are they excited about the research opportunities, class topics, and career opportunities for your major?

• Who will teach your freshmen and sophomore classes? Graduate assistants? Professors? Guest lecturers? What percentage of professors have Ph.D's?

TIP: Don't just look at the colleges that have nationally ranked programs for your major. Professors from a college with a lesser-known program may be more willing to involve you in research or internship opportunities.

 

Housing Options: More than a place to sleep!

• What types of housing are available? Dorms, suites, or apartments?

• Do freshmen have housing options? Are freshmen required to live in certain dorms? How are these dorms different from other housing options on campus?

• Are the dorms large or small? What amenities are available? Are internet connections, phone service, cable, and air conditioning provided for free?

• What percentage of the students live on campus? Are freshmen required to live on campus?

• How close are the dorms to the academic buildings and the cafeteria?

• Are freshmen allowed to have cars on campus? Can they park by the dorms?

TIP: Don't schedule your campus visit without asking first if you can schedule an overnight visit. Overnight visits give you a more informal view of life on a college campus.

 

Admission Requirements: Will you make the cut?

• Are ACT, SAT or SAT II tests required for admission?

• Do you need a minimum G.P.A. or class rank to be accepted?

• Will you be required to write an essay? What is the essay topic?

• What is the deadline for your application, essay, test scores, high school transcript and fee?

• When will you be notified of your acceptance? What happens after you are accepted?

TIP: Don't judge your fit with a college based on their admissions requirements. An open-admissions college with a great honors program might be just as academically-challenging as a more selective college without an honors program.

 

Student Activities: Where's the action?

• How many clubs and organizations are offered on campus? How do new students get involved with these activities?

• Are there sororities and fraternities offered on campus? What percentage of students participate in Greek life?

• What athletic programs are available? How competitive are campus athletics? Can you meet with a coach?

• What recreational activities are available? Is there a pool? Can you play intramural sports? Is there a weight room? During what hours is the recreational center open?

TIP: Don't forget to read the campus newspaper, including the advertisements. This is one of the best sources to find out unbiased information on campus activities, sports, clubs, Greek life, and more!

 

If you don't do anything else during your college visit, take time to breathe in the "feel" of the campus. Do you feel comfortable on campus? Could you see yourself in one of the classes there? Are the students and faculty friendly? With a little behind-the-scenes detective work, you just might find your answers!

Editorial provided by Roxanne Smith, Admissions Counselor, Northern Kentucky University.