The Campus Visit
What can you learn from a college tour?

Colleges urge you to “come visit”. Guidance counselors advise you to visit a variety of college campuses. Brochures and guidebooks can be very helpful in selecting a college or university, but a campus visit is the best way for you — as a prospective student — to get a real “feel” for a campus. It is also a great time for you to ask questions that you may feel uncomfortable asking in a large group setting.

An individual campus visit usually consists of a thorough campus tour of facilities, classrooms, and student “hang outs,” complete with interesting facts about a college campus (history, stories, traditions). It gives you a chance to see what condition the campus buildings and grounds are in and what might be lacking. How close are the classroom buildings to the dorms if the campus has residence halls? How big are the dorm rooms and are they in good condition?

A tour is the best time to ask questions. Most tours are given by students, and they can be very candid about their perceptions of student life, faculty, classes, and dorms. They can tell you about class size, whether the professors are accessible, and if there are tutors available if you need them. They can also clue you in on the social scene. Is there a lot of school spirit at sporting events? Is there a variety of activities on weekends, or does the campus clear out? Students will tell you how they feel about walking on campus at night – what the surrounding neighborhoods are like.

If you are interested in fraternities or sororities, ask what percentage of the student population is involved and where they live – on or off campus, in dorms or houses.

If sports are important to you, make sure to visit the sports complex and fields and talk with the coaches. Try to attend a home game for a sport that is in-season.

Usually, prospective students also have the opportunity to sit down with a faculty or staff member to learn more about the college. If you want to meet with a faculty member in the program in which you are interested, try to schedule the meeting ahead of time. Faculty can tell you about the types of courses you will be expected to take to complete the degree you want, how often they have office hours, and how big the classes are. Staff can tell you about housing, deadlines for registration, financial aid, and the diversity of the student population. Are you guaranteed dorm rooms, or is there a housing crunch? If so, you might have to ask about available housing in the area. If the campus is a commuter campus, what kind of public transportation is available, and is there ample parking if you have your own car?

While many students visit during the summer months, this is not always the best time. Not all schools have summer sessions and students may not be around. So if you can, try to visit in the spring or fall. See if you can sit in on a class. Stay for lunch and try the cafeteria food.

Before you leave, pick up lots of brochures and printed material, student newspapers and publications, and check out bulletin boards. This will give you a good idea what is going on at the campus after classes – concerts, sporting events, types of jobs and internships available. And, don’t forget to pick up business cards. If you find you have questions when you return home, you‘ll have a real person to call.

When deciding which campuses to visit, try to choose a large university as well as small colleges. You may think you want one kind of campus, but many students find they change their minds after visiting several types of schools.

In the end, this is your decision. Try to get a feel for how well you click with the students, the faculty, and the setting. And, wherever you choose to go, remember college is what you make of it. So make the most of it!

Editorial provided by Deborah Blanton, Marketing Associate from the Penn State Philadelphia Region.