Take a College Tour

College Tour?

Make the most of college visits with these tips

Visiting a prospective college in person is still one of the best ways to determine if it’s the right school for you, says Carol Allen Covino, associate vice president of enrollment at Berkely College in Paramus, N.J.

“With the Internet, many (students) are making their choice from electronic information only,” she says.

While virtual tours can be helpful, there’s no substitute for a campus tour, especially if you’re not sure what’s a good fit. “Visit a range of colleges from large, urban research institutions like Northeastern, to small rural colleges, and others in between,” says David Hautanen, associate dean and director of admissions at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.

Once you’ve scheduled your college visits, do some preparation:

• Look up connections: Your current guidance counselor can tell you if any recent graduates are attending your prospective college. Asking the college to do so may be more difficult, says Tom Weede, vice president of enrollment management, Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind.

• Clear the air: Naturally, your parents will want to do the college tour with you. But some students hesitate to speak up in front of their parents or don’t want to be influenced by their parent’s first reaction. If you’d like to tour solo the first time, discuss the issue at home, promising second college visits for any strong contenders. “Choosing the right college is a family process. The more eyes, the better!” says Hautanen.When tour day arrives, make the most of your college visits:

• Keep records: It can be hard to keep your information straight, particularly with several visits in a short time span. Snap some pictures as you walk around. Jot down questions, impressions or areas to re-visit.

• Ask questions: Your tour guides may look official, but just a few short years ago they were standing in your shoes. “It is absolutely OK to ask questions of the tour guide—they love it,” Weede says.

• Bring your questions: At home, questions probably flood your mind. Caught up in the buzz of campus, you may draw a complete blank. Make a list ahead of time.

• Soak up campus life: “Arrive early,” suggests Hautanen. “Walk around campus prior to your college tour to find facilities, read posted bulletins, peruse the campus newspaper, spend some time in the student center and interact with the students on campus.” Raise any questions you generated during your own explorations on your formal tour.

Once you’re ready to think about the college tour, remain objective. Don’t let isolated issues—such as a grumpy tour guide or bad food—overshadow your visit. If a tour has left you uncertain about a previous front runner, review what had attracted you to the school in the first place.

“If you can, make another visit. You may confirm your first experience or you may see something that is completely different—and better,” says Weede.

On the other hand, if you return thrilled about a school you loved on paper, even better! Personal impressions can go a long way in making a decision. College selection is a complicated time, but seeing your choices up front can make things clearer.

Debbie Swanson has published more than 100 articles in national and regional magazines, including Dog Fancy, The Christian Science Monitor and Highlights. Visit her website at: swansonwriting.com.

There’s no substitute for seeing a college campus in person. Interacting with students and checking out classrooms is a big part of figuring out whether a school is the best fit for you.

But, visiting campus isn’t just about showing up. You’ll have to prepare if you want to do it right. Take time over summer break planning for fall tours!

• Map it out. List the colleges you’re interested in and plot them on a map. Your parents can help you find the most logical way to see them all.

• Visit before you apply. “Use the campus visits to narrow down your list of colleges,” advises Gus DiStefano, associate director of undergraduate admission at the University of the Sciences (www.usciences.edu).

• Try to avoid the summer. Summer vacation might seem like the perfect time to visit campuses because you don’t have school. But, most colleges have summer break too. You’ll probably see fewer students and more construction projects. “Professors may not be available during the summer. There won’t be events on campus,” says Rebecca Whitehead, assistant director of campus visits and engagement at Winthrop University (www.winthrop.edu).

• Check your school’s calendar. If your school has a fall or spring break, take those days to visit colleges that are in session. Admissions consultant Kiersten Murphy says the best time to start visiting is in late winter or early spring of your junior year. If you take the PSAT, you’ll have your scores by then. That will give you an idea of the schools you’re likely to get into.

• See if you can take off from school. Some high schools allow a few days of excused absences so students can visit colleges. Ask what your school’s policy is.

• Don’t do too much. Plan one or two visits each day.

• Peruse the college website. This is where you’ll find facts and figures like whether a school offers the major you want, how many students are on campus and how much tuition is. Know this before you go and you’ll have better questions for the visit itself.

• Call the admissions office. Schedule your visit at least two weeks in advance, Whitehead says. Ask when tours take place, where you should park on campus and whether you’ll need a parking pass. Print out a map of the college. If you’re taking a car with a GPS unit, plug in the address of the admissions office.

• Inquire about special tours. Murphy says bigger universities sometimes have more than one tour. Do you want to see the residence halls or the academic buildings where you’d spend a lot of time? Ask before you go!

• Make appointments. Know what you want to major in? Ask to see a professor or observe a class. Want to play hockey or volleyball? Meet the coach. The admissions office may be able to help set up appointments with people you want to see.

• Set up a chat with an admissions counselor. “The counselor you talk to will probably review your application, especially at a smaller college,” DiStefano says. Make sure to talk with him or her, even informally. Counselors travel a lot, so make an appointment.

• Bring your transcript and test scores. Admissions counselors like to see these. If you have printouts, you won’t have to guess your GPA.

• Read the college calendar. Most schools post online event calendars with campus events. You could find a lecture or play taking place the day of your visit.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAMPUS VISIT!

DO:
• Arrive early.

• Dress in comfortable, conservative clothes and shoes.

• Position yourself toward the front of the tour group.

• Take notes and pictures. Write down your impressions.

• Be ready to tell an admissions counselor why you would be an asset on campus.

• Observe how clean and well maintained the buildings are.

• Check out the student newspaper and fliers on campus bulletin boards.

• Ask detailed questions: e.g., How does academic advising work? What types of computers do students need? What college traditions do students have?

• Get names and email addresses of everyone you talk to. Send thank-you notes when you get home.

• Explore campus on your own once the tour’s over. See current students, administrators or professors? Go up to them and ask questions.

• Stop at the campus coffee shop or grab lunch in the dining hall.

• Walk around the neighborhood.

DON’T:
• Show up without telling the admissions office.

• Park in the wrong spot.

• Let your parents ask all the questions! You’re the one who will be spending several years there. Plus, participating  on a campus visit shows maturity.

• Act as if you don’t want to be there. That means no texting!

• Compare the school to other
colleges you’ve seen.

• Ask the tour guide where else he applied, what his test scores were or how much financial aid he got.

• Smoke.

• Behave like it doesn’t matter what your student tour guide thinks of you.  If your behavior stands out during a tour, good or bad, it might get back to someone in admissions.

Rebecca VanderMeulen has a degree in journalism from American University (www.american.edu).

Choosing a college requires thoughtful and careful planning. You want to find the best school for you; one that fits your talents, abilities and goals. Doing so will ensure your success right out of college.

One of the ways to help you choose a college is to visit the campus. Most schools run tours and appointments with admissions representatives. Visiting schools is a great way to bring the brochure to life and help you decide which fits you best.

Follow these tips for a successful campus visit.

Contact the admissions office
Your appointment with the admissions office is your opportunity to have all your questions about the college answered. Plan to spend a good amount of time in the admissions office so you can learn everything you need in order to evaluate the school. Be sure to ask about:

• Academics: majors, class size, policies, accessibility of the professors, admission requirements

• Financial: costs, financial aid, work-study programs, jobs in the area

• Housing and living: food, on-campus dorms, transportation, health centers and wellness centers

• Extracurriculars: intramural sports, Greek life, academic and social clubs, religious groups, volunteer groups, other out-of-class activities, social events

• Others activities: sports programs, art programs and volunteering opportunities

Make a list of questions before you visit the school to ensure you find out everything you need to know. Take notes during your visit so you can later distinguish differences among the schools you visited.

Take a campus tour
The admissions office is a good start, but that alone isn’t enough. If you can, take a student-run tour of the school. This will give you a better feel for the campus and its facilities.

As you tour/visit the campus, be sure to ask your tour guide questions, such as:

• Are the classrooms and labs equipped with the latest technology for your major?

• Are the dorms updated?

• What do students do on weekends?

Talk to others
Remember, the personnel in the admissions office are paid to tell you good things about the school. Take the time to talk to students and professors. The students are more likely to give you an unbiased point of view about the college. Ask students how they feel about the campus, who the best professors are and about their own experiences as freshmen.

Tour the surrounding area
When selecting a school, you should also consider its location. Do you prefer that the area is a big or small city? Is there suitable transportation to and from home? How are the recreation facilities?

Take the time to plan ahead. Doing so will ensure a more productive visit and might make your college decision easier.

Ross Blankenship is an admissions analyst and admissions counselor. He is also an author and co-founder of Miro Advantage and TopTestPrep.com, test prep and admissions.

Are you planning on going to college? Once your junior year arrives, you will experience something called, “the college tour” and meet a variety of college tour guides. Not all tour guides are alike. 

You’ll love some right off the bat, others will turn you right from going to that college. The important thing is to remind yourself that the tour guide is not a real person. He/she was created in a lab by cutting edge scientists and is the sole property of the admissions office. 

They come in four variations:

THE PERKY TOUR GUIDE

• Seizes any opportunity to squeeze the word “awesome” into a sentence

• Over-excitement for the school has caused eyes to permanently bug out

• Invents nicknames for every campus gargoyle

THE “I NEED TO MAKE A FEW BUCKS SO I’M DOING THIS” GUIDE

• Condenses the tour into five minutes

• Half-heartedly relays anecdotes while referring to the school’s founder as “some dead guy”

• Answers every question with, “it’s in the brochure”

THE SNOOTY TOUR GUIDE

• Demands that everyone save their questions for the end

• Manages to use obscure college facts as an excuse for bringing up high SAT score

• Makes everyone feel inferior by handing out early rejection letters

THE HOT TOUR GUIDE

• Looks like he just walked out of an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue

• Points as much as possible to show off well-developed arm muscles

• Laughs rather than actually narrates tour

• Poses for pictures for several hours after tour is over

Risa Lewak, author of Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer: How to Survive the College Admissions Process Without Losing Your Mind, worked as a pre-admissions counselor and recruiter for Hunter College before turning to humor to help students going to college with the admissions process. 

The college visit campus tour can seem overwhelming—no matter if there are five or 50 people in your tour group. 

On your college tour extravaganza, you will experience all kinds of tours—bus tours, academic tours, athletic tours, individualized tours and large group tours. But what questions are you supposed to ask at a campus tour? Especially when it may be the first—and only—time you set foot on the grounds? 

Do your part to make the college visit/campus tour engaging and informative, not just following a student around campus for an hour listening to random facts and the college’s history. After all, college is about both results and the experience. These questions can help energize your college search. But though the answers to those questions are important, the feeling of whether or not the college is the right “fit” for you is also essential. 

Ask your campus tour guide to take you through buildings you are interested in seeing, and ask about the academic areas that interest you most. If you like athletics, make sure you ask to see the athletic facilities. Also visit a classroom and a residence hall room to get a feel for student life. 

College tour guides like when families interact with them and ask questions. The campus tour should engage you and give you a feeling of whether or not you could see yourself as a student there. Your first impression might just lead you to your future alma mater! 

Here are some questions you and your parents should ask your tour guide on a campus tour/college visit:

• Why did you choose this college? 

• What other schools did you look at?

• When do students typically declare a major?

• How easy is it to switch majors? 

• How’s the food? 

• What is it like to live on campus? 

• What do students do for fun?

• What is your most favorite and least favorite thing about this college?

• What are the job and graduate school placement rates?

• What is the freshman to sophomore retention rate?

• What is the four-year graduation rate?

• What percent of students have internships? 

• What are some of the top employers for graduates of this college?

• What is unique about this college?

• What are the strongest or most popular majors?

• Where are students from geographically?

Nicole Graham is associate director of admission at Valparaiso University (valpo.edu).

Q: Any tips for me as I start to look into visiting colleges?
A: A campus visit can give you insight into the college that you can’t get through brochures and the application process. Here are some tips to make the most of your campus visits.

Before you plan on visiting colleges:
• Plan far in advance. Remember, most schools have similar calendars and some colleges limit the number of visitors on a certain day. Schedule your visit early to ensure you get the full benefits. Never just show up; you lose out that way.

• Schedule your college visit through the admissions office. Scheduling allows you to get the most out of your visit.

• Schedule only one visit per day. You’ll want to be thorough with each college. Get to know every aspect of the campus so you can make sure there are things that appeal to you there.

• Allow for adequate time. Yes, you’ll have a guided tour, but also plan time to explore the campus on your own.

• Remember to cancel. If you can’t make it, be courteous and call.

Once you’re on campus:
Come prepared with any questions you have for the administration and for students. Ask the two groups the same questions so that you get the official (administration) perspective and the reality (student) perspective.

• Grab the student newspaper. It offers insight into what goes on around campus.

• Take a copy of your most recent high school transcript and test scores. It is always better to be able to show instead of tell. 

• Look for students who have pride in their school. Ask them what they love and hate about the school.

• Ask yourself if the campus is easy for you to navigate.

• If you are staying overnight, ask the admissions representative if any of the surrounding hotels
offer discounts. Also, some colleges allow you to stay overnight on campus, so ask about that, too. As your mother always tells you, it never hurts to ask.

Jenny Sawyer is executive director of admissions at the University of Louisville (louisville.edu).

In the past, a summer vacation probably meant a trip to the beach, a tourist spot or a national park. This summer, try something different. How about planning a college visit?

Before you gasp and roll your eyes, it’s not as bad as it sounds. In fact, because there are colleges all over the country, you can plan a campus tour into pretty much any summer travel plans. And if you do, you’ll have a head start in the fall when all of your friends are trying madly to complete their applications, do homework and visit colleges.

Now you might think summer is not the best time to visit a college, and the truth is that it isn’t. However, with a little imagination, a summertime visit can be worthwhile. You can still take campus tours, see the school’s surroundings and speak with students. If summer school is in session, you can listen in on a class. You just have to picture the campus as having more students and a higher level of activity.

Before you head off to plan a college visit, as well as while you are walking the campus, ask yourself some serious questions about the college and what you expect.
• What are your academic goals?

•  How strong is the program for your major?

•  Are there professors in the department who specialize in an area you are interested in?

•  Do you prefer intimate classes or ones with enough students to fill an auditorium?

•  What opportunities will you have to interact with your professors? What is the faculty-student ratio?

•  Will you be required to write a thesis or take competency exams in order to graduate?

•  Does the school offer extracurricular activities you would enjoy?

•  How strong is the athletics program? Does the school offer intramural sports?

•  What kind of programs or services does the school offer, such as career counseling and internship programs?

•  Do most students live on campus or commute?

•  What is campus housing like?

•  What size student body fits you?

•  Is the campus in the inner city, countryside or somewhere in between?

•  What is the community around the college like?

•  How safe is the college campus and the surrounding community?

•  What kind of weather does the school have throughout the year?

•  How far is the college from home?

•  Is the school known for attracting students of a particular political view or religious affiliation?

•  Is the college affordable?

•  How much of a burden will the cost of your education place on your parents?

•  Do you really like the college?

While you are visiting the campus and interacting with the students and faculty, keep these questions in mind. Though no school is perfect, you will want to select the one that meets your needs the best.

Harvard graduates Gen and Kelly Tanabe are the authors of nine books, including Get into Any College and Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays. Ask them your questions about getting into college and check out their books at supercollege.com.

On a college campus tour, you’ll probably be pretty excited to see how students spend their days and the chance to check out the dorms, dining facilities and lecture halls. A campus visit is also an ideal time to meet with the college’s financial aid counselor.
 
This way, you can make sure the school is your best fit in every way: academically, socially and financially.

Step 1: Make an appointment
To get a complete picture of an active campus, classes and student life, it’s best to plan a college campus tour when class is in session. Call before your campus visit to make an appointment with a financial aid counselor. Not all schools accept drop-ins.

Step 2: Be prepared to discuss your financial situation
During the visit, you’ll most likely get a chance to talk to the financial aid counselor about your specific financial situation. Be prepared to discuss your family’s income so the counselor can give you an estimate of your expected family contribution (EFC) toward the cost of attendance (COA).

Step 3: Get a sample aid package
Once you are able to determine what your financial need is, based on the COA and EFC, the financial aid counselor should be able to tell you how much aid other students in similar situations have received. This information can help you anticipate what your actual award letter might look like and identify the amount of scholarship money you’ll need to fill the gap.

Step 4: Chat yourself up 
A secret bonus to speaking with an aid counselor is that it may put you in the running for additional funds. Be sure to make them aware of your grades, class rank, test scores, community service, etc. Also consider that schools keep track of students’ visits to campus to determine who is truly interested in their institution.

Step 5: Inquire about department funds
If you already know your major, ask about available scholarships awarded by the appropriate academic department. Try to meet with an associate dean to discuss need-based or merit aid possibilities.

Step 6: Ask a lot of questions
Though meeting with an aid counselor won’t guarantee additional aid, not meeting with them won’t help you at all. Go in with an open mind and learn everything you can. Being informed is the best strategy.

Step 7: Follow up
Polite follow up is key to making a good impression. Write down the names of all the college personnel you met with, and send them thank-you notes after your college campus visit.

This article was provided by Peterson’s Nelnet, LLC, a Nelnet company, which provides education and career guidance, test preparation and information on educational opportunities, admissions and financial aid. For more information, visit petersons.com.

Financial aid questions to ask• Do you leave unmet need in your financial aid package?
• How much grant assistance do you provide to those with an EFC of $0?
• Does grant aid remain constant all four years?
• Is a stepparent’s or ex-spouse’s income considered when you calculate aid?
• To maintain a grant, how many credits must I take each semester?
• If I receive an outside scholarship, how will it affect my aid, especially in terms of institutional grants and awards?

Are you planning on visiting potential transfer schools before deciding where to apply? Before you go on a campus tour, read these tips.

Call ahead
Most college tours include a group question/answer session with an admissions representative, a guided walk around campus, a peek into a dorm and a meal at the best dining hall.
To get the most out of your tour, call ahead to make sure you get the VIP treatment. Ask to have a tour of the department you plan to major in. Contact the admissions department when making your tour requests, and while you’re at it, see if you can attend a class or even stay overnight on campus. Let admissions know that you’re a transfer student. There might be special activities or tours just for you.

Ask questions
Your tour guide will most likely be a student at the school who is trained to answer your questions. What does your guide think of the professors? Are they easy accessible? Where do alumni get jobs? What kinds of clubs are on campus? Can they put you in contact with other transfer students?
But don’t limit your information-gathering mission to your tour guide! Find some random people to talk to at the bookstore or cafeteria. After all, the students remember when they, too, were trying to decide on a school.

Go exploring
One recent grad, curious about the buildings on her campus, made a point to visit at least one bathroom in every building. Her Grand Bathroom Tour gave her a reason for being in buildings she wouldn’t have otherwise visited.
As a prospective student, your purpose is clear without needing the bathroom tour excuse. Don’t be afraid to peek into the chem lab or computer facilities to get a clear picture of campus offerings.
Take advantage or your prospective-student status by also asking student guides to see more dorms, dining halls or computer labs than you may have seen on the mass tour.  Without asking to see more, you might be shown a blue-ribbon dorm without realizing that transfer students are stashed across town.

Don’t visit more than two in one day
You know how it is when you meet a bunch of people in one day? By the end, you can’t remember their faces, let alone their jobs, hometowns and names. The same kind of black hole will form if you try to cram more than two college visits in one day. The programs, professors and perks of each will seem like one big blob of information. Save yourself the stress of making multiple appointments, and keep your visits to just a couple each day.

Make your decision on your own
Definitely consider the campus activities you saw, the students you met and the overall feeling you got while on campus. But also remember that spending a day at a college is a totally different experience than spending two years there. The best advice when visiting college is clichéd but true: Keep an open mind. You might have a less-than-stellar tour guide, it may rain or snow on your visit, or maybe you caught a professor on a bad day. So while a campus tour is a must and your gut’s a good thing to trust, don’t be afraid to give a place a second chance.

 The ups and downs of rural and city life
When deciding whether the wilderness or the concrete jungle is the best place for you, here are a few things to consider:

Money Cities are notorious for burning holes in students’ pockets. Count on everything from rent to food to entertainment being much more expensive in the city than in rural areas.

Transportation Though some rural college campuses do have public transportation systems, it is generally more convenient to have a car on campus. Buses, trains, subways and taxis are the easiest ways to get around in cities because parking is at a premium.

Security Most colleges, whether rural or urban, make student safety a priority. But sometimes it can be difficult for someone from a small town to feel secure in a city environment, just like a student from the city might feel daunted by the openness of a rural campus.

Community On self-contained rural campuses, students are likely to report feeling a strong sense of community. The majority of students live on campus; clubs and organizations are a large part of campus life; and the college tends to bring quality entertainment to the students rather than send students looking for it. Students in urban environments tend to use the city as their campus and find a unique sense of community in belonging to a part of the metropolis itself.   -Sarah Buckley