Campus Visit Checklist

Visiting a college campus is an important step in the college selection process. It provides firsthand experience and insights into the college's environment, culture, and facilities. A college visit worksheet can help you accomplish all your goals on these visits. 

Gather Information 

Find out what you need to do to apply. See if the college's class and major offerings are what you want. Be sure to take the following steps: 

• Take part in a group information session at the admissions office. 
• Interview with an admission officer. 
• Get information about financial aid options and deadlines. 
• Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms are like. 
• Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you. 
• Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors. 
• Get the names of the people you meet and their business cards so you can contact them later if you have questions. 

Explore the Campus 

Get a feel for student life and see if this college is a place where you will do well: 

• Take a campus tour. 
• Talk to current students about life on campus and the college. 
• Check out the first-year residence halls. Stay overnight in a residence hall , if possible. 
• Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities. 
• Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play. 
• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus. 

Check Out Campus Media 

Tune in to learn what’s happening on campus and what’s on students’ minds: 

• Listen to the college radio station. 
• Read the student newspaper. 
• Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like. 
• Go to the career center and learn what services it offers. 
• Browse the school’s website and any campus blogs. 

• Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews. 

Get the Most Out of a Campus Visit in 6 Steps 

1. Decide Where and How 

See if your school arranges group trips to colleges or if you could get a group of friends together and visit the campus. A family trip is another option and allows you to involve your family in the process. 

2. Prepare for Your Visit 

Before you set out, get a map of the college campus and pick out places of interest. Call the college’s admission office to schedule a guided tour of the campus. 

3. Take Your Own Tour 

Just wandering around the campus on your own or with friends can be the best way to get a feel for what a college is like 

4. Explore the Facilities 

Finding the spots on campus where students gather or asking a student where the best place to eat is can give you a feel for the character of the college. Visit the library and check out the gym or theater. Ask an admission officer if you can tour a dorm and a classroom. 

5. Make Connections 

Talk to current students. Ask the students at the next table or sitting nearby what they like best about the college. 

6. Take Notes 

During your visit, make notes about your experience. What did you see that excited you? Are there aspects of the college that you don’t like? If so, what are they? 

Questions to Ask During Your Visit 

Ask Tour Guides  

• What are the best reasons to go to this college? 
• What’s it like to go from high school to college? 
• What do you do in your free time? On the weekends? 
• What do you love about this college? 
• What do you wish you could change about this college? 
• Why did you choose this college? 
• What is it like to live here? 

Ask Professors 

• What are the best reasons to go to this college? 

• Can a student be mentored by professors, graduate students, or upperclassmen? 

• How are professors rated by the college? Does the college think mentoring and meetings for project guidance are important? 

• How does the college help students have access to professors outside class? Do professors join students for lunch, help with community service groups, or guide student organizations? 

• How many students do research or other kinds of projects for a semester or more? 

Ask Financial Aid Office 

• How much has your total college cost for each student risen in the past year? 

• How much do your students usually owe in loans when they graduate? 

• What is the average income of graduates who had the same major that interests me? 

• Will my costs go up when your tuition goes up, or can we use the same tuition rate I started with so I’ll know the costs for four years? What should I expect in terms of increases in living expenses? 

• How many students usually graduate in the major that interests me? How long do these students usually take to get their degrees? In what ways does the college help students graduate in four years? 

For more help staying organized and making smart college choices, check out the College Advising Essentials guide.