college tour questions

50 Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Prospective students on campus visits should ask questions to understand a particular college's experience, experts say.

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Prospective students can ask about housing on and off campus.

A college visit offers prospective students a chance to look past the carefully curated images in marketing brochures and on social media, and get to know a school for themselves. Asking thoughtful questions of campus tour guides can help students better understand a college .

"It is incredibly important that prospective students connect with current students when they are touring universities," Roger J. Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management at the University of Oregon , wrote in an email. "Learning about the sense of community, student support services, sense of belonging, value, and what makes a university unique can be really helpful in finding their home."

To help prospective students better understand what to ask on a college visit, U.S. News crowdsourced questions from admissions professionals. In addition to Thompson, the questions below were provided by Monica Inzer, vice president for enrollment management at Hamilton College in New York; Eric Nichols, vice president for enrollment management at Loyola University Maryland ; Heath Einstein, dean of admission at Texas Christian University ; and admissions consultants Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education, and Krista Grubb, a principal college admissions counselor at IvyWise.

Some questions have been edited for length or clarity.

In addition to asking these questions of college tour guides and campus officials, Inzer encourages students to wander off the tour route to observe campus broadly.

"You can learn a lot by trying to blend in and experience the place on your own, if you are comfortable doing so," Inzer wrote in an email. "It may not be scientific, but a lot about this process isn't, and in the end you may need to trust your gut feeling on the type of environment where you might thrive. That kind of answer is not always found in stats and ratios and rankings."

Questions About Admissions

• Does demonstrated interest play a role in the admission process?
• Are there any exceptions to your test-optional policy ?
• Does legacy play a part in admissions and, if so, who is considered legacy?
• Do admissions interviews, if offered, play a role in the process?
• Are interviews conducted by alumni, students or admissions officers?
• Are there any majors for which enrollment is capped?

Questions About Academics

• Are classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?
• What is the average class size?
• How/when do incoming freshmen get course selection advising for their first-semester classes?
• Who gets priority in the course registration process – is it by grade level, honors programs, etc.?
• How many classes do students take a semester?
• Are classes more theoretical or hands-on in nature?
• How easy is it to switch majors or schools within the university?
• What is the breakdown of requirements for most majors?
• What percentage of students choose to study abroad ?

Questions About Academic Support

• What tutoring services are available?
• Are tutoring services free?
• How often do students meet with academic advisers ?
• How accessible are professors outside of the classroom?
• What types of resources are available for students with disabilities?

Questions About Financial Aid

• What percentage of students receive financial aid ?
• Are merit scholarship estimates built into the school's net price calculator?
• How much financial need does the college typically meet?
• How much extra money should I budget for costs beyond room, board and tuition?
• Do financial aid packages remain the same over time or are they adjusted to reflect tuition increases?
• How do outside scholarships affect a financial aid package?
• Do accepted students receive their financial aid award letter at the same time as their offer of admission or later?

Questions to Ask Tour Guides About Student Life

• When you first came to the school, how did you get involved?
• How did you meet your friends, and what do students do for fun?
• Do many students attend varsity athletic games?
• How does the school build community and foster cultural understanding ?
• What are the hot-button issues on campus?
• What are some of the school's main events or traditions?

Questions About Campus Housing and Community

• Are students required to live on campus ?
• What percentage of students live on campus?
• How do students choose a residence hall and a roommate?
• What do students say about living and dining on campus?
• Do most students choose to live off campus after freshman year?
• What do the campus and community feel like from a safety perspective ?
• How would you describe the surrounding community and the relationship the college has with it?

Questions About Work and Research Opportunities

• What types of research opportunities do students have access to outside of the classroom?
• What type of career guidance is offered by this school?
• Are internship or co-op opportunities available through the college?
• What percentage of undergraduates have had an internship or research experience by the time they graduate?
• Is it common for freshmen and sophomores to get research or internship opportunities?

Questions About Student Outcomes

• What is the four-year graduation rate?
• What are the requirements to graduate in four years?
• What is the retention rate from freshman to sophomore year?
• What is the average level of student loan debt upon graduation?
• Are career advising services available to alumni or only to enrolled students?

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14 Tips for an Effective College Visit

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 118 great questions to ask on a college tour.

College Admissions

Touring your prospective colleges is a great opportunity to learn from the people who study, work, and teach on campus. By keeping your eyes and ears open, you can gain a strong sense of a school and its culture, far beyond the facts and figures on its website.

To make the most of your visits, you should prepare thoughtful questions to ask on a college tour. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive college visit checklist of questions for your tour guide, current students, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. Plus, we'll offer some advice on what not to ask.

Before breaking out the list of college tour questions, let's review the point of campus visits in the first place.

Why Are College Tours Important?

If you have the means and time to do so, you should definitely take advantage of campus tours. They're an invaluable opportunity to explore your prospective college campuses , as well as their surrounding areas, in person.

You can check out the school's facilities, like the library, dorms, dining halls, gym, and science labs, as well as branch out to see its surrounding city or, if you're aiming for rural , dairy farms. Gathering your impressions of your college's campus and beyond will help you gain a much stronger sense of whether or not it's a place you'd like to live and learn for four years.

If you have an amazing visit, then you might feel that much more empowered to put together a stellar application . If not, then you might save an application fee and cross that school off your list.

Besides sampling the dining food or hanging out on the quad, you can also learn a lot about the student experience from your tour guide, usually a current student, and other students that you meet. You might arrange to stay overnight in a dorm or set up meetings to speak with admissions officers, financial aid officers, and/or professors.

All of these people can offer their unique perspectives and experiences, especially if you ask meaningful college tour questions that lead to broader conversations. As everyone reading this will have different goals, keep in mind that you should pick and choose based on your specific interests. If a question asks about popular classes in general, for instance, you can adapt it to ask specifically about popular classes in, say, the Biology Department.

Besides customizing to your interests, you also would be well served to prepare different questions for different people. This first group of good questions to ask on a college tour would be best suited to your tour guide or other current students of the college.

Find out what students have to say about their college experience.

Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Current Students

Most college tour guides are big fans of their colleges and are enthusiastic to share why. They tend to know lots of history and fun facts about the school, but you shouldn't necessarily expect them to rattle off specific data and statistics about graduation rates and financial aid packages (save those kinds of questions for administrative officers).

Apart from knowing a lot about the college, tour guides are usually current students, so they can also speak to their personal experience. Remember, they were in your shoes just a few years before!

Let's consider what questions would be appropriate for tour guides, divided up by academics, support resources, internships , study abroad programs, extracurriculars, residential life, and general culture. Finally, we'll suggest some personal questions for your tour guide. As you read, consider which questions you'd like answered, and how you might customize them to meet your specific interests and needs!

• Are some majors or departments considered stronger or more popular than others?
• How large are the classes?
• Are the classes more lecture-based or discussion-based?
• Would you describe any classes as especially innovative or project-based?
• How many of the classes are taught by a professor, and how many are taught by a teaching assistant?
• Are the professors accessible outside of class?
• What kind of classes have smaller section meetings? What are they like?
• Are there any especially popular classes or must-have professors?
• How much freedom do freshmen have in choosing courses?
• Are students usually able to take their first choice courses?
• How's the Wi-Fi?
• How are freshman advisors assigned?
• Is it easy to change your major?
• How would you describe the freshman experience, in terms of advising or any classes that everyone has to take?
• Do the professors hold office hours? How often can students interact with professors outside of class?
• Can undergraduates work with professors on research?
• Are there honors programs or capstone classes? If so, what are they like?
• How many hours of class do students typically have each week? How much homework outside of class?
• Are finals more exam-based or project / essay-based?
• Where are the best places to study on campus?
• What are the hours for the library? Do these change during reading periods or exam weeks?
• Are there any research methods or databases I should learn about for my classes?
• Do any majors require seniors to write a thesis or complete a senior project?

As mentioned above, you might alter some of these questions to refer to a specific major or class. An intro science lecture, for instance, might contain hundreds of students, while a literature class could be discussion-based and limited to twelve students. Keep this in mind as you check out the rest of the questions on this college visit checklist.

Like the fearless owner of this rainbow Beetle, don't be afraid to customize your college visit questions.

Academic and Social-Emotional Support

• Can you get help from professors outside of the classroom?
• Is there free academic support or tutoring? Is it effective?
• What kind of resources are there for international student support and orientation?
• What kind of learning disability resources does the school offer?
• Is there a writing center to help with essays and research papers?
• Are academic advisers accessible and effective?
• Do the librarians help with research?
• Do students organize study groups or online discussion forums?
• Are there computer labs?
• How accessible and helpful is health services?
• Do students or administrators organize conversations for students to talk about their feelings on important issues and events?
• Are there social orientation programs for freshmen? Are they enjoyable?
• Is there career counseling? Is it helpful?

Research, Internship, and Study Abroad Opportunities

• What kind of opportunities exist for undergraduates to work on research or academic projects with professors?
• What kind of internships are available? Do a lot of students get internships?
• Are any departments known for their contribution to research?
• Do any majors prepare students to continue as researchers in a Master's or doctoral program?
• Are study abroad programs popular? Any ones in particular?
• Do most students study abroad on a program through the school or an external program?
• Do students of certain majors, like engineers, find it difficult to study abroad?
• Are there internship opportunities abroad?
• Are there opportunities through the school for summer internships or research?

Extracurriculars

• What are some of the most popular extracurriculars and why?
• What clubs or other opportunities exist for community service?
• Do sports play a large role on campus? What divisions are the sports teams ? What about intramurals or exercise classes?
• Can you talk about the fill-in-the-blank club? (Examples might include the student newspaper, student magazine, international relations clubs, art groups, science clubs, musical performances, plays, bands, ensembles...whatever you're interested in!)
• In what ways do students connect with and volunteer in the surrounding community ?

How many students do they really squeeze into those dorm rooms?/em>

Residence Life

• What are the dorms like? Are there lounges, laundry, and kitchens? Shared or private restrooms?
• Do certain dorms appeal to students with different interests, like a "healthy living" dorm?
• Do most students live in the dorms? What about after sophomore or junior year? If they move off campus, do they live in apartments or shared houses?
• Are any students placed in triples?
• How are the resident counselors? Do they plan social events for freshmen to get to know one another?
• Do most students get along with their randomly assigned roommates?
• What would I do in case of a conflict or need for a room switch? Is that possible?
• What kind of food does the dining hall serve? Are there different options? How is it, really?
• Does the dining hall accommodate special dietary restrictions?
• Are there any aspiring chefs on campus who host occasional exclusive gourmet pop-up dinners? (This question may be exclusive to this kid and this kid . So cool!)

Campus Culture and Surrounding Area

• Where do students tend to hang out on and off campus?
• Are there movie theaters and concert venues? What about good cafes for getting work done or finding the perfect pumpkin spice latte?
• How would you describe the presence of Greek life ? Do a lot of students belong to fraternities or sororities?
• How ethnically diverse is the campus?
• How many international students are there? What countries do they come from?
• Do students stick around or go home on weekends?
• What's the party scene like? (This might be a question to ask current students away from the group tour.)
• Have there been any recent student protests? What were they protesting, and how did staff and faculty respond?
• What are some big campus events, like homecoming or alumni weekend?
• Is it easy to get around campus or get off campus without a car?
• What transportation options are there around campus?
• Is it a safe area to walk around at night? What kind of safety measures are in place?
• Do many students work on or off campus? How easy is it to find a part-time job?

You don't want to put your tour guide too much on the spot, but you should feel free to ask about her experience at college!

Personal Questions

As mentioned above, tour guides are typically current students who went through the same college application process just a few years earlier! Most tour guides are also, presumably, happy about their choice to attend. I wouldn't recommend prying into their high school grades and test scores, but there are other personal questions that are fair game, like the following:

• What's your favorite class and why?
• What's it like to study in your major?
• How helpful did you find your freshman year advisor?
• What do you wish you had known going into freshman year?
• What do you wish you had asked on a campus tour when you were in my place?
• What's a typical weekday like for you?
• What surprised you about campus life here?
• Is there anything you wish you had done differently to improve your experience here?
• Are there any things you'd like to change about the school?
• What would be your most important advice for freshman?
• What's your favorite spot you've discovered on campus since arriving?

Your tour guide, along with any other current students you meet, is a great resource for honest, firsthand feedback about the student experience. As students, they're likely to have similar experiences and concerns as you, and they can give you a sense of what's in store if you're accepted and decide to enroll in the college.

For more technical information on admissions policies and financial aid offers, you might set up meetings with the relevant offices. Read on for questions to ask the administrative staff.

Boldly go where no college student really has to go again once she's accepted.

Questions to Ask an Admissions Officer

Making contact with the admissions office can not only get your questions answered. It can also get your "demonstrated interest" on file, which may help when it comes time to review your application. Rather than appearing as an anonymous applicant, admissions officers may recognize you from a meeting, email, or other records of contact. Not all schools keep track of this, but for some, establishing some kind of relationship may help show your enthusiasm for the school and thereby give you a bit of an edge.

If you want to meet with an admissions officer, make sure to set up a meeting via email or calling beforehand. If it's application season, usually March and April, try to schedule this a few weeks early to make sure they're not too busy to meet with prospective students. Then have your list of questions ready to show that you prepared and are ready to make the most of your conversation. Here are a few questions you might ask.

• What's unique about this college?
• What leads most students to choose this college?
• What qualities and experiences are you looking for in applicants?
• Can you tell me more about the application evaluation process ?
• How large of a role do SAT scores play in admissions?
• Do you have any advice for applicants? Does this differ for early versus regular decision applications?
• What percentage of students graduate in four years?
• What are the college's most important values, and how does it demonstrate this to students?
• What sort of student would succeed here?
• What sort of student might not be happy here?
• Can you tell me about career placements or grad school acceptances for graduates?
• How do you help students prepare for post-grad employment?
• Do you have an active alumni network?

Just as the admissions office will have lots of facts and advice about the admissions process, the financial aid office can walk you through your financial application. The next section covers questions you might have for them.

All of these are good topics to discuss with a financial aid officer.

Questions to Ask a Financial Aid Officer

Most schools offer a good deal of information about the cost of tuition, room and board, books, and other fees online, as well as the steps to take to apply for financial aid. If financial aid's an important factor for you, it could be helpful to meet with an officer and make sure you're doing everything you can to get your financial needs met.

I would suggest researching the school's financial aid website first, so you're not asking about info that's readily available online. Then you can use that base knowledge as a stepping off point for other queries, like the ones below:

• What kind of need-based financial aid do you offer?
• Do you meet 100% of demonstrated financial need ?
• What information do you require besides the FAFSA ?
• How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How much is offered?
• Are there other scholarships that students can apply for at the time of application?
• How much do students typically owe after graduating?
• Can I renegotiate my offer if it's lower than I expected?
• What are some opportunities for work-study ?

The financial aid office is the best place for any and all your money-related questions. If you get the chance to meet with a professor , then you can shift back into academic mode.

Tell me, Professor McGonagall, how serious are you about deadlines?

Questions to Ask a Professor

Finally, meeting with a professor could be a great way to make contact and learn about a department and class, especially if you have a strong sense of what you want to study . You can learn about her teaching style, the department's approach, and any opportunities for independent projects or research.

• What are your expectations for students in your class?
• How can students succeed in your class?
• What are typical requirements, like exams, papers, or presentations in a semester?
• What kind of materials would I use in your class?
• What skills or knowledge would you consider to be prerequisites?
• Do you offer any opportunities for students to do research?
• What other opportunities are available outside of the classroom to reinforce my learning, like cultural clubs or festivals?
• How often do you meet with or mentor students outside of class?
• What are the strengths of your program? Department?
• What's the community of students who major in this program like? Do they act as peer mentors, collaborate on projects, or form study groups?
• What could I do to prepare for further research at the graduate level?
• Would I be required or able to write a senior thesis or do a capstone project?
• How much flexibility would I have in shaping my major or taking an interdisciplinary approach?

As you can see, there's a wide range of questions you could prepare to ask tour guides, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. In addition to knowing what to ask, it can also be useful to know what not to ask. Are there any questions you shouldn't ask on your campus tours?

This question, for example, would be less than ideal.

Questions to Avoid on College Visits

I know, I know, they say there are no dumb questions—but there may be some worth keeping to yourself on your college visits. For instance, I mentioned above that it would probably be inappropriate to ask your tour guide to recite her high school resume to see how your grades, scores, and involvements stack up. While she can talk about her experiences applying and attending, asking for specific info like that would probably cross the line from curious to prying.

You should also avoid asking questions that are overly personal and not helpful to others in the group when you're on your tours. For example, I wouldn't advise sharing your life story and then asking your tour guide (or a professor, for that matter) to speculate about your admissions chances. She probably can't speak to highly specific concerns, and your fellow tour group members won't find it helpful either. If your question feels like too much information for a group setting, then cross it off your list.

A final good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid asking basic questions that can be easily answered via Google or a quick search of the school's website. For instance, questions like the following fall into that category:

• Do you have a psychology major?
• When was the school founded?
• How many students are in the freshman class?
• What was last year's rate of acceptance?

Based on these guidelines and suggestions, you probably have a sense of the kind of questions to ask on a college tour that will help you make the most of your campus visits. Most are prompts that may open into a more in-depth discussion. That being said, how can you use these questions to prepare for your college tours?

Start gathering your tastiest college tour questions.

How to Prepare for Your College Tours

Your first step is scheduling and signing up online for your college tours, as well as any other meetings or overnight stays. The best time to tour is when classes are in session so you can get the truest sense of the college in action.

Since you should prepare questions and take notes on the answers, I recommend writing them down and bringing a notebook (paper or electronic) to take notes. You'll be getting a lot of information, along with walking around and seeing everything, so it will be useful to have a record to which you can refer at the end of the day.

You certainly don't need to go overboard with the college tour questions. I would suggest preparing five to ten of your most important questions for each person (student, admissions officer, professor, etc). You may find you should choose about three during your tour, while you may be able to ask a lot more during a one on one conversation or meeting. Better to over-prepare than under-prepare, and you could list your highest priority questions at the top to make sure you get to them first.

In addition to asking questions and jotting down notes on the responses, you should take the time to observe everything going on around you. Beyond viewing the facilities, try to notice how the staff responds to you or how students interact with one another. Perhaps most importantly, is it a place where you'd feel comfortable?

Finally, spend some time writing and reflecting after your visit. Does the school seem like a good fit with your personality, interests, and goals? Do you feel excited about the prospect of attending? At the end of the day, you must save the final questions for yourself.

What's Next?

Are you in the midst of researching colleges and narrowing down your college list? This guide has some seriously helpful suggestions for figuring out what you want and choosing the colleges that best match your goals.

Once you've found some exciting schools, head on over here to learn when to apply. This comprehensive guide goes over the various application deadlines you need to know, along with some examples of regular and early deadlines for popular schools.

Finally, check out this guide on all the steps to apply to college , starting with choosing the best high school classes as early as freshman year and finishing with submitting your college apps!

Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Want to know what life’s really like at your dream school? Chat up the real experts on campus—the students.

When you tour colleges, make sure you talk with as many current students as you can. Ask them what they love and what bothers them most about their schools. This list of potential questions will help you spark some conversations with students on all your college visits , so you can find the school that fits you best.

Why did you choose this school?

Are you happy here?

What are your school's strengths?

What’s your #1 complaint about your school?

What else could stand to be improved?

How accessible are administrators, registrars, financial aid officers, etc.?

What majors are popular?

What departments or programs have the best reputations?

What’s your favorite class?

Are your professors good teachers?

Do your professors hold office hours, and will they meet with you outside of class?

Are most of your classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?

Were you able to take most of your first-choice classes?

Are your classes lecture-based or discussion-based?

How much reading and writing is required in your courses?

How often are collaborative work or group presentations required?

How satisfied are you with academic advising?

Do students use any on-campus tutoring programs or writing centers?

How big are your classes?

Does your major require an independent study or capstone project ?

Are professors available for research with students?

Is it popular to study abroad ?

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Campus Life

What's it like to be a first-year student here?

What's a typical day like?

How much time do students spend studying per week?

What do you do when you're not in class?

What do you do on the weekends?

What is the social scene like?

What kinds of things are there to do in your school's hometown?

How’s the food ?

Do most students live on-campus?

How are the dorms ?

Which clubs and student organizations are popular?

Do lots of students belong to fraternities or sororities?

What's your favorite place on campus?

Where do you like to study?

What are the facilities like (science labs, libraries , theatres, gyms, etc.)?

Are there enough computer labs?

How is the WiFi on campus?

Is it easy to get around campus?

Are sports popular?

Is there a lot of school spirit?

Read More: Search for Colleges

Student Body

How would you describe your fellow students?

Are the students here friendly?

What makes the student body unique?

Is there diversity on campus?

Are there many students from other countries?

Do students of different races and classes interact easily?

Are students cliquish?

Career Services

Are internships available? How do you find them?

Is Career Services helpful?

Do you have a mentor?

Does your school have a co-op program ?

Are there opportunities to build leadership skills on campus?

What options exist for service learning in the community?

Do employers recruit students on campus?

How easy is it to find summer jobs and other kinds of work through your school?

Who are some of the notable graduates from your college?

How visible is your school's alumni association on campus?

What kinds of hands-on or practical experiences have you had in and outside of the classroom?

You can find academic information, campus life stats, and more—including quotes from real students—in our college profiles . Search for a school on your list, or check out our Best Colleges rankings.

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57 Essential Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Updated on August 4th, 2023

A campus tour for college admission is an opportunity. Visitors have a chance to learn more about the school, which can be critical for the  college selection process . But figuring out what questions to ask on a college campus visit isn’t always easy. Your student only has a small amount of time to find out what they need to know.

College visit questions need to allow your student to discover the information they can’t find elsewhere. It’s a crucial part of making the most of the college tour experience . At times, this means broaching topics that aren’t discussed on the school’s website, in the college’s brochures, or student reviews. In others, it’s all about diving deeper into a subject that’s only touched on online or in college materials.

Luckily, choosing the questions to ask on a college visit doesn’t have to be a challenge. If your student doesn’t know where to begin, here are some helpful questions to ask when touring a college they can use.

• 1 Why College Visit Questions Are Important
• 2.1 Basic Questions to Ask on College Visits
• 2.2 Academic Questions to Ask During a College Visit
• 2.3 Campus Life College Visit Questions
• 2.4 Residence Life Questions to Ask When Touring a College
• 2.5 Student Body Questions for a College Visit
• 2.6 Work and Career Questions to Ask on a College Tour
• 3 When to Bring Up Your Questions to Ask When Visiting Colleges

Why College Visit Questions Are Important

Most colleges make a ton of information available to prospective students. A school’s website is often massive, providing students with a solid overview of everything from the admissions process to the available programs to housing. Even extracurricular activities and academic support are typically covered. Usually, the site provides more details than any student would be able to cover.

Plus, schools usually have other information resources available. Booklets and brochures are the most common option. Additionally, many colleges have YouTube channels, allowing them to easily share videos that showcase the college campus, curriculum, and student life.

With all of that information available, it wouldn’t seem like your student needs to ready any questions for a college visit. But that isn’t the case. While preparing questions to ask when touring a college doesn’t seem critical on the surface, it’s incredibly important.

Even with all of the available resources, specific topics might not be covered. By creating a list of questions to ask when visiting colleges, your student makes sure that they can discover details that aren’t discussed elsewhere during campus visits.

Additionally, a ‘questions to ask on a college tour’ list lets your student focus on subjects that matter most to them. Not only will students succeed because they guarantee that they don’t overlook something critical to their decision-making process, but they also ensure they cover the same information at every college tour. That way, they can fairly compare their options.

Sample Questions to Ask on a College Tour

When it comes to questions to ask when visiting colleges, the options seem nearly endless. However, by focusing on the right areas, your student can gather crucial details they need. Then, when it comes time to choose a college, they have enough information to make that decision.

In most cases, your student will have a chance to speak with the college tour guide themselves. However, they can also reach out to current students, and alumni network as they can be an excellent resource when you want to learn about that school’s college experience.

Here are 57 sample questions to ask on a college tour, broken into categories.

Basic Questions to Ask on College Visits

• Why differentiates this school from other colleges?
• Are you happy being a student (teacher) at this school?
• What are this school’s strengths?
• If you had to say, what’s your biggest complaint about this college?
• What is one area where this school could improve?
• How accessible are the professors, financial aid officers, student services employees, etc.?
• What’s the average financial aid package look like?
• What do the four-, five-, and six-year graduation rates look like?
• How many freshmen return here for their sophomore year?

Academic Questions to Ask During a College Visit

• Which majors are the most popular here, and why?
• How many courses/hours does the average full-time student take each semester?
• What programs or departments have the strongest reputations?
• What teaching style do most professors here use?
• Are most classes led by professors or teaching assistants?
• Is accessing first-choice classes a challenge?
• Do classes tend to be discussion-based or lecture-based?
• How much time should students expect to dedicate to studying and assignments outside of the classroom?
• Are collaborative or group projects common requirements?
• Do students have access to tutoring programs, writing centers, computer labs, or other learning-oriented resources?
• What’s the average number of students in a classroom at a time for introductory courses? What about advanced classes?
• Is studying abroad an available or popular option?
• Are there opportunities for undergraduate research?
• Is the Disability Services office helpful? What resources do they make available to qualifying students?

Campus Life College Visit Questions

• What does an average day for a first-year student look like here?
• What do students do when they aren’t in class?
• What are weekends like on campus?
• Is there a vibrant social scene?
• Where do students go to hang out?
• Is there something about the local community that sets it apart?
• What student organizations or clubs are the most popular?
• Are there a lot of fraternities or sororities?
• If a student was looking for a great place to study, where on-campus should they go besides their dorm room or the library?
• What facilities (gyms, libraries, theaters, labs, etc.) are available to students?
• Is the WiFi on campus fast? Are there dead spots on campus? Does it go down a lot?
• Are sports a big part of this school’s culture?

Residence Life Questions to Ask When Touring a College

• What is the dorm environment like? How many students are there per room? Are the bathrooms private or shared? Are there kitchens, laundry rooms, or lounges?
• Are dorms separated by shared interest, academic year, or another criterion?
• Do most students get along with their initially assigned roommate or are changes frequently requested?
• If I need a room switch, is that possible? Who do I contact?
• How’s the cafeteria or on-campus food?
• Do the dining halls accommodate special dietary requirements?
• Are there any local restaurants that students love?
• Can you get around easily without a car? What are the available transportation options?

Student Body Questions for a College Visit

• What makes this student body unique?
• Is this a diverse campus? Are there international students?
• Are students generally friendly?
• What percentage of the students live in the dorms?
• Does this school have a lot of cliques?
• Does it ever feel too crowded here?
• Have there been any student protests on campus recently? What issue was the focus?

Work and Career Questions to Ask on a College Tour

• Can you find internships here? Where do you go to learn more about them?
• Are work-study options available?
• Is the Career Services office helpful?
• Are there leadership opportunities on campus?
• Does the school help students get involved in the community? What opportunities are available?
• Can students find summer jobs through the college or in the local community with ease?
• Is the alumni association active and visible on campus?

When to Bring Up Your Questions to Ask When Visiting Colleges

If your student wants to go through their questions to ask on a college visit list, they need to time them wisely. Interrupting the guide or preventing others from having an opportunity to ask their questions are both bad ideas. Similarly, broaching topics at strange moments – such as asking about dorm life when you haven’t made it to the dorm part of the campus housing tour – isn’t a great move.

Instead, your student should try to align their questions with each segment of the campus tour. For example, as they go through the classroom buildings, asking about the academic experience is appropriate. Once they reach the cafeteria, asking about the food is fine.

Just make sure your student gives others a chance to get their questions answered, too. They probably aren’t the only student participating, so they need to give others the space to find out what they want to know.

Additionally, your student shouldn’t stress if they can’t get every question answered during the tour. Usually, once the exploration part is done, there will be another chance to learn more about topics that weren’t covered.

If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Head over to  https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar  to reserve your spot today .

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February 6, 2020 at 4:03 pm

Great list of questions to ask when visiting colleges. I think the one that stands out the most, to me, is asking about popular majors. Colleges tend to have their own specialties, even if their majors are broad, so knowing which ones are the most popular will help students get the most out of their college experiences.

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40 Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Oct 2, 2023 | Articles , College Admissions , High School

Do you know what questions to ask on your college visit? Here’s a list of great questions whether you visit in person or virtually. Download our checklist to bring on your visit. Add questions of your own and ignore those that don’t apply to you. Ask what you need to make your best-fit college choice.

General College Information

• How many students attend the college?
• What is the four-year graduation rate of the students? Six-year?
• What percent of freshmen return for their sophomore year?
• What graduate programs are offered?

Housing and Food

• What percent of students live on campus? What about upperclassmen?
• What types of dorms or housing options does the college provide?
• What percent of students have cars on campus?
• How much does it cost to have a car on campus? (Parking permits, etc.)
• What meal plans are available?
• What other food options are available on or near campus?
• Where is the closest grocery store to campus?

Student Engagement

• What activities are offered for students?
• How regularly are sporting events attended by students?
• What opportunities in the arts and theater are offered? Do students regularly attend these events? 
• What clubs or activities are offered for students?
• Are intramural sports offered?
• What do students do for fun on campus? In the community?
• Is there Greek Life on campus? What percent of students are involved?
• What majors are offered?
• How are high school AP tests credited at the school?
• What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
• How many credits does the average student take each semester?
• Are first-year classes taught by professors or TAs?
• What is the average size of introductory classes?
• What is the average size of upper-level classes for my major? 
• How much access do students have to professors? 

Academic Opportunities

• Are there opportunities to study abroad? 
• Are there learning communities or an honors program?
• What academic support is offered on campus? 
• Are there career counseling resources offered?
• What internships or summer research opportunities are offered?  

Campus and City Life

• How safe is campus? What security is in place?
• How safe is the community around campus?
• How busy is the campus? How noisy?
• How integrated is the campus with the city and surrounding community?
• What opportunities are there to get involved and volunteer in the community? 
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• What is the total cost to attend?
• What scholarships are available to students? Which would I be eligible for?
• What is the average student debt after graduation? 
• What percent of students have jobs on campus? Off-campus? 

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100 Questions to Ask on a College Tour

Posted: March 08, 2022 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 12 minutes

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Book a College Tour

Think about what you want to get out of college. Think about the campus of your dreams--what does it look like? Look into any flyers or pamphlets you may have gotten in the mail from colleges. Do any of those schools interest you? In order to pick a college, you have to start by rooting through lots of them. 

1. Where do I want to study? Do I like cold or hot weather? Rural or urban? 

2. Do I want to stay close to home or start fresh somewhere far away? How much does it cost to travel home (via car, plane, shuttle, bus, etc.). Or do I want to study abroad in a different country?

3. Do I want to go with my friends? Or do I want to meet entirely new people? 

4. What field am I thinking about going into? What is my desired major? Are there any colleges nearby that have good programs? Or would I be better off in a different state? 

5. Do I want to live on a big campus with thousands of people or a small campus? Public or private university? 

6. What is the reputation of the school I’m applying to? How will I represent my school and how will the school represent me? 

7. What is the surrounding area like? Small college town or busy city? What is there to do around campus? 

8. What campus do I want to tour? 

9. How am I going to pay for school? 

10. Is the surrounding area considered safe? 

Learn About the School History

Learn a little bit about the school you are applying to. What about the history of the school interests you? 

11. How old is the school? When was it founded?

12. Who founded the school? What’s the story behind the school’s founding? How did it happen?

13. How has the school changed since it opened its doors?

14. What are the historical landmarks of campus?

15. Is there special meaning behind locations, buildings, or statues around campus? 

16. Who are the buildings named after? Why? 

17. What is the history of the city or town around the school? How has it changed over time too? 

18. Why is your school’s mascot what it is? What is the school’s motto? 

19. How has the school attained the reputation it has today? 

20. What are some time-honored traditions at the school? 

Get to Know Your Tour Guide

Remember, your student guide on a campus tour is just that; a student. This is your chance to ask questions about their experience. Get to know them and hear about their personal experience attending classes and living the college life. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that might have a negative answer. Choosing a college is all about weighing the pros and cons. Start with questions like;

21. Why did you choose this school? 

22. What strengths does this school have? What weaknesses do you want the school to improve upon? 

23. If you could change one thing about your experience here, what would it be? 

24. How accessible are student resources on campus? 

25. How accessible are the professors, administrators, financial aid officials, etc.

26. What makes this school unique and stand out from other schools? What are you most proud of about the school? What is the school known for? 

27. How many graduates and undergraduate students are there? 

28. How diverse is the campus? Are there any disability learning services? What about international students? 

29. How financially stable is the school? 

30. What is the orientation process like for freshmen students or transfers? What was your orientation experience? 

Ask About Financial Assistance

Knowing if you are able to afford attending school at a given university is vital to your future because you don’t want to be drowning in debt and student loans for the next twenty years. Ask your guide about these things to get a better idea of your final balance; 

31.How much is tuition? What does the sticker price mean? 

32.What are the usual costs outside of tuition (i.e. textbooks, meal plans, housing, etc.)

33.Are there any scholarships or grants offered to students? Are there scholarships for a specific program or major? Where can I find all the scholarship applications? How do I apply? Do I even qualify for any of those? What percentage of students qualify for scholarships or grants?

34. What is the FAFSA? How do I apply for federal aid? Could I afford this school without scholarships or federal aid? 

35. What does your average financial aid package look like?

36. What does your average merit award look like? What are the requirements to receive a merit scholarship? How do I apply for one if I do qualify? 

37. Is my financial aid affected if I take longer than four years to graduate? 

38. How has the annual tuition rate risen or fallen in recent years? 

39. What is the average amount of loan debt that students accumulate by the time they graduate? 

40. Does your net price calculator provide an accurate estimate of what your school will cost me and when did you last update the net price calculator?

Learn More About Academics

Academic quality is one of the most important things to ask about because the whole reason you are going to college is to get your education. If you’re paying for it, then you should be able to get your money’s worth and know that you are learning the things you need to help you succeed. 

41. What are the most popular majors? When do students have to declare a major? 

42. What departments or programs are offered? What makes them special? Is there an honors college? If so, what are the requirements?

43. Are the classes taught by professors that collaborate with their students or is it mostly just lecture-style learning? Are there often discussions and group projects or lots of individual reading?

44. How big is your typical general education class? What about upper-division and major based class sizes? 

45. Is it possible to do a double major? What minors are offered? 

46. What are the academic admissions standards for potential students? 

47. Is studying abroad an option? If so, do lots of students participate? What about research opportunities in a given field? What departments offer undergraduate or graduate research opportunities?

48. What tutoring options are available?

49. How easy or difficult is it to register for classes? How is the academic advising process? If you want to transfer, how difficult is it to transfer credit?

50. How many hours do students typically spend on homework?

Graduation Rates and Student Success Questions

Do you want to experience all four years of college? Do you want to go to graduate school? It’s important to know what graduation rates at a certain college mean and how that can affect when you graduate. 

51. What is the average graduation rate? What’s the average GPA?

52. How many years does it take to graduate with a bachelor’s degree? 

53. Are there any fast track programs to help me graduate in less that four years?

54. What is the main hindrance to students graduating on time? If I were to go here, how could I avoid that?

55. If I double major, will that make it harder for me to graduate? Will it take more time? 

56. What’s the retention rate for freshmen coming back as sophomores? 

57. How many students transfer each semester? 

58. Do you know the main reasons why some students drop out or leave prematurely?

59. Is there a master’s or doctorate program here? What percentage of students go on to graduate or professional schools? What majors offer a higher degree? 

60. What’s the average size of a graduating class in a typical year? 

Internships and Job Opportunities 

College is the starting line to the rest of your career. You want to be able to get a good job out of college and sometimes, universities offer a gateway to a career that can last you a lifetime. Ask about any of these options and whether or not you could be considered. 

61. Are there any internships offered? How can I apply for those?

62. Are there any on-campus or work study job opportunities? Where can I find the applications for those? What about summer jobs?

63. How active is the alumni network?

64. Are career services available for students or alumni? How helpful is it?

65. Does this school have a co-op program?

66. Do employers recruit students on campus? Are there any programs that feed into the workplace? 

67. What is the job placement rate? How is that calculated? Are figures self-reported? On average, how many students get a job right after graduation? 

68. Does my desired major or program of study help with job placement? 

69. Are there any famous or well-known alumni of the school? 

70. Where could I find a job around campus, not limited to just on campus? 

What is Campus Life Like

It’s important to get a good idea of what your life will be like outside of the classroom. For example, knowing where to hang out on the weekends can help you make new friends and connections faster. Ask yourself what matters to you. What kind of experiences do you want to have? What environment do you want to live in? Then ask your tour guide some of the following: 

71. What is there to do? What are popular hangout spots? Where are the best places to eat? Where is the nearest grocery store? Are meal plans offered?

72. What are the dorms like? Are freshmen required to live on campus? What percentage of students who aren’t freshmen live on campus? How are roommates assigned? Could I room with a friend? 

73. What are off-campus housing options? 

74. Are there any fraternities or sorority houses? How can I rush for them if I’m interested? 

75. What facilities are available (i.e. library, gym, science lab, student center, counseling center, theatres, etc.) to students? What benefits are there for students (i.e. gym access, medical visits, mental health care/ therapy, dental or vision care, etc.)? 

76. Where is your favorite place to study? What is your favorite spot on campus?

77. Is it easy to get around campus? What is parking like? Are students able to bring a car? What about bikes, motorcycles, skateboards, scooters, etc.?

78. Is there lots of school spirit? Are there sporting or theatre events? What activities are popular? Are there any school-wide activities throughout the year? 

79. What clubs or service options are available for students to join? How do I sign up? 

80. Is the campus considered safe? Is there a way I could see the statistics of crime in the area on and around campus? What is the most common crime committed, if any? What safety precautions do other students take that I should take part in as well? How prevalent are drugs, alcohol, or other illegal and addictive substances on campus? 

Diversity and Inclusion on Campus 

This is more about the character of the students on campus. What kind of people are you going to be surrounding yourself with? Think about how you want to fit in here. Where are there places where you are free to be yourself?

81. What is the student body like? Is it diverse? What are the gender ratios? What does the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people look like? 

82. How are students treating each other? Are there cliques or a popularity pyramid scheme? Is there a high rate of bullying or prejudice against particular groups of students?

83. Are students more focused on academics or the social aspects of college? 

84. How many international students are there? 

85. Is there a dominant religion among students or a specific affiliation to a sect within the school? If there is, is it something I would enjoy? Will the school’s religious influence make me feel uncomfortable? Is there a place I can practice my own religion if I am not tied to the central faith?

86. Are the students friendly? How can I make friends quickly? 

87. How do I resolve conflict with my roommate(s)? Who would I bring in to mediate the situation? What if I get bullied in my own dorm? Is there a possibility for authoritative intervention if I am not respected in my dorm or on campus as a whole? If things get worse, how would I move out or move forward?

88. Is there a possibility for couple’s counseling for me and my partner should we need it?

89. Are service animals an option for students on campus? How do you get clearance for those? 

90. What about disabled parking, are there special spots? 

Questions for Current and Former Students

If you know someone who went to or is going to the school you’re looking at, ask them about their experience! How has that affected their life and career? 

91. How would you describe or rate your college experience? What did you like? What didn’t you like? What would you change? (If they’re an alumni, ask them what has changed since they were a student there).

92. Do you think this school helped prepare you for your future and your career? How? 

93. How would you rate the campus itself (i.e. the dorms, the facilities, professors, etc.)

94. What advice would you give to anyone considering attending this college or university? What did you wish you knew coming into your first year of college? 

95. What programs do/ did you participate in? Did you like them? Why or why not?

96. Why did you choose to come here? 

97. How was your experience with other students? Where did you fit in? 

98. Is the campus easy to navigate? How do I know where I’m going? (Ask current students or recent alumni this question)

99. Did you take any internships? Did you do work-study or have a campus job? If so, how did they prepare you for your career and the real world?

100. Did you participate in any research opportunities or study abroad programs? If so, how did that affect your education and overall experience? 

Of course, there are hundreds of other questions you can come up with before your next college tour, but if you start here, then consider yourself on the road to your freshman year! For more information about how you can better prepare for your next tour, visit the T-Bird Nation Blog. Your future awaits!

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80 Questions to Ask on a College Campus Tour

November 4, 2020

by Matt Hughes

Choosing a college is about more than just numbers and data; it's about a feeling, and there's no better way to tell whether a college is the right or wrong place for you than by visiting in person .

When you're on campus for a tour, you'll get to see for yourself where you could be spending the next four years of your life: where you'll study, sleep, eat, play and kick back. You'll get a glimpse of the students you'll be surrounded by and the professors you'll learn from, the activities you'll pursue and the teams you'll cheer to victory, as well as the larger region you'll explore and make your home.

To make the most of your campus tour, you'll want to ask the right questions — ones that get to the heart of what you're looking for in a college experience. Choosing good questions is especially important now, as the pandemic has put limits on the time you may have to spend on a campus or the places you can visit while you're there.

Plan a visit to Bucknell

To help you make the most of your visit, we've compiled a list of questions to think about as you prepare, organized into five areas that together represent the whole of a college experience:

• Student and Residence Life
• Student Support
• Careers and Alumni Life

As you'll see, there are far too many questions on this list to ask in a one- or two-hour visit, especially if there are other families in your tour group. Instead of starting at the top, use this list to help refine your own shorter list of questions that get to the heart of what's most important to you.

And of course, feel free to add a few questions of your own to your list. Choosing a college is all about finding what you're looking for.

Before we begin, a few words of advice:

Do Your Homework First

A lot of campus visitors ask questions about data and numbers during their tour: How many students go here? How many graduate in four or six years? What's your student-faculty ratio? What's the average class size? These are all important things to know before making your decision, but they should also be easy to find on any college's website (you can find answers to all of them on Bucknell's Fast Facts page). You'll only have so much time to ask questions during a campus tour, so make the most of that opportunity to dig deeper by asking questions that get to the heart of what you're looking for in a college experience.

What About Financial Aid?

Questions about financial aid also fall into this category, but for a different reason: The answers you're looking for are highly individual. On any campus you'll find students who pay full tuition and those who pay no tuition at all; it all depends on their individual circumstances and the scholarships they receive. The student or admissions officer leading your tour won't know anything about your family's financial situation, so they can only explain so much. They might tell you about the college's average aid package or scholarship opportunities, but you can probably find that information yourself on the college's website.

While you should ask questions about financial aid, your best bet for getting the answers you need is to set up a separate call or meeting with the college's financial aid office (you can reach Bucknell's at [email protected] or 570-577-1331).

You can also use the net price calculator you can find on many college websites (Bucknell's is here ) to get a better sense of how much aid you might be eligible to receive.

During your tour, you may also want to ask about specific scholarships that might apply to you, such as merit scholarships for the arts, sciences or athletics. Just bear in mind that the tour guide can only give you general answers.

With that advice out of the way, here are some suggestions for questions to ask on your campus tour.

Academic Questions — What Are Classes Like?

• Why did you decide to attend this college?

Ask this question if your tour is being led by a student tour guide. There's no better way to get a sense of whether a college might be right for you than to hear first hand what sealed the decision for someone who goes there now. If there's any question we recommend you ask, it's this one.

• Is there anything you don't like? If you had to say, what would you change about this college?

Another revealing question that can give you perspective you won't find in admissions materials or online marketing.

• What makes this college different from other schools you looked at?
• What majors are most popular here?
• Are most classes led by professors or teaching assistants?
• Are classes mostly discussion-based or lecture-based?
• What's the largest class you've ever taken here?
• How large was your average first-year class?
• How much freedom do first-year students have in choosing courses?
• How easy/hard is it to enroll in a class you want to take?
• Are there any popular classes that always fill up quickly?
• How much room is there to take classes outside your major?
• Is it possible to take classes from another college (within a university) or get a minor or second major from another college?
• Is it easy to change your major?
• Is there an honors program? What does it require?
• Are there any capstone courses or senior-year projects all or most students take part in? What do you do?
• Are there any particularly interesting, innovative or unique classes you can talk about?
• How popular is studying abroad at this school?
• Does the school run any of its own study abroad programs? Where are they?
• Are there opportunities to do research or fieldwork as an undergraduate student?
• Are collaborative or group projects common?
• Do classes often connect to the community or with outside businesses and organizations?

Student Life Questions — What’s It Like to Live Here?

• What does an average day for a first-year student look like?
• How do first-year students tend to make friends and meet other students?
• What do students do when they aren't in class?
• Where do students go to study besides their rooms?
• What are weekends like on campus? Do most students stay here or do they tend to go home or off campus (or to a nearby city) to hang out?
• How are the connections with the local community? Do you feel like part of the community here?
• What makes this community special? Why do you like living here?
• Is there anything you don't like about this community/living here?
• Is housing guaranteed all four years? Do most students usually live on campus all four years or move off campus when they're allowed to?
• What are the housing options for students in each class year?
• Is there special-interest housing, like housing focused on a particular major or academic interest, students from particular backgrounds, or students who wish to pursue a substance-free lifestyle?
• How are first-year roommates assigned? Do most students get along with their assigned roommate? What was your roommate like?
• How easy or hard is it to change roommates if you're not a good match?
• Are there a lot of fraternities or sororities? How important are they to the social scene on campus?
• What are the fitness facilities like? Do they get crowded?
• What options are there for club and intramural sports or fitness classes?
• How's the food on campus? Are there a lot of options?
• Do the dining halls accommodate special dietary requirements?
• What local restaurants do students love?
• Is it easy to get around without a car?
• What transportation options does the college provide?
• Is the area safe to walk around at night? What kind of safety measures are in place?
• Do many students work on or off campus? Are there opportunities to find jobs that will help my resume?
• What are the big annual events on campus?
• What are the sporting events like here?

Support Questions — How Easy Is It to Get Help?

• How easy or hard is it to get help from professors outside of class?
• How often do professors have office hours? Is it easy to schedule a time to meet or do they fill up quickly?
• Is there free academic support or tutoring? Is it available to all students in all subjects?
• Is there a writing center to help with papers?
• How can the library help with research? Do librarians or other staff provide individual help?
• What resources and accommodations are available for students with learning disabilities or other special needs?
• What is academic advising like? Is it easy to meet with your adviser, and what kind of help do they offer?
• Do students organize study groups or online meetups? Does the school help coordinate those meetings?
• Are computer labs open 24 hours? Are they easy to access or do they get crowded at certain times?
• What health and mental wellness services are available on campus?
• What is orientation like? How long is it and do any onboarding activities continue throughout the year?

Admissions Questions — What Are You Looking for in a Student?

• What qualities and experiences are you most looking for in an applicant?
• How are applications evaluated? What are the different things you consider?
• Are interviews required or available as part of the application process?
• How large of a role do standardized test scores play in admissions?
• Are you test-optional?
• Does this school give credit for AP or IB courses, or college courses taken while in high school? How much/what classes are eligible?
• Do I need to declare a major on my application? What if I'm not sure?
• How easy is it to change my major if I decide it's not for me?
• What's your best advice for someone who wants to get into this school?
• What leads most students to choose this college?
• What sort of person wouldn't be happy here?

Career/Alumni Questions — What’s It Like to Be a Graduate of This School?

• What sort of help does the college provide for finding internships?
• Are there a lot of internships available in the community or do you have to go farther away?
• Are there any internship opportunities on campus?
• Are work-study programs available? What about co-op programs for majors like engineering or science?
• Is there special advising for students who want to go to medical school, law school or other graduate programs?
• What does career advising and counseling look like?
• Do many recruiters come to campus? How many of them are alumni?
• How does the career center help students identify job opportunities?
• Are career advising services available after graduation?
• What other help does the career services office provide?
• How many/what percentage of students find jobs in their field of study?
• How active is your alumni network? Is the alumni association visible on campus?

Touring Bucknell

So there you have it — enough questions to keep a campus tour guide talking all day. We hope this list gives you lots to think about as you begin exploring colleges in person.

If you'd like to visit Bucknell for a campus tour, get started by exploring your visit options here . You'll find a menu of visit experiences including traditional guided tours and self-guided alternatives. Just as we believe in empowering students to create their own college experience, we also give prospective students choices to experience our campus the way that suits them best.

You can also get a taste of what you'll experience on campus through our virtual tour .

And if you have questions you'd like to ask us now, please contact us anytime at [email protected] or 570-577-3000.

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Questions to Ask on a College Tour – A Comprehensive List

Thinking about what kinds of questions to ask on a college tour?

Whether you are having a virtual or in-person tour, it is super important to prepare some questions to ask ahead of time. This is your opportunity to gain insight from an actual college student’s perspective. You should take advantage and ask them all the questions you are wondering.

If you can’t think of too many, that’s okay. It can be hard to think of everything, which is why I created this list of best questions to ask on a college tour.

Table of Contents

What Questions Should I Ask on a College Tour?

From basic questions like food and entertainment options to how competitive is housing, there’s a lot to ask on a college tour. We split all the possible questions you should ask into 5 categories: general, course-specific, opportunities, dorms/housing, and campus resources.

General Questions

• Why did you choose this school?
• What makes this college unique?
• Are you happy to be here?
• If you could improve one thing about this college, what would it be?
• What do students do for fun?
• Where is the best place to study?
• What are the scholarship opportunities ?
• Are sports popular?
• Is the student body diverse?
• Does this university have any traditions?
• What is the most popular event at this college?
• How long is winter break?
• How safe is this school?
• What are the food options around here?
• What are the entertainment options around here?
• Is public transportation free for students?
• Are there any specific student discounts offered?
• Where is the nearest airport?
• Where is the nearest train station?
• Are there any rental car agencies nearby that allow students to use them?
• Is it common for students to have cars at this school?

Course Specific Questions

• Were you able to take most of your first-choice classes?
• Do you have the chance to talk to a counselor before scheduling classes?
• Are we required to speak to a dean/counselor every semester/quarter?
• What are the class sizes for general education courses?
• What are some of the most popular general education courses?
• What are the class sizes for upper-division courses?
• Are there TAs for certain classes?
• Do TAs teach courses?
• Have you had any problematic professors?
• Do you have a school work/life balance?
• How difficult is the transition from general education courses to upper divisions?
• How difficult is the adjustment from a community college to a 4-year university for transfer students?
• How doable is balancing school and a part-time job?

Clubs, Internships, and Other Opportunities

• What are some popular clubs on campus?
• Are there major/career based clubs?
• Are there identity-based clubs?
• Are there hobby-based clubs?
• Are there internship and career resources on campus?
• Are there resume/CV review services available?
• Does this school offer internship and career fairs often?
• Is sorority/fraternity life popular here?
• What type of sororities/fraternities are available here?
• Are there opportunities for undergraduate research?
• Do professors offer research positions to students?

Dorm and Housing Related Questions

• Is on-campus housing guaranteed for freshmen?
• How is the dorm/dining commons/cafeteria food?
• Do the dining commons offer vegan/vegetarian options?
• Do the dining commons offer Kosher options?
• Do the dining commons offer Halal options?
• What is the most common room type for the dorms? (Single, double, or triple rooms)
• Does every floor have a water fountain?
• Does each dorm building have a kitchen?
• What furniture does each dorm room come with?
• Approximately how many people share a bathroom?
• Are there dorm communities for specific identities and interests? (Ex: Single gendered, major based floor, ethnicity/racial identity floors, etc.)
• Are there resident advisors to help out freshmen in the dorms?
• Are there activities/events hosted for students who choose to live in a dorm?
• What are the housing options for second-year students?
• What are the housing options for transfer students?

Resource Related Questions

• How do most students get around campus?
• How do students get around the town/city?
• Are there resources for low-income students on campus?
• Are there resources for minority students on campus?
• Are there resources for veterans and dependents of veterans?
• Are there resources for transfer students?
• Does the financial aid office offer a work-study program?
• Does the financial aid office respond to questions quickly?
• Does this school have study abroad programs?
• Is financial aid offered for study abroad?
• What kinds of tutoring services are offered on campus?
• Are there writing workshops offered?
• Are there mental health resources offered?
• Is there a mental health care facility on campus?

Recap of Questions to Ask on a College Tour

After reading this list you should be prepared to enter your college tours. You may have even thought of other questions that you can ask as well.

It is important to remember any major-specific questions you would like to ask as well. Your tour guide may be majoring in something you are interested in, so you can ask them more detailed questions about it.

Also, note that your tour guide may not have all the answers. So it is important to ask them if they can point you in the right direction to individuals/resources that can answer them.

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When I went to view universities one of the big things that I asked was, do you offer study abroad? As I was keen to do a year away! Although that didn’t happen I was able to visit Italy multiple times, Germany and Vietnam alongside my course x

This is such a comprehensive list of questions to ask on a college tour. I’m normally the quiet type during tours, but it makes me wish I had asked some of these questions especially those pertaining to organisations and mental health when I’d done college tours years ago! 🙂 Btw so glad to see your blog is up and running again!! 🙂

Thank you so much Izzy!

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+17 College Tour Questions To Ask Your Campus Tour Guide

Visiting a college campus is one of the most exciting things! You get a small glimpse into a potential new home. I remember vividly going on college campus tours with my parents and older sister when she was looking for a college to attend and I was always so fascinated with the architecture, what the people looked like, and definitely how knowledgeable the student tour guides were! Asking good college tour questions during your visit is very important.

This is a prime opportunity to learn everything you possibly can about this school. So make sure you’re prepared with questions to ask along the way. My little sister has been touring colleges with athletic scholarships but you better believe I have been there with questions to make sure she is well-informed to make the right decision.

Here I have listed ~super~ important questions you should consider asking while you go on your own college tours.

General College Tour Questions

Are there any ways the college/university helps high schoolers transition to college life?

My college has a required class that all freshmen have to take during their first year of college. It is specifically designed to help freshmen with the transition from high school to college!

Fun fact: I met one of my freshman year best friends in this class! We were both lost in the building and bonded over looking for this class together, lol. You can meet new friends anywhere. Definitely ask about your tour guide’s transition to college!

What is your favorite thing about going to school here?

This helps give some insight on what you can look forward to while going to school here. I loved hearing their answers because it’s nice to see what people value in their college experience. This question helps you get a better picture of life at [insert college name].

What is this school known for?

My college life was so amazing because I had a feel of the campus culture. Now, my school has a lot. to improve on, but the overall big themes of the school are things I loved. This is a great question to see if the college culture will be for you. If they say something about sports, you want to ask yourself if that is something you value a lot.

What are the big majors at this school?

This is another thing that will help you determine if it is a good fit for you or not. If they say they have a world-renowned business program, you may want to ask yourself how much funding or thought goes into the STEM majors at your school.

What is the graduation rate?

This question is important because low graduation rates reflect badly on a college/university. First, look online to see if you can find it before you tour the college. You want to know the college cares for the students and will do their best to prepare you for life after college!

Are there writing labs and other helpful resources for students?

I had so much fun visiting the writing lab at my university! If you don’t know, a writing lab is a place on campus that you can go to to get help with your writing. I went a couple of times for my essays and my grade always got better after I went! My writing lab guaranteed that your grade would increase a whole letter grade after visiting for help (and it always did 🥲 )

In addition to a writing lab, my school also had a lab where people would help you with your presentation! If you ever have a presentation, they will help you make sure it is as good as can be.

How are the professors here? Do students here use rate my professor ?

Asking about the professors is where I get much-needed insight as to how students here feel about their professors. Now keep in mind your tour guide isn’t a fair representation of every student on campus. But, one time I got such useful information on who NOT to take for a physics class and she was SO right.

Ratemyprofessor.com is life-saving… forreal. It is a database where students go in and review each and every (ok not everyone is on here like new professors probably won’t be reviewed yet) professor on campus. Most of the time, the reviews are spot on! I check this site before every semester to make sure the professors I chose are top-notch and actually care about their students.

Does your advisor help you stay on track with your classes? How is your relationship with your advisor?

Advisors can be extremely helpful or a pain in the you know what. Ask them to see if their advisor has been a helpful part of their experience! I also recommend you reach out to the advisor yourself. You want to make sure they are helping you stay on track to graduate!

How well is the university at helping students getting internships?

This is something I did not focus on enough in college! I initially did the pre-med route and solely focused on potentially going to med school and I didn’t really have a backup. I think having a plan b and plan c is so essential and internships can help you figure out what you want to do in the future!

Is there an honors program here? If so what are the requirements?

Most colleges do have some type of honors program. If you are interested, ask what the requirements are so you can get in!

NOTE: For this section, I recommend scheduling an appointment with a financial aid advisor because they will have much more information that you want than your tour guide, who is probably a student. But I do leave a couple of questions because when my older sister was on her campus tour, the girl gave her a business card of a very helpful person to ask for scholarships!

How helpful is the bursar/financial aid office?

The bursar office is where you will take care of your financial needs. Ask for scholarships, grants, loans, all of it.

Who do I talk to for information on scholarships and grants?

This information is on their website I assure you. But, you can still ask if you want!

Getting Involved

Do you all have leadership programs on campus?

My FAVORITE thing I got involved with was the Leadership Scholars program for the college of arts and sciences. It was life-changing and I met my other best friend through this group. We were the “ambassadors” of the college. We volunteered, put on events for our college, and traveled abroad together.

What are you involved in on campus?

Since they give campus tours, this is probably one of the main things they’re involved in because it takes up a lot of time. It’s a job! But, hearing what else they are involved with is awesome because it gives you ideas of what you can get into when you arrive .

Are there study abroad opportunities?

Studying abroad is too much fun! I went for a couple of weeks in the summer with the leadership program I mentioned. Get out there! There are so many things out in the world, explore while you study.

Are there quiet hours?

I get that you will be having fun with friends and possibly inviting people over to your dorm every now and then. But, you will want quiet hours during midterm week, dead week, and finals week… I promise you.

Are the dorms same-sex or co-ed?

This is important because my dorm had co-ed floors, but my floor was same-sex. I loved it! This is a great question to ask just so you are aware of how your living situation will be.

What are the best dorm halls for freshmen?

Do students get free tickets for sports?

I went to a university that is big for sports. All sports were free for students, except for football and basketball.

I HIGHLY doubt the tour guide won’t take you to these places but if you haven’t made it to these places during the tour, I recommend you ask to see the following places :

• Bursar / Financial Aid Office
• Student Union
• Freshman Dorms
• Parking Lots / Garages

If you are an athlete on a tour, ask these questions…

My sister is an athlete so we typically got a tour with a student and the coach! These are additional questions we asked to predict how life would be as a student-athlete in college.

Do the teammates get along on the team?

How is the balance of sports and school?

Is there tutoring available for athletes?

Do you all take away scholarship money from athletes?

Let me know about more helpful college tour questions that have been helpful for you!

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Questions to Ask Admissions on a College Campus Visit

By Brian O'Connell

July 2, 2019

Taking your high school student on a college tour is a rite of passage for both the student and the parent. But, too often it doesn’t deliver maximum impact on the family’s college experience because many parents aren’t asking the right questions.

Why not? Several factors affect the gathering of information during the campus tour . Sometimes, tour guides – who are almost always students – don’t possess comprehensive knowledge on important issues like financial aid or the intricacies of the college’s admissions policy.

Or even more often, parents and students are told they’re free to ask any questions they want, from a broad selection of college officials, but neglect to do so. The parents may feel like they don’t have the time to break off for an individual question and answer session. Sometimes, the parents assume they’ll get the information in the tour package or later over the phone with a college advisor.

Additionally, sometimes parents don’t ask the right questions because they don’t know the right questions to ask.

Parents also feel they can get their questions answered , either by word of mouth from other parents whose own children have attended the college or via the college’s web site or social media presence.

Those are decent sources of information, as is a call to the college for a question on tuition, campus life or admissions. But not asking the right questions of the right college administrator while on a campus tour seems like an unforced error for parents and students.

Here’s a fix for that.

Seven Admissions Questions to Ask When You’re on a Campus Visit

Don’t let good information gathering opportunities slip through your fingers, especially on all-important college admissions queries . Be sure to ask these admissions questions during your next college visit, and pave the way for a smooth transition from high school life to college life for your son or daughter.

Can I get a hold of a college admissions officer today while I’m on campus?

Right out of the gate, this should be your first question on a college tour – ask it right away as you and your student arrive for the visit.

Most colleges will make administrators available to some extent during a campus visit, but since college tours are scheduled so frequently over the summer months, there are no guarantees.

Also, as so many college admissions staff may be away on vacation or already booked during the summer months, reality dictates that you ask upfront who’s available from college admissions when you arrive for a college tour – and how, where and when you can find that administrator.

What qualities do you look for in new students?

On this query, a campus tour guide may give you a boilerplate answer straight from the training seminar he or she took to become a tour guide. So unfortunately, it’s a question you might have to ask several times of different people to get a straight answer.

Yet it’s worth the effort.

Stop by the student life and/or college admissions office and ask the question – you’ll want to know what makes students at a given school unique and attractive as admissions candidates.

It might save you from sending your daughter or son to the wrong college and help you steer your child to the right college.

How many new students wind up transferring to another college by their sophomore year?

Ask the college admissions office how many freshman students don’t return for their second semester of their freshman year or for their sophomore year. Also, ask a junior or senior student what kept them coming back to campus during their later college years.

Students leave a college for plenty of reasons. They can’t afford it, they don’t believe college is right for them, or their college is failing them in key areas like academic support. A robust retention rate is a sign that the college knows what’s it’s doing and will keep your son or daughter engaged for four years.

That’s not always easy. According to U.S. News & World Report , one-third of freshman students don’t return to the same college the next academic year.

You’ll want to know your college’s freshman “leave” rate and an admission’s staffer should have one for you while you’re on campus.

The college might report their retention rate, which is the percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who return for their sophomore year. Subtract the retention rate from 100% to determine what percentage of freshmen leave by the sophomore year. The top 100 national universities have a retention rate of 89% or more and the top 100 liberal arts colleges have a retention rate of 84% or more.

Are there good work-study opportunities on campus?

Any incoming college student will appreciate a few extra bucks every week and a part-time work-study job can fit the bill.

Consequently, asking early about work-study job opportunities can put you at the front of the line for quality part-time work at a decent per-hour salary (at least for an 18-year old college student). A tour guide or student employment office staffer should point you in the right direction.

Make sure you’ve filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) first and ask if the college can place your student in a work-study job in his or her field of study.

Are there ongoing career consulting opportunities on campus?

Yes, graduation is more than four years away (more if your child moves on to graduate school) but it’s never too early to find out the quality of a given college’s career services program.

Parents and students who want that information should focus on several metrics of the college’s job placement performance:

• The track record of a school’s professional job placement office
• The track record of the college’s job placement efforts in the student’s major/vocation
• The availability of career fairs on campus

Also consider the ability to connect with alumni through local and regional professional organizations, which can lead directly to good job opportunities for graduates.

Since the ultimate goal of any campus visit is to choose a college that will train your child for a professional career with a good job right out of school, all of the above should be on your list of career questions on campus tour day.

Does the college have a favorable bias toward early admissions candidates?

Most colleges and universities offer at least two forms of admissions acceptance: early admissions and regular admissions.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages and parents who understand how a particular college prefers to accept students for admissions has some leverage other parents don’t.

For instance, if the word from an admissions college administrator, or even from “in the know” current students, says that their college likes to lock in early admissions candidates and is less enamored of regular admissions candidates, applying early might improve the raw odds of being accepted.

But, be sure you understand the difference between early decision and early action applications. With an early decision application, the student commits to enroll if admitted early. An early decision application is binding, while an early action application is not.

Consequently, asking about the percentage of incoming freshman who were accepted as early admission or regular admission candidates can tilt the admissions odds in your favor.

That alone makes it a question worth asking.

What level of student support should we expect on campus?

Different colleges have different levels of support for students, and you’ll want to know where your son or daughter stand if they need support on a wide range of student academic and life issues.

How will my child work with an academic advisor? Who can steer my student into a good “study abroad” program?” What is my child gets sick or suffers from a stress or anxiety issue at your college? Who can we turn to and what services do you offer students for general academic and life issues at your college or university?

Those questions and more deserve an answer if you’re going to spend potentially tens of thousands of dollars annually to place your child at a specific college.

A candid discussion with an admissions representative can get you the information on student services that you need.

A final bit of advice for anxious parents of college-bound students:

Don’t ask all the questions.

Give your student the space they need to ask questions of importance to them. At the end of the campus tour, get lost, so your child can ask a few questions without you breathing over their shoulder.

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College Visits Essentials: Making the Most of Your Campus Tours

College Visits Essentials

Embarking on college visits and campus tours marks a significant milestone in the college search process. These experiences offer invaluable opportunities for prospective students to explore potential colleges firsthand, gaining insights into campus life, academics, and extracurricular opportunities. As you begin compiling your college list and narrowing down your choices, college visits can help you make informed decisions about your future.

In this article, we’ll delve into the essentials of college visits, offering practical college visit tips and a college visits checklist for maximizing your experience . We will cover everything from uncovering the questions you should ask during a college tour to understanding how to schedule and plan college visits effectively. And, we’ll look at things you may not have thought about, including having virtual college visits, conducting a self-guided tour, and navigating college campus tours safely and effectively.

We promise this article provides everything you need to know regarding the college visit process. Whether you’re just beginning your college search or fine-tuning your college list, these insights will help you navigate the complexities of the college visit process with confidence. 

Let’s get started!

Are College Visits Important?

When making one of the most significant decisions of your academic career, the role of college visits in the college search process cannot be overstated. College campus tours are a crucial part of the decision-making process, offering firsthand insights that can influence your college search.

First and foremost, college visits allow you to immerse yourself in the campus environment and explore academic facilities, dormitories, and recreational amenities. Whether you’re passionate about conducting research in state-of-the-art laboratories or participating in vibrant student organizations, visiting a college in person lets you assess whether it offers the resources and opportunities you seek.

Moreover, college visits offer the chance to interact with current students, faculty members, and admissions staff, providing invaluable perspectives on academics, extracurricular activities, and campus life. These personal connections offer unique insights you simply can’t gain from a website or brochure. 

Ultimately, the information and impressions gathered during college visits can significantly impact your college choice. By experiencing campuses firsthand, you can effectively consolidate your college list and compare your top colleges by understanding which colleges resonate with you. Before you make your final decision , you can use the information collected on the campus tours to demonstrate your interest in the college or university, increasing your chances of acceptance. 

What Should I Ask On A College Tour?

While college visits and campus tours provide invaluable firsthand experiences , it’s essential to do your homework before stepping foot on any campus. Here’s one of our “pre” college visit tips–conduct thorough research beforehand to help you make the most of your visit. By asking the right questions , you can gather the information you need to make an informed decision about your college choice.

Questions about academics

One crucial aspect of pre-tour research is identifying academic programs and resources that interest you. Take the time to explore the college’s website and familiarize yourself with the range of majors, minors, and academic opportunities available. Here are a couple of questions you may want to ask:

• Can you provide more information about the [specific major/program]?
• Are there opportunities for undergraduate research or internships in [area of interest]?

Questions about campus life

In addition to academic offerings, consider campus life and student services that you would like to know more about. Research the college’s extracurricular activities, student organizations, and campus events to understand the social and cultural opportunities available. Here are other questions you may want to ask:

• What types of student organizations are active on campus?
• Are there opportunities for community service or volunteer work?

More college visit questions

Furthermore, consider other aspects of the school that might not be immediately obvious. Research housing options for juniors, including on-campus dormitories, off-campus apartments, and housing policies for upperclassmen. Also, consider things like parking availability and policies regarding cars on campus. Consider asking questions such as:

• What are the housing options for upperclassmen, and how is housing assigned?
• Is parking available on campus for students, and are there any restrictions on bringing cars?

Conducting thorough research, and making your college visits checklist, is essential for making the most of any college visit.

How Many College Visits Should I Do?

When determining how many college visits you should do, you’ll need to strike a balance between quantity, quality, and expense. While visiting as many colleges as possible may seem ideal, college visits can get pricey. Therefore, it’s crucial to personalize your college visit plan to ensure that you make the most of your time, energy, and financial resources.

Here are some steps you can take to help prioritize your college visits and ensure you are completing the right number of college campus tours:

Four Steps to Planning College Visits

1. start with a broad college list.

Have a wide range of colleges that interest you, encompassing various types of campuses such as big versus small, urban versus rural, and public versus private institutions. Consider including HBCU college tours or schedule one or two Harvard tours. Having a broad college list lets you gain insights into the diverse campus environments and refine your preferences accordingly.

2. Prioritize your top choices

Once you’ve identified your top 3-5 colleges on your college list, prioritize visiting these campuses. Consider planning multiple trips in various capacities if you’re highly interested in a particular school. For example, you can schedule an online UCLA campus tour. Then, schedule an in-person prospective student UCLA campus tour. You can even conduct a self-guided tour versus an official UCLA campus tour to have more flexibility in where you’ll get to go on campus. 

3. Balance depth with practicality

While visiting as many colleges as possible can be beneficial, consider the practicalities of your college visits checklist. Virtual college tours and information sessions can be valuable alternatives for colleges that are harder to visit in person. For instance, Harvard tours can be in-person or virtual. Therefore, if Harvard is on your list, plan your Harvard tours accordingly based on your availability and resources.

4. Consider special programs

If you’re invited to special programs for admitted students or specific academic departments, prioritize these college visits. Special programs through HBCU college tours or college visits for juniors often offer opportunities to interact with faculty, current students, and other admitted students, giving you a firsthand glimpse into life on campus.

Next, let’s discuss how to plan and schedule a college visit.

How To Schedule College Visits

Planning your college visits involves careful coordination and scheduling to ensure you make the most of your time on campus. From considering academic calendars to contacting college admissions offices, here are some college visit tips regarding scheduling your campus tours effectively.

Here are two of the most important things to keep in mind when working on the logistics of your campus visits. 

How to Work on Logistics of Campus Visits

Consider Academic Calendars

Plan your college visits around academic calendars. Before scheduling your college visits, consider the academic calendars of the colleges you plan to visit. Check their websites to determine the dates of important events, such as orientation sessions, midterm exams, and holidays. This is important whether you are planning college visits for juniors, HBCU college tours, or any other kind of college visit.

Contact Admissions Offices

Contact college admissions for tour scheduling. Once you’ve identified potential college visit dates, it’s time to contact the admissions offices or go to the admissions website to schedule your campus tours. Most colleges offer guided campus tours led by student ambassadors or admissions staff. Additionally, many schools host information sessions that provide an overview of the college’s programs, resources, and admissions process.

Scheduling college visits: step-by-step

Let’s take a look at a hypothetical example to better understand the steps it takes to schedule a campus tour. Imagine you’re a high school student living in Chicago. You have already completed a University of Chicago tour, and now, you’re interested in scheduling a tour of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. As an in-state college, accessing the University of Chicago tour may have been simple. But let’s look at how you can navigate the scheduling process of an out-of-state college tour:

Navigating an Out-of-State College Tour

• Research USC’s academic calendar to identify optimal visit dates that align with your availability.
• Visit USC’s admissions website to find information about campus tours and information sessions. Determine whether USC offers guided tours, self-guided tours, or virtual college visits for prospective students unable to visit in person.
• Use the USC campus tours website to schedule your campus tour. In addition to scheduling an admissions tour and presentation, consider scheduling an academic department presentation.
• Upon confirmation of your campus tour reservation from USC’s admissions office, make travel arrangements from Chicago to Los Angeles. This includes booking flights, accommodations, and transportation to and from the USC campus.
• Plan your itinerary for your visit to USC. Consider attending guided campus tours, participating in information sessions, exploring campus facilities, and engaging with current students and faculty members.
• During your visit, bring your college visits checklist. Take notes, ask questions, and gather information to help you decide whether USC is the right fit for you.

Since the cost of college visits is a big factor to take into consideration during the planning process, let’s discuss it further.

Are College Visits Free?

As you begin to make your college visit list, you’ll need to understand the costs associated with college visits. While some campus tours may be free, others require careful budgeting and planning to manage expenses. 

College visits can incur various expenses, including transportation, accommodation, meals, and miscellaneous fees. While some colleges offer free guided campus tours and information sessions, others may charge a nominal fee for certain services or events.

Tips for managing the cost of college visits

To manage the costs associated with college tours effectively, consider the following college visit tips for budgeting and finding free visit opportunities:

Start planning your campus tours well in advance to take advantage of early booking discounts and special promotions. Research travel options, accommodations, and local amenities to identify cost-saving opportunities and plan your itinerary accordingly.

Utilize virtual college tours

Besides visiting colleges in person, explore virtual college tours offered by colleges and universities. Many institutions, such as Boston College and Harvard University , provide virtual college visits and information sessions that allow you to explore campus facilities, interact with admissions staff, and learn about academic programs from the comfort of your home at no cost.

Explore fly-in programs

Several colleges and universities offer fly-in programs. These programs typically cover travel expenses, accommodations, meals, and participation in campus activities, allowing students to experience campus life firsthand without incurring any costs.

Speaking of fly-in programs, let’s learn a little more about them.

Fly-in programs

Here are three great fly-in programs/opportunities for low-income students.  

1. QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program

College visits for juniors are incredibly important. QuestBridge offers a College Prep Scholars Program for high-achieving, low-income high school juniors which, you guessed it, sponsors college visits for juniors. This program provides participants access to college admissions resources, mentorship opportunities, and fly-in college visits for juniors to top colleges and universities across the United States. Beyond giving fly-in college visits for juniors, QuestBridge takes it a step further and will help fund your attendance to top summer programs at some of the most prestigious colleges in the country.

2. Tulane University, PreviewTU Program

PreviewTU is a campus visit program at Tulane University that typically occurs in the fall. While open to all, students who identify as first-generation college attendees, LGBTQIA+, are from low-income backgrounds or rural/small-town residents, and/or students of color are particularly encouraged to attend. The program is offered both virtually and in person. PTU activities include campus tours, student panels, admissions and financial aid sessions, lunch with Diversity Fellows, and opportunities to connect with professors and support partners. Financially disadvantaged students may qualify for partial travel reimbursement stipends of up to $500 for themselves and one guest. 

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Weekend Immersion in Science and Engineering (WISE)

MIT’s Weekend Immersion in Science and Engineering (WISE) is a three-day program for rising seniors to explore MIT life. It’s fully funded, covering transportation to and from MIT. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including Black, Latinx, and Native American students, those from lower socioeconomic statuses, and first-generation students, are strongly encouraged to apply. WISE typically occurs in September. Participants reside on campus with MIT undergraduates, engaging in academic and campus life activities. They meet peers and faculty and attend college admissions and financial aid workshops. Applications are due in August, and the program generally takes place in October.

At this point, we’ve covered college visit tips for preparing for your visit. Now, let’s discuss what to do when you’ve finally made it to campus!

Things To Do On A College Visit

As shared earlier, college visits offer students a chance to get a feel for the college campus and community. Therefore, while on a college visit, it’s important to take advantage of all the things to do on campus and within the surrounding community or area. Here are 3 things to do on your college tours and college visits:

3 Things To Do on College Visits

1. attend information sessions and campus tours.

This may seem obvious but don’t bail on the planned tours and sessions. They’ll give you valuable information about the school and campus. These parts of the college visit are just as important as exploring on your own. Don’t forget to bring your list of questions and ask about anything that isn’t answered! 

2. Inquire about attending classes or talking to current students

Besides attending information sessions and campus tours, ask about the possibility of attending classes or speaking with current students during your visit. Observing a class in your area of interest can provide valuable insights into the college’s academic rigor and teaching style. Similarly, chatting with current students can offer firsthand perspectives on the overall student experience. 

3. Explore the campus

Don’t be shy when you’re visiting a college’s campus. Wander around and imagine yourself living or studying there. Check out all the different areas of campus. Basically, get a feel for the vibe of the school–trust your intuition and see if it feels like a fit.

Don’t forget to consider the area outside of campus. Evaluating the surrounding community of a college campus can provide valuable insights into the overall quality of life and opportunities available to students during their college experience. Think about the amenities and resources that are important to you. Consider adding these questions to your college visits checklist. Are there nearby music venues, art galleries, or cultural attractions that align with your interests? What transportation options are available, including airports or public transit systems? No detail is too small to ask about on your visit to campus.

When Should You Start Visiting Colleges?

Navigating the college search process is undoubtedly complex. Next, we will cover some tips on when to set up your first college visit. There isn’t a hard and fast rule to this question, but there are certainly some best practices when it comes to planning college visits.

It is never too early to begin visiting colleges. College admissions offices receive tour requests from students as young as 6 th grade. If you plan to visit a college any time before your 9th-grade year, it is important to remember that you may need to tour the college again before applying and certainly before enrolling.

Going on a college visit as a younger student can begin planting the seeds for what college is like. But very rarely will a college visit before high school provide you with meaningful admissions information that you will be able to retain and act on when it is time to submit your application.

College visits for juniors and seniors 

As you get closer to your junior and senior year of high school, college visits become more than just an opportunity to understand college more broadly. College visits for juniors and seniors can help students discover their preferences. At this stage of the college search process, students can begin to discern the type of college campus they might see themselves ultimately enrolling at.

Whether you are on a UCLA campus tour in California, a University of Chicago tour in Illinois, or a Harvard tour in Massachusetts , you can begin to explore your regional preferences. Additionally, experiences on HBCU college tours can give you some insight into distinct institutional types. Note how you felt about your HBCU college tours at institutions like Spelman College or Howard University compared to other universities. College visits do more than show you what colleges you might like, they also expose you to colleges that might not be a good fit.

Managing the logistics of college visits

Campus visits are often hard to arrange because of the time and resources they require. If you are planning to go on multiple college campus tours, you may find a strain on time and resources. A student who lives in Florida may find that attending a UCLA campus tour is much harder to plan than attending a campus tour at the University of Florida. Because of this, many families begin planning their campus visits far in advance. There are also opportunities to visit campus at the last minute. However, these trips typically align with other travel or are at campuses close to the student’s home.

In addition to prospective student visits, you may have the opportunity to visit campus as an admitted student. Admitted student college visits often include a more immersive experience than a college campus tour for a prospective student. Even if you have already visited campus, admitted student visits will often equip you with all the information necessary to make your final college decision .

College Visits During Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in additional access to college admissions information. During the pandemic, colleges and universities added an increased number of virtual college tours, online information sessions, and other virtual opportunities to learn more about colleges in the absence of in-person college campus tours. Virtual college tours allow students to access information at any time and refer to these virtual college tours when questions arise.

The pandemic also resulted in additional safety measures for college campus tours.  At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, college campus tours were completely halted. As campus tours resumed, colleges adopted mask mandates, reduced tour capacity, and made changes to tour stops. The largest safety measure during the coronavirus pandemic was COVID-19 testing prior to attending college campus tours.

While many of these safety precautions are a thing of the past, it is important to understand the heightened awareness around health that is still present on college campuses. Before you visit a college campus, it can be helpful to review their policies to confirm that there are no additional requirements for their campus tours. And, don’t be afraid to take personal precautions to take care of yourself, like wearing a mask on your visits.

What Colleges Are Open For Tours?

Thousands of colleges and universities across the country offer college tours . Most colleges offer campus tours throughout the academic year and in the summer. To learn more about the campus tour availability on a specific campus, you should visit the admissions or welcome center website. Some colleges also provide the opportunity for a self-guided tour which allows families to visit campus outside of the scheduled tour times.

Virtual college visits 

If you are unable to arrange an in-person college visit, don’t fret. There are several ways to experience a college without stepping foot on campus. Virtual college tours and virtual college visits allow students to experience a campus from the comfort of their homes. For example, if you are unable to attend the UCLA campus tour or the University of Chicago tour, you can sign up for one of their virtual college visits or virtual college tours.

In addition to virtual college tours and virtual college visits, social media has also offered opportunities for prospective students to explore a college campus from their cell phones. Following institutions on your college list on Instagram or TikTok can often provide a current student’s vantage point of their campus. Social media is one of the best ways to get to know a college virtually!

What Happens During A College Visit?

College visits come in all shapes and sizes. Most college visits include some type of campus tour. Campus tours can be led by a student ambassador or experienced as a self-guided tour. The first stop on college campus tours is typically the Office of Admissions or the Welcome Center. This introduction to campus usually provides basic information on the college and orients the guests with the rest of the tour.

Academics 

College campus tours introduce students to the academic buildings, student life opportunities, and residence life offered on the campus. Academic buildings on campus tours can include the school library, tutoring center, or architecture building. Understanding where your major classes are located can give you insight into the classroom and lab spaces available to students in your major.

College campus tours can also be enhanced by exploring additional personalized experiences. Some colleges will offer a general admissions information session as part of the campus tour. Other institutions might offer academic information sessions for students interested in majors like engineering, computer science, or business.

Student/residence life 

Student life opportunities can be found throughout the campus tour and are an important deciding factor in the college search process. College visits highlight the student organizations available for you to join. You may also find your tour guide pointing out popular hangout spots around campus. Student guides on Harvard tours might point out the Stone Hall Basement or Squash courts in the athletic complex. Student life opportunities also include campus events and traditions. Student guides on HBCU tours might talk about their epic homecoming celebrations.

Residence life also tops the list of the most popular campus tour stops. Residence life information includes touring a dorm and seeing the cafeteria. Facilities such as the campus gym and study spaces might also be included in the residence life portion of the tour.

What To Wear To A College Visit?

When you schedule your first college visit, it is unlikely that your email confirmation will include a dress code. The type of clothing you choose to wear may vary based on the type of college visit you are going on. As a rule of thumb, you should wear clothing that you feel confident in–and that you’d feel comfortable meeting admissions officers in. Considering the weather and walking requirements will also provide insight on what to wear. 

Beyond what to wear, let’s discuss what additional items should be included on your college visits checklist.

What To Bring On A College Visit?

College visits can often be long days in cities you are unfamiliar with. So, it is critical to think about the items you might need during the day. Check out this college visits checklist:

College Visits Checklist

• Notepad and pen
• Umbrella or poncho for inclement weather
• Phone to take pictures and videos
• Money to visit the school bookstore

All the items on the college visits checklist may not be necessary for every college visit. You should use your best judgment to discover if these items would be useful for the campus you are visiting.

College campus tours can be impacted by several variables. Campus visits are subject to weather, campus emergencies, holidays, and many other contingencies. Your college visits checklist may shift depending on any of the events above. Check out this resource as you are compiling your checklist.  

5 Tips for Maximizing Your College Visits

Throughout this guide, we’ve discussed the importance of college visits, when to begin planning college visits, and what to include on your college visits checklist. Before we wrap up, let’s discuss five college visit tips for maximizing your time.

5 Tips for College Visits

1. do your research.

Studying a college ahead of time allows you to better understand its programs, campus culture, and the opportunities it offers. Identify specific areas of interest, such as academic departments, extracurricular activities, or campus facilities you want to explore. Having a basic knowledge of the campus and how it aligns with your interests will allow you to focus on the more nuanced questions and observations once you arrive for your campus tour. 

2. Engage with the Campus Community

Talking to campus community members apart from your tour guide is one of the best ways to have an authentic experience during college visits. Campus community members include current students, faculty, and staff. Conversations with people who are on campus every day will give you firsthand insights into the college experience there. And, you don’t have to worry about whether someone is just telling you something because it is their job to do so (tour guides are great, but they are extensively trained to share specific information). Ask questions about academic programs, student life, support services, and anything else that will help you gauge if the campus is the right fit for you.

3. Attend Information Sessions and Campus Tours

Some students might think that arranging an unofficial tour will be more beneficial and honest. While you may receive some inside information that an official tour won’t provide, you will also miss out on some critical information. Always register for the official campus tours and information sessions to gain structured insights about the college. These sessions often provide valuable information not available on the website or in brochures. Meeting a current student or family friend for lunch or taking a self-guided tour after an official information session can give you the additional freedom you are seeking out on your college visits. 

4. Explore Beyond the Tour

After your official tour, it is highly recommended to explore campus on your college visits. Spend time wandering around the campus to get a feel for the environment and the student body. It is of growing importance to students that they like the town or city that their college is in. Visit the surrounding area of the campus to see what amenities and off-campus activities are available to students. If you are unfamiliar with the city, you might benefit from visiting some tourist attractions like museums, parks, or special events. Another great way to explore the environment around campus is going out for a simple lunch or dinner to get a better feel for the culture beyond the college campus. 

5. Document Your Visit

After going on several college visits, they may begin to all run together. Be sure to take notes and photos during your visit to help you remember what you liked and disliked about each campus. This is especially important for college visits for juniors and sophomores, as these students may have more time between their college visits and submitting the admissions application. Once your tour is over, reflect on each of your visits to compare the different colleges. You will need this perspective once you begin receiving admissions offers and are facing a finite time to make such an important life decision. After all, one or two details may be the difference between a college making your college list.

College Visits – Takeaways

College visits are an essential part of the college search process and creating a college list. Thankfully, planning an informative college visit is not as complicated as you might think. 

Successful college campus tours begin with doing your research early. This research might include location, academic offerings, and student life opportunities. Whether you are attending HBCU college tours, Harvard tours, or Boston College tours, feel free to look back at our college visit tips.  

During your college visits, do not forget to register for an official tour , engage with the campus community, and explore the environment beyond the campus tour.  Your college campus tours will be beneficial far after the visit has ended. Read through your notes and look through pictures of the campus when it’s time to fill out your college applications. We hope by the end of this guide, you feel prepared to plan and go on your college visits. For more resources, check out this college visit webinar on making the most of your visit and how college visits show demonstrated interest . And, after all those college visit tips, here’s one more for the road–have fun!

This article was written by senior advisor, Ashley Hollins and Chelsea Holley. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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College Search Step-by-Step

Find the right college for you., find colleges that are right for you..

Although there's no magic formula for choosing a college, you can start by asking yourself some questions that help most students find the right fit.

Use this guide to:

• Learn about some key college search categories.
• Answer questions to discover what's important to you.
• Get advice from college students and educators.

It's your journey. We're just here to help. Don't forget to make use of our College Search and Career Quiz to get off to a good start.

Types of Colleges

Begin by considering these questions:

• Do I want to go to a 2-year or 4-year college? At a 2-year college, students earn an associate degree and/or a certification. At a 4-year college, students earn a bachelor's degree. Many students begin at a 2-year college on the way to a bachelor's degree at a 4-year college.
• Am I limiting my choices by focusing on whether a college is public or private? Many students exclude private colleges because they think they're more expensive, but that's not always the case. Financial aid can sometimes make private colleges as affordable as public colleges. And private colleges aren’t always more selective.

Many students begin their college search by setting a limit on how far away from home they want to be. This might be an easy way to narrow the many options out there, but it doesn't mean you'll find the best colleges for you. Keep your mind open. Ask yourself questions like these:

• How close to home do I want to be? Close enough for meals and laundry, to visit on weekends, or to only come home on breaks?
• Do I want to stick to an environment I'm used to or try something new?
• If I look just a little farther─ a few more miles or another half hour away─ what are other opportunities open to me ?
• Am I staying close because I think it will be less expensive? Could some out-of-state schools be more affordable?
• Am I more comfortable in a rural, urban , or suburban setting?
• Do I prefer a warm or cold climate? What if I want to enjoy all the seasons?

Campus Life

Many students say that campus size and feel were a big part of their college choice. Whether or not you already have a mental image of what college life should be like, visiting a college and talking to students is a perfect way to get to know a campus. But first, think about what matters to you:

• Do I see myself at a college with lots of students or in a smaller community?
• Do I want to be at a college where students stay on campus most of the time? Do I want to live in a resident hall?
• Do I want to be around people with different interests or to be mostly with people with interests similar to mine ?
• Do I want to be at a school where sports are a significant part of student life? Do I want a school known for its activism? Or its academic ranking?

For many families, cost is a big concern─ understandably. But it doesn't have to be such a big hurdle. College is usually more affordable than you think. Here are a few things to consider:

• Do I have the facts about what colleges will cost? Students don't usually pay the published price because of financial aid. You shouldn't rule out colleges early in your search just based on their cost.
• Will I qualify for financial aid? You should apply for aid, whether or not you think you’ll qualify. Many students get financial help from the government or the college itself.
• Am I eligible for scholarships? Certain characteristics or accomplishments might qualify you for private or college scholarships that award money you won't have to pay back.
• Will I need a loan? Student loans can help build credit, but they can also be a burden to some people. Consider the types of jobs available upon graduation with your degree or certification.

A college major is the subject area you'll be concentrating on most. Many students think they have to know what their major will be before they start college. In fact, you have plenty of time to decide on a major, and a lot of students change their major more than once. Here are some questions that can help you think about majors that may interest you:

• What are my favorite school subjects? What do I like doing when I'm not in class?
• Do I want to take classes in many different subjects or devote most of my time to one subject?
• What do I want to do after college? Which majors can make that happen?

Learning Environment

As you know, college is about learning. It makes sense to imagine your ideal learning environment. Don't limit yourself to a college's reputation, rank, or selectivity. What's more important is how well a college's academic style suits you . Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I learn best when I'm academically comfortable or academically challenged?
• Do I prefer to be part of small group discussions or to listen to lectures? How much interaction do I want with my professors?
• What sort of balance am I looking for between studying and having a social life?
• Do I want to choose most of my classes myself, or do I prefer more structure?

How do you effectively search for colleges?

There are many ways to choose the right schools for you, but the College Board’s career quiz can make the process easier. All you have to do is enter some information and find the colleges that align with your aspirations .

What’s the College Board Student Search Service?

Student Search Service ™ is a program offered by the College Board, a nonprofit organization that administers standardized tests like the SAT. This free service helps to connect students with educational and scholarship opportunities that match their interests and preferences. Students who are contacted by colleges through Student Search receive, on average, 29% more offers of college admission .

How can I find college scholarships?

Scholarship Search is a tool that allows you to create a profile with standard information requested by many college scholarship applications. This profile is used to match you with scholarships that you're eligible for based on their requirements. You'll be able to reuse the information for other applications without having to retype your personal information for each subsequent application.

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to underrepresented students. The four national recognition programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program. Students who take eligible administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams will be considered for awards. Students must also identify as Black, African American, Latino, Hispanic, Indigenous, or attend high school in a rural area or small town. This isn’t a scholarship program. However, students can include this academic honor in their college and scholarship applications.

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