college tour vragen

Choose Your Test

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 it's too personal 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.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Recently viewed courses

Recently viewed.

Find Your Dream School

This site uses various technologies, as described in our Privacy Policy, for personalization, measuring website use/performance, and targeted advertising, which may include storing and sharing information about your site visit with third parties. By continuing to use this website you consent to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

   COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. For full details, please click here.

Enter your email to unlock an extra $25 off an SAT or ACT program!

By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 60 questions to ask on your college tour.

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 ?

Free SAT Practice Tests & Events

Evaluate and improve your SAT score.

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.

Looking for strategic college advice?

Get one-on-one help from former Ivy League and top tier admission officers. Our College Admission Counselors will help you find, apply, and get accepted to your dream school.

Explore Colleges For You

Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.

Career Quiz

Take our short quiz to learn which is the right career for you.

Get Started on Athletic Scholarships & Recruiting!

Join athletes who were discovered, recruited & often received scholarships after connecting with NCSA's 42,000 strong network of coaches.

Best 389 Colleges

165,000 students rate everything from their professors to their campus social scene.

SAT Prep Courses

1400+ course, act prep courses, free sat practice test & events,  1-800-2review, free digital sat prep try our self-paced plus program - for free, get a 14 day trial.

Free MCAT Practice Test

Thank you! Look for the MCAT Review Guide in your inbox.

I already know my score.

Enrollment Advisor

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 1

1-877-LEARN-30

Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM ET

Sat-Sun 9AM-8PM ET

Student Support

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 2

Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM ET

Sat-Sun 8:30AM-5PM ET

Partnerships

• Teach or Tutor for Us

College Readiness

International

Advertising

Affiliate/Other

• Enrollment Terms & Conditions
• Accessibility
• Cigna Medical Transparency in Coverage

Register Book

Local Offices: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM

• SAT Subject Tests

Academic Subjects

• Social Studies

Find the Right College

• College Rankings
• College Advice
• Applying to College
• Financial Aid

School & District Partnerships

• Professional Development
• Advice Articles
• Private Tutoring
• Mobile Apps
• Local Offices
• International Offices
• Work for Us
• Affiliate Program
• Partner with Us
• Advertise with Us
• International Partnerships
• Our Guarantees
• Accessibility – Canada

Privacy Policy | CA Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | Your Opt-Out Rights | Terms of Use | Site Map

©2024 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University

TPR Education, LLC (doing business as “The Princeton Review”) is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China.

FREE TRAINING: How I Secured 6-Figures in Scholarships & Graduated Debt-Free

The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

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 .

• Pinterest 234

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.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Subscribe via email

Popular posts, how to write winning scholarship essays, how to write an amazing scholarship resume, 75 easy ways to save money in college.

• Programma's
• Onze thema's
• Presentatoren
• Acties & evenementen

Meest gezocht

• De online puzzel

De slimste mens

• Een huis vol
• Nieuwsbrief

College Tour

In College Tour interviewen studenten onder leiding van presentator  Twan Huys bijzondere gasten die naam hebben gemaakt in hun vakgebied. Wil je bij een van de colleges aanwezig zijn? Blijf ons volgen en wie weet zit jij in het publiek bij het nieuwe seizoen! 

College Tour Verkiezingsdebat: zondag 22 oktober om 20.15 uur op NPO 3

Recente media van College Tour

Het College Tour Verkiezingsdebat: van de Hamas-Israël oorlog tot aan de huizencrisis

Politici nemen het tegen elkaar op in het eerste College Tour verkiezingsdebat

Dilan Yesilgöz in College Tour: 'Ik heb me twee jaar lang onveilig gevoeld'

Esther Ouwehand in College Tour: 'Ik brand op'

Bunq bank oprichter Ali Niknam in College Tour: 'Ik vind mezelf geen strenge baas'

Duik in het archief.

Van Whoopi Goldberg en Bill Gates tot Johan Cruijff en Anouk: kijk hier alle eerdere afleveringen van College Tour terug!

Bekijk ook eens

Jacobine op 2

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.

Getty Images

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?

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

14 Tips for an Effective College Visit

Tags: colleges , students , college search , college admissions , education

2024 Best Colleges

Search for your perfect fit with the U.S. News rankings of colleges and universities.

College Admissions: Get a Step Ahead!

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S. News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

You May Also Like

Supporting low-income college applicants.

Shavar Jeffries April 16, 2024

Supporting Black Women in Higher Ed

Zainab Okolo April 15, 2024

Law Schools With the Highest LSATs

Ilana Kowarski and Cole Claybourn April 11, 2024

Today NAIA, Tomorrow Title IX?

Lauren Camera April 9, 2024

Grad School Housing Options

Anayat Durrani April 9, 2024

How to Decide if an MBA Is Worth it

Sarah Wood March 27, 2024

What to Wear to a Graduation

LaMont Jones, Jr. March 27, 2024

FAFSA Delays Alarm Families, Colleges

Sarah Wood March 25, 2024

Help Your Teen With the College Decision

Anayat Durrani March 25, 2024

Toward Semiconductor Gender Equity

Alexis McKittrick March 22, 2024

In The Fold Studio

BY CAROLINE LEIGH FRIEDL

COLLEGE , college tips · April 29, 2022

45 In Depth Questions To Ask On College Visits You Need To Get The Full Picture

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here .

In this post, we’re covering the most essentials questions to ask on college visits to help you find a university where you’ll thrive.

College campus visits are a beast. After traveling a few hours by car or flying halfway across the country, it can be ridiculously overwhelming being herded at light speed across a campus through dorms, dining halls, and presentations.

Well, walking through a university isn’t the overwhelming part. The overwhelming part is that massive question in the back of your mind…is this where I’m going to spend the next four years of my life?

Doubtless you’ve heard the stories of people who walk on a campus and it “just clicks” or others who toured twenty colleges and still didn’t know what the right choice is. You want to see all the right places and ask all the right questions to figure it out for yourself.

As a third year college student at UW-Madison, I’m going to help you navigate this clusterf*ck by telling you all the who, what, when, where, and why questions you need to be asking on your tour. I tagged along with my sister for her tours, and I toured universities in the Midwest and East Coast from Big 10 schools to art schools like Parsons so I’m decently well seasoned in what questions to ask during college visits.

Basically, I’m giving you a list of everything you should be asking yourself during the process — it’s the random little things that really count. For example, who knew having a cheap grocery store that’s close to campus would be so important?! Definitely not freshman year me lol.

45 Essentials Questions To Ask On College Visits

Student life questions:, ♡ what is the school spirit like, ♡ what social activities or sports are available to students is there a student fair where i can see what’s offered, ♡ is there greek life on campus what percentage of students participate and how much presence does it have, ♡ what is the university’s health services like what do they offer and how easy is it to get an appointment, ♡ what does the school spirit look like for the university’s sports what is the university’s most popular sport, ♡ what is the best way for students to buy tickets to the university’s sports events, ♡ what does the typical day in the life of a student look like, ♡ what does student life look like on the weekends do a lot of students go home, ♡ does the university offer internships or career services for life off campus, ♡ what is the food scene in the city like what are the student hotspots, ♡what is the student workout facility like do they offer classes for students, ♡ is it necessary to have a car on campus, {related post: 13 college tips that no one else will tell you }, dorm life questions:, ♡ what are the dorms like which ones are the most social versus the more study oriented dorms, ♡ which dorm halls have the best rooms and what are the best locations on campus, ♡ how good is the dining hall food how many are on campus and what is the meal plan like, ♡ can i request a roommate is it a random process, ♡ how long is student housing offered when will i be required to move “off campus”, ♡ when do people starting signing housing leases for the next year, ♡ are there any policies for overnight guests, ♡ are the dorms co-ed or are the floors gender specific, ♡ where are the closest / most affordable grocery stores on campus, ♡ what’s the best way to find housing if i’m looking to sublease or to find roommates is there a facebook group i can join.

QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMICS:

♡ does the university offer the major / minor i’m interested in does the university have a well known department for that subject, ♡ how easy is it to switch majors, ♡ what will the average class size be for my major will i prefer big or smaller lectures, ♡ what is the student / professor relationship like do they encourage office hours, ♡ how many ap or ib credits from high school will be accepted at this university, ♡ what student services are offered to help with academics is there a tutoring or writing center, ♡ will they assign me a student advisor how often will i have to meet with them, ♡ what study abroad opportunities are offered is it popular at this university what year do students normally go, ♡ how difficult is it to enrol in classes as a freshman, ♡ how many hours a day on average are spent doing homework for my prospective major, {related post: 16 life-saving tips to ace college finals week }, questions about campus:, ♡ how safe do students feel on campus what are the safety measures the university provides, ♡ what is the public transportation like on campus how much does it cost and do students get a discount, ♡ is there a main spot that people hang out on campus, ♡ what are the libraries like which are the popular ones or are there any designated quiet ones, ♡ is there campus wide wifi how well does it actually work, questions to ask your tour guide:, ♡ how has your perspective of the university changed from going on tour to being a student what is the expectation versus reality what surprised you, ♡ what did you think about freshman orientation how long is it, ♡ how easy is it to meet people and what is the best way to do so on a new campus, ♡ what is something the admissions value the most on an application from a student perspective, ☆ bonus question for the bold: what are the best student bars on campus which ones are most likely to let you in with a fake id (psa i’m not condoning underage drinking, but this is definitely helpful information to have…), {related post: 30+ cute & creative college school supplies you'll obsess over }, personal questions:, ♡ how far away is the university from my home how long does the travel time take and how much will it cost to go back for breaks, ♡ do i need scholarships or financial aid to attend this university would i need to take out loans, ♡ if the tuition is above my budget, what about this university is worth my investment, ♡ what is the campus size do i think i would thrive in a larger or smaller campus.

This post covered the absolute best questions to ask on college visits during your search.

Did you find a question in this roundup you hadn’t considered? Let us know what topic you want more of in the comments!

Share this:

Join the community, you’ll also love.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

20 Absolute Coolest Festival Outfit Ideas To Wear In 2022

Trending now.

• PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2024 In The Fold Studio · Theme by 17th Avenue

Cookie Notice

Privacy overview.

What are good questions to ask on a college tour?

The best college tour questions tend to be about campus life. A few examples of good questions include: What is the typical class size? Do all first-year students live on campus? What are some examples of extracurricular activities? Do all students have access to an academic adviser? Where do students go to relax outside of class?

Also Found On

Most popular articles

+91 Summer Bucket List Activities To Check Off

25+ Transformative And Fun Things To Do Alone Outside

+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!

Similar Posts

How To Deal With A Bad Roommate Situation In College

7 Genius Tips for the First Day of School (aka Syllabus Day)

7 Biggest Mistakes College Students Make (College Mistakes To Avoid)

App Review: Is Forest The Best Productivity App?

How To Sync Canvas Calendar to Google Calendar

+7 Websites To Get Free Textbooks Online (Cheap and Free Options)

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

• Lake Park High School Scholarship
• The College Careers Consulting Homeschool Scholarship
• Free Consultation
• 708 268 5230
• [email protected]

85 Essential Questions to Ask On Every College Visit

• March 9, 2022

College tours are a perfect opportunity to observe firsthand what the campus is all about. It is also a time to get answers to questions you otherwise cannot get via the college’s website and other social media channels.

Some of the questions will automatically be answered during the tour. Be patient and thoughtful of others while on a group tour. The best way to get your questions answered is to align your questions when touring various areas of the campus. For example, while touring the dining hall, asking questions about food or if the tour guide talks about campus life, asking free-time-related questions is appropriate.

To get you started, here is a list of potential questions you can hope to get answered while on tour.

What is your acceptance rate?

What are you looking for in your students?

Does demonstrated interest play a role in admissions?

Are you test-optional or blind? Are there exceptions to your test policy?

Do interviews play a role in the process?

Financial Aid

What percentage of students receive financial aid?

What is your average financial aid packet?

How do you structure your financial aid awards?

Are institutional scholarships available?

How do I qualify for your merit scholarship?

How does outside merit or other scholarships impact the financial aid package?

When does the financial aid package get awarded? At acceptance or later?

What happens to my financial aid packet if it takes more than four years to graduate?

What are the work-study options on campus?

How much should I expect the tuition rate to change every year?

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?

What is the average class size for introductory as well as upper-division classes?

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

Which majors are popular at your college?

Do you have an honors college?

Is the school on a semester, trimester, or quarter system?

When do you have to declare a major?

Do they offer double majors?

What difficult is it to change majors?

What’s a typical day like?

How are the professors?

Are the professors good teachers?

What is the professor-student ratio in my intended major?

Are professors readily available outside of the classroom?

Are tutoring services available? Is it free?

Who teaches most of the classes? The professors or teaching assistants?

Are the classes hands-on, lecture, or discussion-based?

Does the college have a study abroad program?

How difficult is it to get into the classes of your choice? Which students get priority?

Do seniors complete a capstone project?

How accessible is your academic advisor?

Are available for students with disabilities and accommodations?

What is your four-year graduation rate?

What is the main reason why students do not graduate on time?

Is career counseling available?

Do you provide career-networking opportunities with local businesses?

Do you provide internships?

What is your job placement rate?

Are there computer labs and IT support?

What is your retention rate?

If students drop out, what is the main reason?

What do you think is the biggest complaint about the college?

Are drugs and alcohol prevalent on campus?

Is there diversity on campus?

Do students from different races mingle easily?

Are there active fraternities and sororities on campus?

What intercollegiate and intramural teams are represented on campus?

What kinds of clubs are represented on campus?

How are the libraries, gym, and other facilities like?

What kind of medical services are on campus?

Are mental health services provided?

What transportation is available?

How active is the alumni network?

Can you stay in the dorm for more than freshman year?

Can you have a single room or must you share? And if you’re sharing, with how many others?

Are the bathrooms private or shared?

Are the dorms separated by year, majors, shared interest or?

Who helps with a roommate and suitemate conflict resolution?

How safe is the campus?

Do you feel safe walking across the campus alone at night?

Where are the campus police located?

Are there safety programs on campus, such as escorts and emergency phone boxes?

How can I gain access to the latest incident reports?

How’s the food in the dining facilities?

Are there other dining options available?

Do they accommodate food allergies?

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

What do you do on the weekends?

Do students have access to local churches? Is there transportation to and from church?

What is the social scene like?

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

Personal Survey

Once the tour is over, ask yourself these questions. Use your answers to compare colleges and narrow down your choices.

Did the campus feel like a home away from home?

Can you see yourself making friends easily?

List 3 things you liked about the college.

List 3 concerns about the college.

Were you comfortable with the diversity ratio of the student body?

Did you meet with an advisor?

Did you attend a class? Is the average class size large, medium, small?

How was the dining — good food, variety?

Did you like the dorms and the way they are set up?

What would you add to this list?

If you need help navigating the college career process, call on us . We can help save you time, money, and confusion by taking the guesswork out of this time in your life. 

20 College Tour Tips

Which family and student assets affect financial aid: a financial expert’s advice, related posts.

Navigating the FAFSA Maze: What’s Changing in 2024-25?

• November 13, 2023

The Enigmatic College Financial Conversation: Navigating the Maze of Timing and Practicality

• August 19, 2023

College Essay Don’ts: 20 Things to Avoid to Stand Out

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

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.

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

• {{children.title}} {{currentYear}} {{children.title}}

{{parent.cta_data.text}}

• Manage Account
• GET STARTED

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.

Related Articles

The 15 lowest-cost 529 savings plans

Can You Use Student Loans to Pay for Rent?

Can I Buy a House and Pay My Mortgage with 529 Plan Money?

6 Best Banks for College Students

SPONSOR CENTER

A good place to start:

See the best 529 plans, personalized for you

Unlock Printing

Already have an account? Log in

202 Powerful Questions to Ask on a College Tour

by Melissa Brock | Jul 27, 2020 | Ask the admission office | 0 comments

• Pinterest 106

I loved it when families came for college tours. They were excited, happy and sometimes even nervous. However, some families weren’t sure what questions to ask because everything (everything!) was new to them. 

I compiled a list of must-ask questions to ask on a college tour for admission counselors, financial aid professionals, professors, coaches and more. You may think of others that pertain directly to your child’s situation, but this should give you a great start!

By the way, check out this post if you’re curious about learning how to set up a college visit .

Student Tour Guide Questions

Admission counselor questions, admission requirements and process, future visit details, academic details, demographics, social life and other activities, financial aid professional questions, faculty member questions, coach questions, get your questions answered.

The student tour guide offers the most candid look at what a college is like. Spend as much time as you can with your child and the tour guide and make sure your child asks questions, even if the tour guide probably isn’t going to be your child’s best friend. Yes, the student is groomed to give canned responses to some questions but talking to the tour guide is the best way to get a feel for a college.

• What’s your favorite thing about this college?
• What’s your least favorite thing about the college you attend?
• Where might my child spend a lot of time if he/she is a student here?
• Why did you choose this college?
• What are the students like?
• Which residence hall is your favorite? Where did you live your first year?
• Where do you live now? Why did you choose to live there?
• What is the food like?
• What is your major?
• Is this a suitcase college? (Do people go home a lot on the weekends?)
• What activities does the college have available for students?
• Is it easy to get an internship here? Have you had an internship?
• How available are professors? 
• How does the college handle communication?
• Have you found it difficult to handle the costs of college?
• What are your plans for after graduation? Do you plan to go to graduate school? Get a job?
• Is it easy to get a work-study job on campus? Why or why not?
• Where do first-year students typically get assigned for work-study? Can they request a work-study job?
• How have online classes gone due to COVID-19? Has that been a seamless transition?
• Are the classes rigorous? Have you found them manageable?
• How do you manage classes and athletics? (If the student is an athlete and your child is a prospective athlete as well.)
• How many tours did you go on before you chose this college?
• Is this college far away from your hometown? How do you manage going home during breaks?
• Is it easy to get involved in extracurricular activities?
• Was it easy or difficult for you to get accepted into this college? How many other colleges did you apply to?
• What do you do for fun and what is the social scene like?
• What was the most surprising and difficult thing about adjusting to college life?

You can call an admission counselor an “admission counselor” or an “admissions counselor.” What does an admissions counselor do ? Check it out before you go on your visit! Generally, this is the person who will help you throughout the college search process. Your child will be assigned an admission counselor based on geography. You can search a map of the United States on any college’s website and find your child’s admission counselor. Here are some great questions to ask your child’s admission counselor. (I spent 12 years in college admission and I loved it when families asked me these questions!) 

• What’s the application process?
• What is the admission process, from start to finish, and what should my child expect after an application?
• What ACT/SAT scores does my child need to attend your college? Is it optional?
• Do you superscore test results (take the best score of each subject test on multiple ACT or SAT dates)?
• Can my child self-report my standardized test scores?
• Should my child aim for a certain grade point average? What are the requirements?
• Does my child need to submit an essay or letters of recommendation? If so, what are the requirements?
• Are there any other admission requirements we need to be aware of? What types of supporting materials does my child need to provide?
• Does my child need to do an interview with an alumnus or college staff member to be admitted?
• Are there different admission requirements for various departments or majors?
• How can my child make his or her application stand out?
• What are the most important admission factors at your college or university?
• Do you accept the Common Application, the Coalition Application or the Universal College Application or do you have your own application?
• What types of deadlines do you have for your applications?
• Do you charge an application fee? How do we pay it?
• Can we get a waiver for the application fee if the fee is a hardship for our family?
• Do you have an applicant portal my child will need to use?
• What are your recommendations for teacher evaluations, if required?
• What does your ideal applicant look like?
• How do you look at extracurricular activities and work experience in the admission process?
• If my child applies early decision or early action to another college or university, can he or she apply to another college?
• Do you defer admission to some students? If so, why, and what can my child do to be admitted?
• Can my child defer admission once admitted?
• Is the rigor of my high school taken into consideration when my child applies?
• Who will read my child’s application?
• Will it help my child to take advanced, accelerated or honors courses?
• Can my child add/remove something from his application once it’s submitted?
• How does my child track the status of her application?
• Does your college ever rescind an admission offer?
• If my child is rejected Early Decision, can he apply Regular Decision?
• Does my child need to submit mid-year reports of her grades?
• Are my child’s chances for admission to your university’s graduate school greater if she attends your university as an undergraduate?
• How should my child submit transcripts from any college courses?
• Are admission requirements different if my child is homeschooled?
• Will my child’s financial aid award be different if she applies for admission under Early Decision, Early Action, etc.?
• When do application decisions become available?
• Is there a maximum number of students admitted from a particular country, region or school?
• How should my child submit standardized test scores?
• How do you determine which credits transfer?
• Is admission competitive? How competitive?

You may want to come back! In that case, check with the admission counselor you’re talking to so you can find out which options are best. Check out my ultimate guide to Here are few questions you could ask:

• Which visit days should my child attend throughout the year?
• How do we arrange an on-campus overnight visit?
• What’s the best way to arrange future visits in general?
• What does a visit schedule look like if my child chooses to arrange future visits?
• In your opinion, is it best to do a group visit day if we choose to visit again or is it best to do a personal campus visit?
• Do you have competitive academic scholarships my child can interview for (and come back to campus another time)?

Why not ask the admission office about academics? Admission counselors can offer a candid overview of academics at the college they’re working at because what do they do all day long? They talk to current students who work in the admission office (and also hear their complaints and what they celebrate).

• Do professors have an open-door policy? How accessible are they?
• Are teaching assistants or professors the ones who teach the classes?
• What is the average class size?
• What is the student to faculty ratio?
• Can you tell me about the [insert name] major? What are your most popular majors and classes?
• How are classes selected?
• Are there required first-year classes?
• My child’s favorite subject in school is [insert favorite subject]. How can that translate to a major here?
• How rigorous are classes here?
• Tell me about academic support services here.
• Does your college provide services if my child has a disability?
• What is your graduation rate?
• How many students go on to graduate school or become employed after graduation?
• How many students get jobs in their majors or a related field?
• What types of internships are available for students?
• Is it possible to do research as an undergraduate student?
• Is your school on the semester or quarter system?
• Does your school offer pre-professional majors?
• Are tutors available?

• What types of clubs and organizations can my child get involved in?
• What are the most popular clubs and organizations?
• What’s the social life like on campus? What do students do for extracurricular activities?
• What would you change about this college or university?
• Do students usually attend sporting events, theatre events or more?
• Is it possible for my child to start his or her own club or organization? What is the process to do that?
• How many students study abroad? Is it a popular thing to do? How is study abroad structured here?
• Is it easy to manage a collegiate athletic career and academics? How do coaches approach academics and athletics here?
• What security measures are in place at your institution?
• Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
• Is my child required to live on campus?
• How does the meal system work?
• Is it easy to find a student job on or near campus?
• How is housing assigned?
• Can my child live on campus during school breaks?
• How safe is the campus and the surrounding neighborhood?
• What is the percentage of students of color on campus?
• What is the percentage of students who live on campus?
• Can you tell me the male-to-female ratio on campus?
• How does parking on campus work?
• Where are students who go to your school from?
• How does your college or university accommodate students with food allergies?
• What role do parents play in your community?
• What is your freshman retention rate?

You might want to meet with a financial aid professional as well — and that’s a great move. However, if you can’t get an appointment with someone in the financial aid office, admission counselors are well-versed in most financial aid topics and should be able to walk you through an award letter or answer basic questions about scholarships and loans. Here are some questions you may want to ask: 

• What is the tuition, room, board and fees at this school?
• How much does tuition increase each year? Do scholarships increase to match the change?
• What scholarships can my child qualify for? How does my child qualify for them?
• Are there any merit-based scholarships available at your school?
• Can my child receive grants? If so, what are the requirements?
• How do loans work and how should we apply for them?
• Can you explain in detail how a financial aid award is set up?
• What amount will my child receive, using your school’s net price calculator or a financial aid estimator?
• What are the interview or audition requirements for certain scholarships?
• Can my child apply for talent-based scholarships?
• What will happen if our family’s financial aid situation changes while my child is at your school?
• Will my child qualify for work-study? How does work-study work here?
• Does my child need to report outside scholarships? Will merit-based scholarships be “taken away” if my child receives a large outside scholarship?
• Where should we send checks for outside scholarships?
• Do we need to complete a CSS Profile?
• How will we know if the FAFSA has been submitted correctly?
• When will my child receive the financial aid award?
• What is the deadline for applying for financial aid?
• My child is undocumented. Is my child still eligible for financial aid?
• How does financial aid work if my child studies abroad?
• Can veterans or children of veterans receive financial aid at your school?
• Can we apply for financial aid in future years if we do not apply the first year?
• Will you help me file the FAFSA in person?
• What kind of need-based aid can my child get?
• How is work-study awarded?
• How will the financial aid office help our family break down the costs?
• What does the average student receive in financial aid from your school?
• Are there other extra expenses we’ll need to be prepared for, like activity fees, biology lab fees, etc.? Can you give us a list of those additional expenses?

Many colleges and universities will grant you time with professors — you just have to ask. It can be intimidating for your student to meet with a faculty member but it’s well worth it! After all, your student may have that professor for classes. A professor can change the trajectory of a your student’s career and life. Here are some questions you and your child can ask: 

• Which classes do you teach?
• What is your favorite class to teach? Why?
• Why do you teach here?
• What is your teaching style?
• How often do terminal degreed professors teach the classes?
• What are your top expectations at the beginning of any semester?
• Do you help students with connections for internships and jobs after graduation?
• Are undergraduates able to get research opportunities?
• How do you measure success in your classroom?
• What does a typical syllabus look like in one of your classes?
• How does advising work? What’s the process to put together a student schedule?
• When are your office hours? Is it easy for students to get their questions answered?
• What is your average class size? For introductory classes? For advanced classes?
• What are your most successful students doing now?
• How do you communicate with students? 
• Do you put an emphasis on interactive or group work or put an emphasis on lectures?
• How do you choose the textbooks a student will use during the semester? 
• Do you consider yourself to be approachable?
• What should my child do if he or she is having trouble in your class?
• Do you have teaching assistants (TAs)?
• Are there any supplemental instruction (SI) sessions my student can go to during any given semester?
• How have you handled online learning during COVID-19? 
• How much time do your students spend studying and completing assignments during the week?
• Are your classes reading and writing intensive ?
• What types of issues do students bring to you during office hours?
• Is there a capstone project or internship requirement for your program?
• What does a typical path to graduation look like? What exact classes are required?
• How long does it take the average student to graduate? Four years? Five years or more?
• What is the academic community like in your department or program?
• What resources are available to me?
• Is service learning or similar opportunities for hands-on learning a priority in your classes?
• Do you help students determine their career path or calling?
• Do your students make connections between their academic studies and activities outside of class? Can you give us an example?
• How do you work with students who choose to study abroad? Is there a best time during the academic program?
• What other majors and minors do students usually combine with this major?
• Do you do any other research or other projects that can affect what you teach here?
• What are students surprised to learn when they’re in your class?
• What do you do when students realize your major isn’t a fit?

You want to be sure that a college is a good fit for your child athletically if your child is an athlete — but make sure it’s a great fit academically and socially as well. Note that you’ll want to ask the admission office questions about grades, admission, SAT, ACT, academic scholarships, etc. — coaches should not answer admission questions. 

A quick tip: Don’t bring up athletic scholarships right away — a coach wants you to demonstrate a team commitment first. Here are some questions you and your child may want to ask a coach.

• Why do you coach? What is your coaching philosophy?
• What are the holes in your program that my child can help fulfill?
• How do you recruit?
• What are you looking for in the right recruit?
• Can you describe your program’s values?
• What does a typical day look like for a player during the season?
• How about the off-season program? What are the expectations?
• How do you encourage your players academically?
• What are the academic requirements for your program?
• What do your players do during their free time?
• Can you tell me your team’s total GPA and graduation rate?
• Do the players typically live together on campus?
• Is it easy for players to catch up after missed class time for games and meets? How do they usually do that?
• My child wants to major in X. Is it possible to major in this and still play for your program?
• How much of an impact do you see my child making on the team right away? Later on?
• What does my child need to do to be evaluated by your staff?
• Can you tell me more about your assistant coaches? What are their philosophies?
• When does your coaching contract end? Do you see yourself here another four years?
• How would you describe the team chemistry?
• What are the current strengths and weaknesses of your team?

I’ve included a lot of questions on this list! You’ll keep yourself pretty busy if you ask every single one of these questions on your college visit. However, note a few, write them down, take this link with you on a visit. Maybe this list will also inspire your own questions on your visit!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

• 3 Degrees to Pursue to Achieve Financial Stability
• How to Start a Dog Walking Business to Pay for College
• What Does an Admissions Counselor Do? Demystifying the Role
• Best College Towns for Rental Properties: The List May Surprise You
• What is Need-Based Financial Aid?
• Ask the admission office (64)
• Build relationships (14)
• College Money Tips (16)
• Financial aid and scholarships (24)

Pin It on Pinterest

• High School
• College Search
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• College Life

5 Questions to Ask (and Not to Ask) on College Tours

College tours are an important part of a student’s college search and decision process. 

These tours allow students to get a feel of the institution which will help them make an important decision on where they want to spend the next 4 years of their lives. 

If you are currently planning on taking a college tour, here is a list of 5 questions to ask (and not to) on college tours.

Questions to Ask:

• “What does your typical day/week look like?”

This is a great question to ask on a tour. As a prospective student, you can visualize a student’s daily routine on campus. Most tour guides typically answer by describing how much time their classes and homework take up while shedding light on certain activities and organizations on campus. 

• “What classes are you taking?”

This question can highlight the campus’ academic life . Based on the tour guide’s answer, you can gain an insight into the specificity and quality of courses your guide has taken and other courses that are offered by the college or university based on your area of interest or major. 

• “How would you and other students describe living and dining on campus?”

If you plan on living on campus and/or buying a meal plan, this is a great question to ask. Most tour guides typically describe their experience living with a roommate, the quality of food , and elaborate on the different types of housing and meal plans offered by the college/university. Overall, you get a nice feel of what residential living is like at the university/college. 

• “What tutoring, support, or counseling services are made available by the school?”

It is likely that during your undergraduate studies you will end up needing some type of support system, whether it be for your homework or health. This is a great question to ask since your tour guide will be able to elaborate on the locations of these services, and how to get in contact with the correct people to help you with whatever you may need. 

• “What kind of career and internship resources are available to students after and upon graduation?”

For students who plan on going to graduate school or entering the workforce after graduation, this is a great question to ask. A tour guide should be able to discuss and highlight the institution’s career center, alumni network, and internships made available to students by the university/college to help you in your future endeavors. 

Questions Not to Ask:

• “What was your GPA and SAT/ACT score?

Although it can be tempting to know an admitted student’s GPA and test scores to see your chances of being admitted , it is best to avoid asking the question entirely since you do want to put your tour guide in an awkward position. 

Instead Ask: “What is the average GPA and SAT/ACT score for the university/college?”

By asking this question, your tour guide will be able to highlight the institution’s academic profile and admissions process.

• “How much financial aid will I receive?”

Finding a school that fits your financial need is an important part of the college search process. However, it is also unlikely that your tour guide would be able to give you a specific answer based on your financial need and circumstances. 

Instead Ask: “Who do I need to get in contact with to learn more about financial aid?”

By asking this question, your tour guide will be able to direct you to the school’s financial office who will be able to answer any questions you have relating to financial aid.

• “What classes or professors should I avoid taking?”

  It is great to ask questions relating to the institution’s academic offerings but avoid framing it in a negative light. 

Instead Ask: “What is the most meaningful moment you have experienced in a class or with a professor.”

  Even if your tour guide’s most “meaningful” moment does not relate to your area of interest, this question opens up a great opportunity to hear from your tour guide’s first-hand experience being a student and learning from a professor at that specific institution.

• “What is the party scene like?”

Instead of asking whether the institution is a “party” school , focus on learning about certain opportunities available by the university to meet peers and network.

Instead Ask: “What fun activities or places are there to go to on or near campus?”

By asking this question, your tour guide will be able to pinpoint a variety of events, activities, and places to go on campus where you can have the opportunity to make friends during your college experience.

• “Is it easy to commute to the college/university?”

  If you plan on commuting to college, it is likely asking a question like this will give you a very vague answer. 

  Instead Ask: “How do you commute to the university and get around on campus?”

  By asking a specific question like this, your tour guide will be able to share the different types of transportation offered by the institution and possibly share their experience on how long it takes to get around campus.

By asking the right questions, students can walk away from each college tour knowing the opportunities and resources made available by each school. Therefore, ask as many questions as you can and have fun!

Author: Yolanda Pineda

Yolanda is currently a full-time student at the University of Houston studying Business with a minor in Law, Values, & Policy. She is a recent graduate from Houston Community College where she received her Associate of Science. When she is not making content for Niche, she is dedicated to helping her community and social causes.

More Articles By Niche

While many current college students tout the importance of being able to actually step foot onto the campus you might go to, sometimes the circumstances just do not work out.

At Niche, we know a college is more than its stats or buildings. We also know it can be hard to figure out a college’s vibe or how students feel about it from its website alone. Using our comprehensive college profiles and social media accounts, you can get a sense of what life at a college is really like. Here are three simple ways to do that.

In case you haven’t heard yet, Niche has an amazing new opportunity for high school seniors. Niche Direct Admissions is a program that allows participating colleges to accept students and offer scholarships based on their Niche Profile. That’s right — no application needed.

Each episode of the award-winning TV series, The College Tour , shares the story of a single college or university through the authentic lens of its current students. Learn from real students about their real experiences on campus, as we offer viewers an insider’s perspective on college life and college culture. This TV series is a comprehensive guide to aid your college research, helping you answer the ultimate question: ‘Which college is best for me?’ Take the ultimate campus tour now by watching episodes of this informative TV series.

Our ‘Tour Now’ section takes the stress out of the college search. In one location, students can explore all 2,500 four-year colleges and universities and 900 community colleges throughout America. Easy-to-use, this platform allows you to filter choices by state, college type, and size, narrowing down the search based on your preferences.

Want to be featured on

The college tour.

Your institution can be featured on the hit TV series, The College Tour , streaming on Amazon Prime.

• Enter email... *
• Name * First Last
• Title * I am a... Student Parent College Professional Other
• Hidden utm_source
• Hidden utm_campaign
• Hidden utm_content
• Hidden utm_medium

• TUTORING & TEST PREP
• TALK TO AN ADVISOR

Fostering Inclusivity in College Counseling

Recent posts, subscribe here, more expert advice, the best questions to ask on college visits.

One of the ways to get the most out of your limited time on a college visit is to ask meaningful questions. The two most common on-campus experiences for prospective students (the college tour and the information session) can often be missed opportunities to get a real feel for what type of student thrives on that campus if the prospective student doesn’t know what questions to ask on their college visit. To that end, the questions below can help you learn what you could truly only learn in person on a campus visit. And, as an aside, when we talk about "better questions," we're not talking about questions that will somehow magically get you into your dream school. No one got into MIT because they asked a great question on their tour. We're simply suggesting ways you can be a more astute college observer and walk away with a better sense of fit. Plus, the answers can help you eventually in narrowing your list and writing your supplemental essays.

What type of applicant do you get excited about? This is a great question for an information session and/or to an admissions counselor. It gets to the heart of the process—the human part of it all. What students catch their eye? Now, this isn't meant to be asked to unlock some sort of secret formula to get into the school of your dreams. Think of it as a litmus test. When they list those qualities, do they sound like you or the people you tend to like? If they don’t, perhaps it's a sign that this college isn't a fit. And if they do, jot those qualities down. It's a reminder of what you're looking for.

What are the latest most popular or exciting events on campus? This question gives you a pulse of the campus as it is right now, and it's a good one for tour guides and admissions officers alike. Maybe it's a protest about a political issue, a big rival basketball game, or a dance marathon. Whatever it is, it'll give you a sense of what people do for fun, what people care about, and what gets attention. And if it's a food-based event, remember that free food is pretty universally popular at colleges, so I'd ask for the next most popular event.

What qualities would you say your peers here have in common? If I'd been asked this question as a tour guide, I could have waxed poetic about my peers--social-justice-oriented, deep-thinking, creative, empathetic, and bold. (If it isn't obvious, I went to a women's college.) And my guess is the words that any tour guide would use to describe their peers may not appear on the website. But they'd capture the essence of the student body. All too often, we tend to assume that the tour guide is an exemplar of all the people at a college. Sure, they were selected to represent the school, but they don't represent everyone. Get them to open up about the student body as a whole, not just themselves. What do they notice as a common denominator?

Taken together, these answers paint a picture of the type of student that the college looks for and the type of student that thrives there. And, with those answers, you can decide if you fit what they're looking for. If you don’t, don't try to reverse-engineer yourself to fit that mold. But if it sounds like you’d fit, you'll walk away with a stronger, more specific vocabulary to describe what you want in your college applications and throughout the college admissions process.

About Us:  With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include  counseling ,  test prep ,  academic tutoring , and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform , leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates. 

Recommended Articles

How Local and State Laws May Impact the College Search Process

The 10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges

Applying to Multiple Colleges? Here's What You Need to Know

Subscribe to email updates.

• Tutoring & Test Prep
• Our Counselors

© 2024 Collegewise. All Rights Reserved. Privacy

• Talent Seekers
•  PARTNERS    Employers  Data & Insights  Colleges  Workforce  Demo

10 Questions to Ask on a College Tour

Spring is drawing near, and we all know what that means, right? Jean jackets! Frozen drinks! OTT prom proposals! But most importantly (if you’re applying to college , anyway), springtime means gearing up for college campus tours.

As you’re probably aware, many schools are having virtual college tours in lieu of in-person tours this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sure, it’s kind of a bummer to not get to see the school in person, but look on the bright side: You can now tour a bunch of schools without worrying about the cost of travel and additional expenses. And you get to do it all from the comfort of your own home!

Whether you’re going on an in-person college tour or participating in a virtual college fair , asking the right questions is key to getting all the juicy details about the school. Not sure what to ask your tour guide? Below, here are 10 questions to ask on a college tour that will help you get the most out of your visit.

1. Why did you choose this school?

This is a good opening question for your tour guide because it gets them thinking back to what initially drew them to the school. Follow-up questions could include, “How happy have you been at this school so far?” and “What, if anything, would you change about the school?”

2. Who would you NOT recommend this school for?

Keep in mind that most college tour guides are in love with their school and don’t have a bad word to say about it. For this reason, you should (politely) challenge their opinions about the school by asking them who might not be the best fit for this particular school. If you happen to match their description of someone who isn’t a good fit, well — at least you found out sooner rather than later, right?

3. What majors/programs are popular?

Whether you’re still undecided on a major or you want to know what programs the school is best known for, this is a good question to ask regardless. Already picked a major? Ask them to spill the tea on the reputation of your department/program.

4. What types of scholarship opportunities are available? 

You plan to apply for scholarships anyway, right? You might as well get the inside scoop on what kinds of scholarships and grants they have available on campus. Dig a little deeper by asking what the average financial aid package is and whether there are work-study opportunities available.

FIND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

5. How often are career fairs/campus recruiting events held?

Career fairs are common at most universities and colleges — as they should be. Both in-person and virtual career fairs can help you launch your career after college, so make sure these opportunities are abundant on campus. While you’re on the subject, ask about internship opportunities.

6. How accessible are the professors/administrators/financial aid officers, etc.?

These people can make or break your college success, so it’s important that they’re easily accessible and willing to do what they can to help!

7. What do students do for fun on campus? What about life off-campus?

Find out everything you can about campus life. After all, this is going to be your home for at least the next four years of your life. What is the social scene like? What do students do when they’re not studying? And, of course, the ultimate question every student must ask: How’s the food ?  

8. How diverse is the student body?

This is an important question to ask, especially if you can’t visit the campus in-person to see for yourself just how diverse the campus is. Not only is it vital that minority groups have representation on campus, but diversity on campus also benefits non-minority groups by exposing them to different backgrounds and perspectives. If you’re a minority, don’t forget to ask about support services and programs that support students like yourself.

9. What is the average class size for lower- and upper-division courses?

There is an ongoing debate regarding class size —specifically, whether smaller classes are actually better for learning outcomes. But the truth is, it may just come down to personal preference. At the very least, this question will give you a better idea of what to expect when you sign up for classes. 

10. What kinds of academic support programs does the school have?

You want to choose a college that will help set you up for success. If you’re struggling in school, what resources will be available to help you? Be sure to ask about tutoring programs, computer labs, writing centers, and other programs that might support your undergraduate experience. 

Asking the Important Questions

There are plenty of great questions to ask on a college tour that aren’t on this list, but, hopefully, this gave you a decent starting point. Just remember that you may have a limited amount of time to chat up a tour guide or college representative. Tackle the important questions first before you start asking things like, “How strong is the merch game?” and “Is a Jamba Juice within walking distance of the dorms?”

Happy touring!

GET STARTED WITH TALLO

Do you have any college touring experience? Or are you looking for advice from others who have been on college tours? Reach out to our  Tallo Community . We have students and professionals who share their advice on everything from college tours to landing a job.

Image Credits:

Source: Bob Pool/Shutterstock

Source: David A Litman/Shutterstock

Source: Nick Beer/Shutterstock

RELATED POSTS

Event: Unlock Your Future with Empowering Tomorrow’s Workforce Virtual Symposium

Unlock the Potential of Early Talent: Discover the Early Talent Playbook

Boost Your Talent Strategy with Tallo’s Digital Badging

Start charting your path today..

Connect with real educational and career-related opportunities.

Get Started