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Juniors, Now’s the Time to Schedule Your College Visits

Juniors, it’s time for you to get started on college visits.

Whether you’re thinking about knocking out one or two or hitting a series of colleges, here is your go-to guide for setting up a college visit. 

We’ll walk you through a steps to take before, during and after visits to help you find your perfect fit.

And if COVID-19 protocols are still underway, don’t miss our article about what to do when you can’t tour colleges in person .

What Can Juniors Do Right Now? 

Juniors can do a lot right now, including developing a checklist and other things you can put on the family calendar.

Step 1: Start talking.

That’s right. Sit down and have a conversation with your family.

What are you thinking you want to do for college? Do you think you want to go to a large school? A small school? What fits your personality and preferences?

Start talking with adults you trust about schools that make sense for your needs.

Step 2: Brainstorm.

Have no idea where to start? Start a brainstorming session where you write down your visions about what you think your college experience might be like.

Rather than throwing a dart at a map and jumping in the car, it’s a good idea to ask yourself a few questions: 

• Do you see yourself going to a large or small school?
• Do you want a lot of personalized attention? 
• Are you looking for a more selective institution? 
• How far away from home do you want to live?
• When you envision college, what do you think of?

In other words, think broadly about your college visit choices, then think more narrowly about the colleges you’d like to visit. 

Put a premium on relationships when you make this list.

What kind of people do you want to meet? What type of individuals do you want to learn from?

Remember, college is about way more than pretty residence halls, beautiful buildings and other aesthetic things. It’s about the people who influence you along the way.

Step 3: Research at least one college.

Choose at least one college and do as much research as you can. Learn more about that particular school’s:

• Admission criteria
• Results — how many students go to graduate school, get a job after graduation, etc.
• School profile 
• Academics and selectivity: Are you looking for a serious academic environment? Would you rather go to a school that focuses on undergraduate teaching — or research? 
• Potential majors
• Housing information
• Extracurricular activities
• Athletics opportunities

After you narrow down some of the “big” things, like distance from home and general experience, then you can start thinking about things like major, requirements and more.

Does this college college or university you’ve researched fit the bill? If not, look for another one. If that one makes sense, move toward school as your first visit.

Step 4: Check the calendar.

Once you’ve honed in on your first college to visit, figure out what visit day fits into your schedule. Check your calendar and your family members’ calendars too. Remember, mom and dad likely have to drive you to your visit or coordinate flights. You need to plan the visit with your parents, and you might need to make sure your brothers’ and sisters’ schedules are open too. 

How to Set Up a College Visits

First of all, make sure you (the student!) call the schools where you’re interested in setting up a visit.

Your mom or dad should not make the call. It’s time to put some of those adulting skills into practice.

Step 1: Think through what you want to do on your visit. 

Who are the must-see people on your radar—the soccer coach, tutoring center, a financial aid advisor? It’s OK if you’re not sure. You can work through some of these questions when you make your phone call to the admissions office.

Step 2: Call the college or university’s admissions office. 

Don’t set up a visit online. Talk to an actual person.

Or, if you do set up a visit online, call and make sure the admissions office received your scheduled visit—and that it didn’t get lost in cyberspace.

Have a detailed conversation about what you’d like to do when you’re on the visit.

Step 3: Ask for a personal campus visit. 

Try to steer clear of group visit days. 

Naturally, you’re an individual and have specific interests and needs.

When you’re stuck on a group visit, no one student will have the same interests as you. You could get stuck touring the gym for 25 minutes of your hour-long tour (even if you’re not an athlete or hate the thought of a treadmill). Who wants that?

A personal campus visit ensures your visit is all about you and nobody else.

Step 5: Get ready! 

You don’t want to start a college visit without doing some preparation. You want to know as much as possible about the college you’re visiting before you visit. 

Simple. You don’t want to waste time learning stuff you already know. If you already know the basics, like the size of the college, majors available and costs, why spend time relearning stuff you already know? 

Plus, it brings camaraderie with the admission staff or chemistry professors when you say, “Yeah! And that biochemistry secondary major—that sounds cool.”

You’ll never believe how much people’s eyes light up when you know something about the college or university already.

What to Do During/After Visits

When you arrive at the admissions office, go to the campus visit coordinator’s desk and introduce yourself. That individual will help you get your day started in the right direction. 

While you’re on your visit, do your best to ask great questions. You want to think of questions before you visit and ask everyone questions. Get each person talking about the college or university you’re visiting. It’s best to get candid thoughts from each individual you talk to.

This may sound like a pain, but it’s a good idea to get all your thoughts together and take a minute or two to jot down all your initial reactions to the college you’ve just visited. Grab your phone and type in some notes on the card or plane ride home.

Believe it or not, it’s difficult to remember each individual school after your 10th college visit.

Now’s the Time!

Juniors, we’ve offered everything you need to know about how to schedule a college visit .

It’s a matter of sitting down with your family members or other trusted adults, pouring over Niche’s 2021 college rankings and making lists of what matters to you.  

It’s going to be a great time, so have fun with the process. 

Ready to Find Your Niche? Create an Account

Author: Melissa Brock

Melissa Brock is the founder of College Money Tips and Money editor at Benzinga. She loves helping families navigate their finances and the college search process. Check out her essential timeline and checklist for the college search!

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.

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?

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Extracurriculars

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

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

Residence Life

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

Campus Culture and Surrounding Area

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

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

Personal Questions

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

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

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

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

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

Questions to Ask an Admissions Officer

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

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

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

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

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

Questions to Ask a Financial Aid Officer

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

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

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

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

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

Questions to Ask a Professor

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

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

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

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

Questions to Avoid on College Visits

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

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

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

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

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

Start gathering your tastiest college tour questions.

How to Prepare for Your College Tours

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

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

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

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

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

What's Next?

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

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

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

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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

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College visits are probably the most fun part of the college application process . When it comes to researching potential schools, there’s no better substitute for figuring out if a campus will feel like home.

If possible, visit every college that you are strongly considering. No website, guidebook, or testimonial will give you a better feel for a school than you'll get by seeing it for yourself. Many students change their minds after a campus visit. This is obviously preferable to changing your mind after you enroll! Get the most out of your time on campus with our college visit checklist:

1. Mind the calendar.

Schedule your visit while school is in session. You won't get a realistic idea of student life in August (or if you attend during a special event like Spring Fling).

2. Meet the experts.

Talk to the current students—they may soon be your peers. If they have a problem or complaint, they will probably share it with you. If they love their school, they won't be shy about it either. Come prepared with some questions to ask—specific ones will get you more interesting (and helpful) answers.

3. Meet the other experts.

Stop by the admissions office and introduce yourself. Let them know what interests you about the school so they can direct you to the best place for further investigation. Collect contact information and send a brief, friendly e-mail thanking them for taking the time to talk to you.

If there is a sign–up sheet, add your name! Colleges do keep track of which applicants have demonstrated genuine interest in the school. A visit is a great way to demonstrate your interest.

Read More: 6 Quick Tips for Contacting Colleges

Some schools will let you interview with an admissions rep during your campus visit. If this opportunity is available, don't pass it up.

4. Take the campus tour…

While it's the most obvious thing to do, the official campus tour is worth your while. (Find out if you need to register to get a spot.) It gives the school a chance to show off its best features, like the newly-built theater or their rooftop planetarium. While you're walking around, check out the flyers and bulletin boards and pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of what's going on.

5. …then venture out on your own.

The official tour will probably steer you clear of the school's less attractive features, like the shoddy dining hall or the tiny gymnasium. Take your own un-official tour by wandering around campus. If there are any facilities that are important to you, find them and have a look for yourself. Make sure your destinations include the library and the first-year dorms .

6. Be a student for a day (or night).

Some schools sponsor overnight programs in which you can stay with a current student. This is a great opportunity to get a deeper sense of campus life and interact with your potential future friends and roommates.

Even if you don't stay over, most schools will allow you to sit in on lectures. Browse the course catalogue before you arrive, or ask the admissions office what classes are in session that day.

Read More: College Search Tool

7. Save the best for last.

You'll get better at visiting colleges with practice. As you compare schools, you pick up on the aspects you like and the aspects you're not so fond of. You also figure out the right questions to ask, as well as the best campus spots to gauge student life. For that reason, visit your favorite schools last, so you'll be in the best position to make comparisons to the others on your list.

8. Keep a record of every college visit.

If you visit many schools, your memories of them are bound to overlap. Use a note-taking or voice-recording app on your phone, or plain old notebook and pen, to keep track of the details you like and the stuff that you don't like. When more questions arise (as they most definitely will), you can fire off an email for an answer rather than visiting a second time.

9. Don't rush to judgment.

Try not to base your opinion of a school on bad weather or one boring class. There are bound to be sunny days and more interesting classes. Same goes for overnight visits—you might end up staying with a student who has very different interests than you do.

At the same time, trust your gut. Sometimes it's love at first sight. Other times, something feels wrong (even if you can't put your finger on it).

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Articles & Advice > Campus Visits > Articles

10 Things You Should Definitely Do on Every College Visit

If you're putting in the effort to visit colleges before applying, make sure you're taking full advantage of it. Here are 10 things to do on campus tours.

by CampusCompare.com College Search Website

Last Updated: May 12, 2023

Originally Posted: Dec 31, 2011

Venturing on one college visit after another may seem like a drag now, but campus visits can make all the difference in helping you make the right college choice. So strap on your walking shoes, hit the road, and check these 10 critical campus hotspots off your college visit to-do list.

1. Talk to students

This may be the most important part of your campus visits and an opportunity that too many college-bound students do not take advantage of. If you visit colleges while school is in session, you should make a point to approach a few students—in the cafeteria, at the library, or just while walking around campus—and ask them any questions you have or even just about their general experience at the school. You’ll get much more honest answers than you will from tour guides, and most students will be more than happy to stop and chat for a few minutes.

Related:  How to Overcome Anxiety and Talk to College Students on Campus Tours

2. Browse the bookstore

If you are the first child in your family to attend college, you should prepare to dissociate yourself from your parents upon entering the bookstore. As soon as mom or dad spies a price tag on a textbook, they may react with surprise, anger, disbelief, tears, or any combination of the above. After they’ve calmed down, reassure them that you already set up accounts on  Amazon ,  Textbooks.com , and  Half.com , and convince them that your prudence and frugality should earn you one of those nice college hoodies from the bookstore. Just don’t show them the receipt.

3. Visit the office of your academic department chair

If you have any inkling whatsoever about what your major in college might be, you should try to make an appointment to meet briefly with the department chair during your campus visit. The chairperson will be thrilled to meet a potential major, and you’ll get some valuable insight into the courses you’d take, professors you’d study under, and academic opportunities that your school and potential major will offer. Don’t hesitate to schedule several of these visits, especially if you’re unsure about your potential major.

4. Size up the gym and on-campus athletic facilities

Most colleges offer some sort of athletic facilities. In fact, sometimes those facilities are just as good as, if not better than, professional gyms! So if you’re interested in getting into or staying in shape, make sure your college has a state-of-the-art gym. And if you’re into  college athletics , the school’s on-campus fields and other facilities are also something you should visit. Also remember that games on campus can be a pretty big draw, and even if you’re not a huge sports fan, they double as a popular social event.

Related: The Best Ways to Make Your College Campus Visits More Fun

5. Locate the health center

If you’re lucky, you won’t spend much time in the campus health center. However, should you get sick or injured and are in need of anything from emergency care to DayQuil, it’s always reassuring to know you have access to medical care and technology.

6. Stop by the admission office

While you’re on your campus visit, why not put a face to your application? Make an appointment to meet with an admission counselor so that they can get to know you as more than a list of test scores and activities. This is your chance to show your personality, and you can even use the time to ask any questions you might still have about the school. Just be sure that you’re friendly, polite, and articulate, because a first impression is a lasting one.

7. Survey the classrooms

If you think you can ace college exams without ever going to class, think again. Not only do you need to go to class once in a while to make sure you’re up to speed with what’s going on with tests and homework, but a lot of smaller classes also base some of their grades on participation. Granted, you can miss class once in a while, but don’t forget that attendance is often mandatory. Make sure you like the classroom settings of the colleges you’re visiting. Are the classes big or small? Are classrooms flat or stadium-style? Is the technology adequate, or better yet, very advanced? Will you be a nameless face or someone your teacher will be able to interact with?

Related: Smart Questions to Ask Before, During, and After College Visits

8. Eat at the dining hall

You generally won’t have the time or space to prepare yourself a nice lunch or dinner , so the dining hall will be the simplest and most efficient way to eat on campus. The average college student eats at the cafeteria twice a day; it’s possible you'll go less often, but it’s likely you'll go even more than that, whether for a snack or late-night meal. Check for cleanliness, the variety of quality foods, and accessibility (and, you know, taste!). If the campus is big, it may have multiple dining halls, so make sure you see them all.

9. Drop by the dorms

When you’re not in the classroom or grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, there is a pretty good chance you’ll be in your dorm room. While you’re visiting colleges, ask to see the freshman dorms and upperclassman dorms as well. Freshman dorms will almost always be the least impressive digs on campus, but those double and triple shared rooms are part of the freshman experience! That being said, you want to make sure you’ll be moving on up as you progress in class years. Upperclassmen often have access to suite or apartment-style housing.

10. Hang out on the quad

You can’t make friends holed up in your dorm room. That’s why colleges and universities offer quads and other comparable hangout spots. This could be as simple as a nice lawn to read on or an open area to play football or Frisbee. And rest assured, even urban schools have common campus hangouts! If such an area doesn’t exist—or if it does and there’s nobody there—this might be a college you want to rethink because making friends freshman year could be more difficult. You’ll be surprised how important little things like playing catch with your buddies in between classes will factor into your enjoyment of school.

Related:  Ultimate Campus Visit Checklist: Where to Go and Questions to Ask

Campus visits are a great way to get to know a school better before making the big decision to apply—or the even bigger decision to attend. It gives you a feel for what life will really be like living on campus and if that's the kind of atmosphere for you to thrive in.

You can check out the original article at  CampusCompare.com  or find more advice for school tours in our Campus Visits section. 

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•   Improve Your College Research With Great Campus Tour Experiences
•   Our Best Advice for College Tours and Campus Visits
•   The Best Ways to Make Your College Campus Visits More Fun
•   Top 10 Tips for Your College Visit Road Trip
•   3 College Visit Locations That Can Be Turned Into Vacations

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Everything You Need to Know About Official Visits

Going on official visits is one of the most exciting parts of the recruiting process. Not only do you have the opportunity to see a college campus in person but being invited also signifies that the coach is very interested in you as a recruit. This is your opportunity to get to know the campus, the culture, the team and the dorms and then decide if you would feel comfortable living there for the next four years.

Quick Links

What is an official visit.

So, what makes a visit official? Any visit to a college campus in which any part is financed by the school is considered an official visit. Coaches usually save invitations for their top recruits and getting asked is a huge step on your recruiting journey. It’s important to prepare in advance for this crucial part of the recruiting process. We’ve put together everything you need to know to ace your next official visit.

NCAA official visit rules

Each division level has its own set of rules surrounding official college visits. Division I has the strictest regulations. The following are the rules you need to know:

• The NCAA allows recruits an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools. Recruits are limited to one per school, unless there is a head coaching change after their visit, in which they are permitted a second visit. Visits to Division II and Division III schools are unlimited.
• The school can pay for the following for you and your parents/guardians: transportation to and from the campus, lodging throughout your visit, three meals per day and three tickets to a home sports event.
• Schools may pay for a recruit’s transportation to and from campus. However, they can only provide transportation for parent/guardians if they travel in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents.
• At all levels, recruits can take only one official visit per school.
• Each official visit may be up to 48 hours long, or the span of one weekend.
• D1 men’s ice hockey recruits can begin taking official visits as early as August 1 of their junior year in high school.
• D1 football recruits can begin taking official visits starting April 1 of their junior year of high school.
• D1 women’s basketball recruits may begin taking official visits in April of their junior year of high school, beginning the Thursday following the Women’s Final Four tournament.
• D1 lacrosse, softball and baseball recruits may begin taking official visits September 1 of their junior year of high school.
• For all other DI sports, recruits can begin taking official visits starting August 1 before the athlete’s junior year of high school.
• Official visits are not allowed to occur during recruiting dead periods.

Within these official rules, each school will have a slightly different way in which they conduct visits. Some schools will be able to finance your whole trip, paying for transportation, meals, lodging and tickets to a home game. But this is the maximum of what colleges can provide for their recruits. Some programs simply may not have the money to pay for your entire visit, opting to finance just a small portion of your visit. An official visit can also include having an on-campus lunch or dinner that is purchased by the coach. It doesn’t have to last the full 48 hours—again, that’s the maximum amount but not a requirement.

Generally speaking, the more money a coach spends on your official visit, the higher up on their list you are as a recruit. However, that’s not a reason to discount a program that’s trying to recruit on a budget. If you’re interested in a school, official visits can be the last piece of the puzzle to help you understand if it’s your best college fit.

What are the new recruiting rules around official visits?

Effective on April 13, 2023, the NCAA Division I Council announced that they will no longer limit the number of official visits recruits can make to NCAA member schools. Starting July 1, 2023, recruits are permitted an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools, unless there is a head coaching change post-visit, in which case recruit is allowed to complete a second official visit to the same school. For men’s basketball, prospects still will be able to complete a second official visit to the same school, as long as it do not occur in the same academic year.

Effective May 1, 2019, the NCAA created a series of updated recruiting rules to slow down the recruiting process and cut back on the number of recruits getting verbal offers as eighth graders, freshmen and sophomores in high school. Athletes will now have more time to research colleges and focus on developing athletically and academically. Then, as juniors and seniors in high school, they will be better equipped to decide which college or university is right for them.

According to the new rules, DI recruits in most sports can now start taking official and unofficial visits starting August 1 before their junior year of high school. In the past, official visits weren’t permitted until the athlete’s senior year of high school and there were no restrictions on unofficial visits. While this is exciting news for recruits eager to visit campuses, these rule changes will also likely put more emphasis on athletes and families needing to be proactive early in the recruiting process. With top prospects being offered official visits their junior year, this means even more schools can lock down their recruiting classes early. As a recruit, you need to start the recruiting process as early as possible so you’re ready for official visit invites August 1 before junior year.

How does an official visit work?

Depending on the sport and division level, athletes can begin taking official visits junior year. A coach may extend an official visit offer to recruits during a phone call, email, text or direct message. Once a coach invites you, grab your family schedule and work out a weekend to take the trip.

While receiving an invite does indicate you are at the top of a coach’s recruiting list, it doesn’t mean you’ve locked in your spot just yet. This means the coach will be evaluating you during your entire official visit. Most importantly, visits are a great way for coaches to get a better understanding of your personality and character. They want to see if you are a recruit who will be a positive asset to their team and the school.

To learn more, check out our video on  how to schedule your visits , where NCSA recruiting experts share what you can expect. This includes what travel expenses might be covered by the program, activities that coaches use to introduce you to the team and campus, and what coaches expect from recruits during a visit. 

Insider Tip : Coaches will look at how you interact with your parents—are you respectful, courteous and kind? Or, do you brush them off and behave rudely? Do you answer the coaches’ questions thoughtfully or do you give one-word responses? While it may be intimidating to visit a college campus and get evaluated by the coaches throughout, it’s important to make an effort to put your best foot forward.

How to prepare for your official visit

Because official visits are more formal than unofficial visits, there’s a bit more prep work required from athletes before the visit takes place. Follow this checklist to make sure you’ve covered all your bases:

• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center . Before your visit, the coach needs to know that you are eligible to actually compete at their school. If you’re visiting Division I and Division II schools, you need to get a Certification Account . Make sure that your parent/guardian is with you as you sign up, because there is a fee involved. This is a good step to take your sophomore year of high school, so you’re ready to start taking official visits your junior year. If you’re visiting a Division III school, sign up for an NCAA Profile page, which is the free version of the Certification Account. You only need a Certification Account if you’re actively getting recruited by Division I and/or Division II colleges. When you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center , you will receive your NCAA ID number. Many coaches will ask for your NCAA ID number before your official visit.
• Have the coach add you to the Institutional Request List. This is another formality to ensure that you are eligible to compete at an NCAA school. Request that the coach add you to the IRL list, which will put your Eligibility Center application on a fast track to get cleared. Because the NCAA receives so many requests through its Eligibility Center, the Institutional Request List serves to make sure athletes who need to be cleared quickly will be.
• Send the admissions office your transcript and a standardized test score. If you’ve already registered with the Eligibility Center, the school should be able to access your transcript and test scores. However, this step helps the admissions office ensure that your academic criteria are up to the standards of that school, while the NCAA Eligibility Center ensures that you’ve met the academic requirements mandated by the NCAA to compete in college sports.
• Know how you will respond if you receive an offer. As mentioned earlier, offers are not guaranteed during official visits, but they do happen. To avoid freezing on the spot, go into your official visit with a game plan for how you will respond. If this is your top school and you’ve visited the other colleges you’re interested in, it might make sense to say yes as soon as possible. However, if you have other schools on your list, you can ask the coach when the offer will expire.

• Put together your list of questions for the coach. During your official visit, you will have a chance to get all your questions answered, so take advantage of this opportunity. Sit down with your parents before the visit and brainstorm all your questions. Write down your questions for the coach and bring the list with you. This way, you don’t forget an important topic and you can impress the coach with your preparedness.

Read more: How to Maximize Your Summer Visits

Do parents go on official visits?

Parents are invited to go on official visits. The school can pay for three meals per day and tickets to a home sports match. However, the school is only allowed to pay for their transportation to and from campus if the parents are traveling in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents. Parents have a very specific role throughout the official visit: Let the athlete be the focus of the experience.

For some parents, it might be hard to let go and allow their student-athlete to take center stage during this visit. However, parents should let their athlete ask questions and take control of the conversation. Give them an opportunity to hold a candid, uninterrupted conversation with the coach. Allow them to make their own opinions about the school before injecting your point of view. When the conversation turns to finances, scholarships and paying for college, this is where coaches typically expect parents to jump in .

For more on the topic, check out the video below featuring former sports broadcaster David Kmiecik and D1 and D3 swim coach Danny Koenig.

Read more:   Recruiting Tips for Parents

What happens on an official visit?

While every official visit will be slightly different, recruits can expect that the trip will include a campus tour. This is your chance to familiarize yourself with the campus and ask yourself if you would enjoy living there for four years. As you tour the campus, take notes. When you’re trying to remember what you liked—and didn’t like—about each of the schools you visited, you can refer back to your notes to help jog your memory about the trip. Use the following checklist to make sure you hit all the key spots on campus:

• Check out the library and sit in on a class.
• Visit the different housing options, both on and off campus.
• Meet your future training staff.
• Eat in the school cafeteria or food court.
• Set up a meeting with an academic adviser.
• Hang out on the campus grounds.
• Stay off your phone and experience the campus.

Coaches typically will want you to meet a few members of the team—or the whole team—to see how your chemistry checks out. You may also be invited to participate in a workout or another team activity. According to NCAA rules, however, any kind of workout you attend on an official visit cannot be organized by the coach or coaching staff. Typically, the workout will be led by the team’s captains. Take this opportunity to see if you connect with your potential teammates.

Questions to expect from the coach on your official visit

You will also likely get some one-on-one time with the coach. This is a chance for you to ask any final questions that you have. Before your visit, write down some questions and keep adding to the list so you have something to go off of when you sit down with the coach. The coach will also probably have some questions for you, too. Here are just a few examples of questions to expect from a coach during your visit:

• “What other schools are recruiting you?” Be honest here and tell the coach other schools you’re actively talking to. If it’s true, list schools that are rivals with or comparable to the school you’re visiting. This will make the coach want you on their team even more.
• “What other colleges are you visiting?” Again, it’s important to be honest. If you have—or haven’t—visited any other schools yet, let them know.
• “When can you commit?” While getting invited on an official visit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get an offer, it certainly does happen. If this is your number one school and you have a good feeling about it, this might be the right time to lock down a commitment. If you have any other schools to visit before you make your decision, that’s OK, too. Simply make an educated guess when you think you will know. Ask the coach how long the offer stands and when they would like to know your answer.

Some coaches will arrange for you and your parents to attend a home sporting event. They might also have a teammate take you to dinner or walk you around campus again. Plus, you’ll get some free time to explore the area and learn more about the school.

What to bring on an official visit

A lot of recruits ask us what to wear on an official visit, and our best piece of advice is to err on the side of overdressing, rather than underdressing. You want to look neat and clean throughout your entire trip. For men, bring a collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis. For women, a skirt, dress, nice slacks or jeans are acceptable. Avoid wearing sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, flip flops and ripped jeans. Bring athletic clothes and shoes in case you get invited to work out with the team.

As mentioned before, it’s a great idea to come with some questions for the coach. When the moment comes to ask your questions, it’s easy to freeze up and forget them all. Having them written down will ensure you get the answers you need, plus it will show the coach that you are organized and responsible. Make sure you do your homework and read up on the school, too.

Your follow-up after the visit

Have you ever heard that the follow-up is the most important part? After each visit, make sure you follow up with the coach. Send them a “thank you” note, thanking them for their time and telling them some of your favorite parts of the visit. You can also let the coach know where you’ll be competing next if they’d like to watch you in person. The follow-up shows the coach you’re a thoughtful, courteous athlete, and it also keeps you top-of-mind as they assemble their roster.

Overall, enjoy your visit! This is your chance to get the “red carpet” treatment and get a taste of what life at that college will be like.

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EXPERIENCE DUKE

The best way to enjoy Duke’s warm and welcoming spirit is to meet the people who create it: our students, faculty, and alumni. When you meet us, you’ll feel the connection, collaboration, and creativity that are the hallmark of the Duke experience. Join us virtually, in person, or both — whatever works best for you. There’s no preference in the admissions process for students who have been to campus.

See It for Yourself

Visit in person.

Duke’s campus is considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. But it’s not just the physical campus that makes Duke unlike anywhere else. It’s the warmth and welcoming spirit you feel from everyone who makes up our special community. Duke’s campus is now open to visitors who adhere to the University visitor policies .

GUIDED WALKING TOUR

Led by a student tour guide, our outdoor walking tours give you a chance to see campus highlights, ask questions, and hear why we love our vibrant community. In the event of severe weather or campus closures, tours could be canceled or delayed.

90 minutes; Reservations required

REGISTER HERE

If you plan to visit campus on your own, download the Duke Admissions Tour app, which is now available for iPhone and Android users. You may also stop by the Undergraduate Admissions Office to pick up a campus map from our outside information box.

Admissions staff are not available for in-person meetings, nor are we able to accommodate walk-in visitors for student-led tours or special requests of any kind.

INFORMATION SESSION + GUIDED WALKING TOUR

This two-part event introduces you to the Duke experience. Led by an admissions officer, our 30-minute information session includes an overview of our academic opportunities and student life. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions and hear why we love our vibrant community. A 90-minute, student-led campus walking tour will follow.

2 hours; Registration required

DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS

Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina. The closest airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which is a 20-minute drive to Duke. An Amtrak train station and Greyhound bus station are located in downtown Durham, a 7-minute drive from the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Complimentary visitor parking for Undergraduate Admissions programs is available in the gravel lot on Duke University Road, directly across from the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center, which is located at 2080 Duke University Road, Durham, North Carolina, 27708 .

Duke Undergraduate Admissions is located at 2138 Campus Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27706 .

Tours originate from McClendon Commons in the Duke Undergraduate Admissions Office or the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center. Please check tour confirmation messages for details.

Most major hotel chains are located in the Raleigh-Durham area. You may find a list of hotels closest to Duke at the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau here .

VISITING CAMPUS

Duke University Office of Undergraduate Admissions is offering a limited number of group tours .

Please review the Group Tour Policy below before requesting a visit. These are set in place to ensure the best possible visit for you and your students.  

• Group visits are only available to High Schools, Community Based Organizations, and Educational Non-Profits working with current high school students. 
• All group visits must include the supervision of an adult chaperone/teacher at all times. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner and not demonstrate disruptive behavior during the presentation. 
• Requests for group tours are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and may be restricted during peak visitation seasons. 
• During the 2023-2024 academic year, Group Tours are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays only. Available tour times are 10:00 a.m. and 12 Noon. We do not offer visits on the weekend or on University/Federal Holidays.  
• Group tours are not available during semester finals, winter recess, or the months of March, April, May, and August 2024.
• To request a Group Tour, please fill out the Group Tour Request form . 
• If you have any questions, please call our office at 919-684-3214 or email [email protected]  

After we receive your request, we will confirm whether or not we are able to accommodate your request.   Please note that w e cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate all group requests. Y our tour is not confirmed until you receive an email that includes the tour date, time, location, and directions. If confirmed, p lease plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your confirmed event.

We do not offer meetings with admissions officers at this time. However, we invite you to register for our live virtual events, which include information sessions led by admissions officers, student chats, and more.

If you plan to visit campus on your own, download the  Duke Admissions Tour  app which is now available for IPHONE and ANDROID  users. You may also stop by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to pick up a campus map from our outside information box.  

Duke University is not associated with any organizations that promote for-profit campus tours. All official Duke University campus tours are conducted free of charge. Furthermore, the services provided by the Admissions Ambassadors, such as the campus tours and Blue Devil Student Chats are provided free of charge. Duke University is not associated with any organizations that promote for-profit college search and recruitment, and students are not permitted to participate in the admissions ambassador program while working for these for-profit organizations.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

We welcome those we would have previously organized a group visit to campus to sign up for our virtual programming. If you are a community-based organization or college access program with questions about separate programming, please reach out to  [email protected] .

DISCOVER DUKE

Discover Duke events are admissions information sessions that typically last about sixty minutes. Duke admissions officers will provide an overview of the various academic and signature opportunities available to our undergraduates and will share information about our application and financial aid processes.

No events are scheduled at this time. Stay tuned for more information.

EXPLORING COLLEGE OPTIONS

If you are unable to attend a Discover Duke program, you may also join us for  Exploring College Options  with Georgetown University, Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Pratt school of engineering.

Explore Pratt’s newest facilities and get information on various opportunities available to engineering students. Reservations required.

CONNECT WITH FACULTY

If you would like to speak with a faculty member in a particular department or program, we encourage you to reach out directly to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department(s) or program(s) of interest to you.

For majors/programs in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, click here .

For the Pratt School of Engineering, click here .

RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC)

Duke provides Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs for interested students, all of which offer the possibility of financial aid. Representatives from each division are available to answer specific questions.

Air Force (AFROTC) Recruiting Officer: Prof. Ryan Allen 919-660-1869

Army (AROTC) Recruiting Officer: Jeff Daye 919-660-3091

Navy/Marine Corps (NROTC) Recruiting Officer: LT Webb Pierson 919-660-3708

OTHER TOURS

The following options are available when Duke’s campus is open to visitors.

Duke Kunshan University

Did you know Duke has launched a joint-venture university in China, where you could earn a Duke degree while studying internationally ? Request an add-on visit to the DKU Admissions House while at Duke or attend one of our weekly info sessions to learn more about DKU.

Nasher Museum of Art

Check out the collection’s rotating exhibitions and permanent installations. Plan your visit with the self-guided tour map.

Duke Chapel

A new 360-degree virtual tour presents the sights and sounds of Duke Chapel with highlights and anecdotes from the building’s history.

Cameron Indoor Stadium

Discover the Duke Basketball Museum & Duke Athletics Hall of Fame, located adjacent to Cameron in the Schwartz-Butters Athletic Center.

Tours of the Duke University Marine Laboratory , located about 180 miles east of Duke’s main campus, are available to high school or college-aged students who are interested in enrolling. To schedule a tour, please complete this Tour Request Survey  and a staff member will connect with you to schedule via email. Prospective Tours are generally available Monday – Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

The Lemur Center

Visit Duke’s internationally acclaimed Lemur Center to acquaint yourself with more than 200 animals across 14 species housed at the noninvasive research facility.

JOIN US IN DURHAM, NC!

Make duke yours, visit virtually.

Not seeing Duke in person doesn’t mean you can’t experience everything that makes Duke an amazing place to learn, explore, live, and connect. We hope you’ll join us for some or all of our virtual programs.

For help deciding what options are best for you, click below or check out our guide here .

VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION

Hosted by a Duke admissions officer, information sessions introduce you to Duke University. Learn about our academic choices, signature programs, and community experience.

45 minutes; Live; Year-round; Registration Required

REGISTER NOW

If you’re unable to join us live, view a recorded session with admissions officer Milan Hamilton ’20 here:

ADMISSION & FINANCIAL AID AT DUKE

Want to hear more about applying, how Duke admissions officers evaluate applications, and what we look for when reviewing applications? Join us to get all the details!

45 minutes; Live; Year-round; Registration required

DUKE FINANCIAL AID 101

College is a significant expense, but we’re committed to making a Duke education affordable for as many students as possible. Join Duke Financial Support Officers to learn about our financial aid policies and how to apply.

If you aren’t able to join us live, you can view a recorded session with Nicole Knight from Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support here:

VIRTUAL CAMPUS TOUR

Virtual tours offer an opportunity to visit campus from the comfort of your own home. Current student ambassadors guide you through popular spots on campus.

60 minutes; Live; Year-round; Registration required

If you aren’t able to join us live,  VIEW ONE OF OUR RECORDED TOURS .

VIRTUAL PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING TOUR

Interested in engineering? Join current students to explore Pratt’s newest facilities and get information on various opportunities available to engineering students.

60 minutes; Live; Registration required

BLUE DEVIL CHATS

These hour-long programs provide the opportunity to hear from current students about what it’s like to be a Blue Devil and engage with live Q&A. Blue Devil Chats serve as a casual way to connect with Duke students from a variety of backgrounds and interests to help you gain insight into the Duke experience.

More information to come.

COMMUNITY PANELS

Moderated by our admissions staff, Duke Community Panels are 75-minutes long and bring together current students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff from across the Duke community to share their personal experiences, stories, and connections to Duke. This is your opportunity to learn more about why Duke is such an extraordinary place.

Information Session (English)

Hosted by a Duke admissions officer, our information session introduces you to Duke University. Learn about our academic choices, signature programs, and community experience.

30 minutes; Recorded; View anytime

Sesión de Información en Español

Presentado por un oficial de admisiones de Duke, nuestra sesión informativa le presenta Duke University.

18 minutos; Ver en cualquier momento

Financial Aid 101

60 minutes; Recorded; View anytime

West Campus Tour

Duke’s Gothic West Campus is central to the Duke experience. It’s home to many academic departments, residential quads for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, Duke’s professional schools, Duke Chapel, our main library, and major athletic facilities.

5 minutes; Recorded; View anytime

East Campus Tour

At Duke, all first-year undergraduates live together on East Campus, a housing community designed to support the needs and interests of students who are new to college life. On East Campus, students quickly meet classmates from diverse backgrounds and start building life-long friendships.

Virtual Reality Campus Tour

Get a feel for the student experience through our recorded virtual reality tour. The tour explores Duke’s campus highlights as well as residence halls, libraries, and dining locations. START THE TOUR

Join Us Virtually!

When Duke was founded in 1924, the construction of its campus was the single largest Depression-era project in the United States. Today, the Georgian East Campus and neo-Gothic West Campus serve as the core of Duke’s sprawling campus. With more than 250 buildings situated on 8,600+ acres of land, 7,044 of which are forest, you will immediately feel immersed in a “Gothic Wonderland.”

BALDWIN AUDITORIUM

Built in 1927, designed by Duke’s founding architect Julian Abele and situated on East Campus, Baldwin Auditorium serves as one of the university’s core venues in which leading classical soloists and ensembles, vocal ensembles, and jazz ensembles perform.

Built in 1932 at the center of West Campus, Duke Chapel, with its 210-foot tower and a 50-bell carillon, is the architectural symbol of the university.

PERKINS LIBRARY

Perkins Library, together with Duke’s other libraries, comprises one of the nation’s top 10 private research library systems. The libraries’ services and resources include more than six million volumes, more than 20 million manuscripts, more than two million electronic resources, 100,000+ items in digital collections, and tens of thousands of films and videos.

FITZPATRICK CENTER

This 322,000-square-foot collaborative research center brings together faculty in four research initiatives: biology, photonics, materials, and integrated sensors. The $97 million facility also expands the Pratt School of Engineering’s partnership with the School of Medicine by providing laboratories for collaborative research in healthcare, genomics, and biotechnology.

CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM

The crown jewel of college basketball, Cameron Indoor boasts intimate seating arrangements for more than 9,000 fans, including bleacher-style seats alongside the court reserved for students (nicknamed the Cameron Crazies).

Baldwin Auditorium

Perkins Library

Fitzpatrick Center

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Columbia truly is a place like no other—but don’t take our word for it. The best way to get to know our campus , neighborhood , city and community is to experience each one for yourself. 

Whether you want to explore from the comfort of your own home or take in the sights and sounds of New York City firsthand, check out our calendar of virtual and in-person admissions events today! We’re excited to welcome you into the Columbia Blue—and we can’t wait to find out where it takes you.

When I first visited I was struck by all the green spaces and comfortable nooks in and around Columbia. It was a traditional yet uniquely beautiful college campus right here in NYC.

Virtual Experiences Experience Columbia, without leaving home.

Campus Visits Come see for yourself.

Welcome to Columbia University in the City of New York. Our campus is located specifically on the island of Manhattan, which means "island of many hills" in the language of the Lenni Lenape people. We recognize that Manhattan is part of the ancestral and traditional homeland of the Lenni Lenape and Wappinger people, who are still active members of our community throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Learn more about  the history of Indigenous Peoples at Columbia .

Use the Request Information form to receive emails about academics at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, undergraduate life and upcoming events.

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Life at Columbia

Explore what it means to be a student at Columbia. From our location in New York City to our vibrant, on-campus communities, Columbia allows you to discover, live and learn at the center of it all.

Across departments, schools and institutes, Columbians at every level are driven by a passion for discovery,  working in the service of improving human understanding and the advancement of our global society.

How to Apply

The college application process is a time for reflection, research, aspiration and organization. When you’re ready to begin your Columbia journey, we’re ready to help, every step of the way.

Whether it’s finding the right program for you or navigating the application and financial aid process, we’ve got the answers you need. 

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Plan your campus visit

The Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center is your hub for visiting Texas A&M University’s beautiful College Station campus. Our Howdy Crew provides on-campus guided tours to individuals and groups, and virtual, on-demand guided tours for individuals. These tours showcase Texas A&M’s unique, world-class resources.

In-Person Campus Tours

Learn about everything Texas A&M has to offer during a tour while visiting campus in person. Our Howdy Crew tour guides will share information about Aggie traditions, academic resources, living and dining options and campus landmarks. Stops on the in-person tour include the Memorial Student Center, Academic Plaza, Aggie Park and the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building. We also welcome family members to explore campus and join in on tours.

Register online at least two weeks before your visit. If any accommodations are needed for visitors with disabilities, please let us know at that time. If you need to cancel or modify your visit, please email [email protected] .

You may also sign up for an admissions information session, residence hall tour, academic college overview or a visit with the Corps of Cadets.

Sign up for an in-person visit

Visit Campus with a Group

Tour groups can explore Texas A&M's academics, student life, history and application process during a 90-minute in-person tour. For group tours, you must have a minimum of 11 people and no more than 66, including chaperones.

In addition to our campus walking tour, groups may select an admissions information presentation or a tour of our residence halls, during available time slots.

Tours begin at the Visitor Center but may be canceled or moved due to inclement weather.

Sign up for a group tour

Planning Your Group Tour

Please arrive 15-30 minutes before your tour starts. If you will be late, call us at 979-845-5851 and we’ll do our best to work things out. Scheduled activities may be shortened or canceled for groups arriving more than 15 minutes late.

Students must be organized into groups with one chaperone for every 10 students prior to arrival. Chaperones must stay with the group at all times and are responsible for their group's behavior throughout the tour. If you have scheduled other activities on campus, such as dining or self-guided tours, please provide us with your itinerary. We want to help make sure your day runs smoothly.

Groups interested in eating on campus may contact Texas A&M Dining Services to arrange lunch at one of our on-campus dining facilities.

Tips for Your Campus Visit

Below are some suggestions for making your visit go smoothly:

• Plan ahead on how you'll get to College Station. Our campus is conveniently located within a three-hour drive of Houston, Dallas and Austin.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bottle of water. We are proud of our big, beautiful campus, so tours are extensive.
• During warmer weather, apply sunscreen and bring an umbrella for shade. It's hot in Texas!
• Check current conditions and plan accordingly. Aggieland weather can change quickly.
• Prepare questions for our Howdy Crew tour leaders, who are well-versed in hot spots around campus and Bryan-College Station.
• Arrive 15-30 minutes before your tour starts. If you will be late, please call us at 979-845-5851. We'll do our best to work things out, and some events may have to be canceled or rescheduled.

Contact the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center

Questions about your visit? Get in touch!

Call: 979-845-5851

Email: [email protected]

Visit: Texas A&M University, Rudder Tower, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station, TX 77840

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Please note: Hours of operation for the visitor center and tour times are subject to change.

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You want to get to know us more? Great! Whether in-person or online, we want to share the many ways that you can come to call Wellesley home. Since we attract people who are super involved in their schools and communities, we have a lot of different ways to connect. We want you to have all of the information about the things that matter most to you before you make gigantic, life-altering decisions (like where you go to college!).

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Turn Your Visit Into a Vacation at These 10 Colleges

Planning a parents' weekend trip? Here's how to get the most out of your visit.

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In these vibrant college towns, you'll find plenty of culture, history and lesser-known attractions to keep you entertained.

As a new school year soon begins, millions of parents will start planning family weekend trips to college campuses across the country. The annual rite of passage for non-undergrads typically includes attending football games, enjoying homecoming festivities and exploring charming college towns . But at top universities across the country, there's much more to check out than campus activities. Instead, why not explore must-see tourist attractions or discover little-known gems with family members? At these 10 college towns , you'll find small-town charm and enduring vacation appeal. Here's how to map out a mini-vacation on your next parents' weekend visit.

[See: The 12 Best Cities for a Weekend Getaway .]

Ithaca College Ithaca, New York

Located on the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, the longest of New York's 11 Finger Lakes, the Ithaca region affords access to 28,000 acres of forestland for hiking, mountain biking and outdoor recreational pastimes, from boating and swimming to cross-country skiing and ice skating. With the motto "Ithaca is Gorges" for its more than 100 beautiful gorge waterfalls that surround the city, Ithaca's beauty enchants visitors. The 215-foot Taughannock Falls is three stories taller than Niagara Falls. Plus, the region abounds with art galleries, museums and theaters and the Ithaca Discovery Trail makes it easy to partake in the city's top attractions.

East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

The Pocono Mountains, home to East Stroudsburg University, occupy 2,400 square miles of rolling hills, meandering rivers, resplendent mountain terrain and gushing waterfalls. Plus, the Poconos boast more than 150 lakes, where visitors can water ski, canoe or kayak. And it's almost impossible to drive more than a few miles without seeing a water park , including Camelbeach Waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge or the Pocono's newest attraction, Kalahari Resort. When you're not on campus, go horseback riding at one of the many stables throughout the region or play a round of golf at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort's iconic golf course.

Elms College Chicopee, Massachusetts

Take in the sights and sounds of the Basketball Hall of Fame in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, where the sport was invented. Or enjoy the theater, the performing arts and the work of skilled painters and sculptors at some of the finest small museums in the country. If you have extra time to spend in the area after your campus visit, unwind in the nearby Berkshires, enjoy spectacular fall foliage tour with a narrated train ride on the Berkshire Scenic Railway or check out annual festivals include the Boston Symphony Orchestra's residency at Tanglewood Music Center.

Utah Valley University Orem, Utah

Often called "Family City USA," Orem offers a wide variety of fun family attractions catering to visitors of all ages. Spend the afternoon watching the Orem Owlz play baseball, or enjoy a local music and dance events. Provo Canyon is only minutes from town and the outdoors beckons to adventurous visitors in all seasons with opportunities for hiking and fishing at the canyon's six parks. Meanwhile, the Orem Heritage Museum houses an impressive 30,000-piece collection that tells the unique history of the city through artifacts including coal stoves, butter churns, old-fashioned washing machines, popcorn poppers, pioneer clothing and more.

Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico

Silver City bursts with attractions and activities geared toward families. Some 400 miles of fishing streams lace the forest and hiking options abound in every direction as imposing mountains blend into blue skies on the horizon. Named as one of the "100 Best Art Towns in America," Silver City offers the chance for art lovers to spend hours admiring the impressive works of painters at one of the many art galleries in this historic downtown.

[See: The 7 Best Budget-Friendly Vacation Spots for Students .]

College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, Maine

A premier summer resort in the 19th century, Bar Harbor once housed the largest hotel in North America and Millionaire's Row, a cluster of summer estates built for America's richest and most powerful residents. Today, it doesn't require a million dollars to experience all this region has to offer. Aviation enthusiasts can view Acadia National Park and the rock bound shores of Mount Desert Island from either of four different types of aircrafts, including the magic of "open cockpit" flight in a two-passenger biplane. If you want to get your heart racing off of campus, cover 25 miles a day on a bike tour that provides a challenging yet scenic ride along Maine's beautiful coastline.

Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas

Dubbed the "Little Apple," Manhattan, Kansas may not have skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty or Broadway. However, this charming town is surrounded by plenty of hiking and biking trails, 28 public parks and over 108,000 acres of public hunting land. Agritourism has become a popular attraction as farmers and ranchers operate agriculture-based tours to offer visitors a taste of garden- and farm-to-table cuisine. Plus, visitors can easily spend an entire day at the Sunset Zoo, which recently reintroduced a pair of Malayan Tigers.

Pacific University Forest Grove, Oregon

Oregon Pinot varieties were born in Forest Grove, and today budding connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts can learn about this famous Pinot Noir from a local vintner at dozens of local wineries. After enjoying quality time exploring campus, and enjoying the renowned musicians and performances of the acclaimed Performing Art Series at Pacific University, take in the area's 40 specialty stores, antiques, coffee shops, restaurants, spas and galleries. If you want to soak up the great outdoors, peddle along forest trails, country roads and wineries.

University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota

Do you and your relatives love French fries? The world's largest French fry feed is held every September in Grand Forks during Potato Bowl USA. Along the banks of the Red River, Grand Forks offers plenty of family fun with outdoor activities such as biking and camping, and come winter, opportunities for cross-country skiing, sledding and thrilling University of North Dakota hockey games. What's more, North Dakota's first art museum was built in Grand Forks and there's plenty of unique dining spots and accommodations downtown.

[Read: Best Places to Visit in the USA .]

West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas

Not many towns earn top bragging rights for their rich history and heritage, but Canyon is home to 24 historical sites and three of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Texas. Plus, at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, adventurous visitors can immerse themselves in hiking, horseback riding and biking or enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the rim of the canyon. Meanwhile, the TEXAS outdoor musical festival will take you back in time with music, dancing and spectacle relaying the rich history of settlers along the Texas Panhandle. And if you've raised a history-loving kid, when you're not enjoying parents' weekend festivities or roaming around campus, make sure to check out the Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state of Texas.

Tags: Vacations , Travel , colleges

About En Route

Practical advice on the art of traveling smarter with tips, tricks and intel from En Route's panel of experts.

Contributors have experience in areas ranging from family travel, adventure travel, experiential travel and budget travel to hotels, cruises and travel rewards and include Amy Whitley , Claire Volkman , Holly Johnson , Marsha Dubrow , Lyn Mettler , Sery Kim , Kyle McCarthy , Erica Lamberg , Jess Moss , Sheryl Nance-Nash , Sherry Laskin , Katie Jackson , Erin Gifford , Roger Sands , Steve Larese , Gwen Pratesi , Erin Block , Dave Parfitt , Kacey Mya , Kimberly Wilson , Susan Portnoy , Donna Tabbert Long and Kitty Bean Yancey .

Edited by Liz Weiss .

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

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• Admission & Aid

Colgate Visit Experience

Prospective students and their guests are invited to see and experience Colgate’s campus through one of the following visit options. 

Morning Visit Experience

10 a.m. - Noon

10:00 a.m. - Registration, Hurwitz Admission Center,  James B. Colgate Hall 10:15 a.m. - Welcome session led by Admission Officer (15 minutes) 10:30 a.m. - Student-led campus tour (approximately 1 hour) 11:45 a.m. - Wrap up (15 minutes)

Afternoon Visit Experience

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

2:00 p.m. - Registration,  Hurwitz Admission Center,  James B. Colgate Hall 2:15 p.m. - Welcome session led by Admission Officer (15 minutes) 2:30 p.m. - Student-led campus tour (approximately 1 hour) 3:45 p.m. - Wrap up (15 minutes)

Self-Guided Tour

Walk-in visitors are welcome and can register for a self-guided tour upon arrival at the Hurwitz Admission Center, James B. Colgate Hall. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., during the academic year. Summer hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Registration

Pre-registration is required for the Morning and Afternoon Visit Experience. Current availability is reflected on the registration page. We are not able to maintain a waitlist for campus visits, and registration must be completed online. Please contact our office if you need to cancel or reschedule your visit.

Register and additional information

Virtual Tours

Narrated by a Colgate student, Colgate's virtual tour takes you to more than 20 locations on campus. Also check out supplemental tours of Colgate's library facilities.

Take a virtual tour

Colgate Admission Conversations

Meet virtually with a current Colgate student

Our virtual tour, information session, and campus visit are a great introduction to Colgate University, but we know you may have additional questions or desire additional perspective. Colgate Admission Conversations, formerly referred to as virtual interviews, are a great opportunity for current high school seniors to meet 1:1 with a current Colgate student to have your questions answered and gain valuable insight from those who know Colgate best.

Colgate Admission Conversations, as part of Colgate’s admission process, are not required, and are non-evaluative.

The campus and its surroundings are inspiring. Eric Fishbin ’20

Virtual Campus Tour

Launch Experience

Favorite Places on Campus

“My favorite places on campus are the great views and cozy nooks of Case-Geyer Library.”

“My favorite place on campus is willow path when the lights are up, because it brings warmth to my life when I walk home after a long night in the library.”

“My favorite place on campus is the fireplace in the COOP.”

“If I had to pick one place, it would be Foggy Bottom Observatory. I’ve spent countless hours at the telescope, in the warm room, and taking photos of the night sky.”

Plan Your Trip

College Visits: Do's, Don'ts for Parents

Be alert without smothering, help take notes and ask questions that prompt reflection.

College Visits: Do's, Don'ts for Parents

Getty Images

Parents should assist their child on campus visits without micromanaging or projecting their own wishes.

It is common and even expected that parents be part of visits to their children’s prospective colleges . After all, someone needs to book the trip, be a chaperone for overnight visits and more.

But how involved should parents be in activities once everyone arrives on campus? Here is a short list of what parents should and should not do during college visits.

Don’t Micromanage

If your child will be going away to college, he or she will soon have to do many things independently. Everyday tasks like laundry, meal prep and cleaning up, which you and your family may still assist with, will soon be the sole responsibility of the student. Factor in the more demanding academic rigors of college, and you realize your child will soon have a lot more on his or her plate than before.

If you have always been extremely involved in your child’s life, it is time to let go of the reins so that your child is more psychologically prepared when the first day of college arrives. Start by letting your child make decisions about college visits, such as when to travel and which campus tour to sign up for. This way, your child will have a better feeling about the visit.

Don’t Project Your Wishes

College visits can be as exciting for parents as they are for students. You may be eager for your child to consider certain features of the campus or advise him or her based on what would be important to you as a college student.

However, this can be frustrating to high schoolers whose personalities and interests differ from yours. For instance, you may urge your child to get a sense of campus culture by attending a football game, yet your child may be more interested in seeing the libraries and study spaces.

It is best to avoid living vicariously through your child. Instead, put yourself in your child’s shoes and let him or her decide what is worth doing during the visit.

Keep Detailed Notes

Campus visits are characterized by stimulation and novelty; everyone sees and experiences a great deal in a short time. With all the excitement, you may not think to take notes, or you may trust yourself to remember the visit well. However, this would be a mistake, as you and your child are bound to forget the finer details, especially if you tour various colleges in a row.

As such, it is highly recommended that you and your student take handwritten or electronic notes. You could even volunteer to be the “scribe,” so the endeavor feels like less of a burden for your child.

For each visit, you could maintain a chart with categories for your child's observations, such as “What I Liked,” “What I Didn’t Like” and “What I’m Unsure About.” Alternatively, you could agree to rank different aspects of the college dining options, student body diversity , closeness of lecture halls, etc. on a numeric or star scale.

It is equally important to reflect on these areas again once the visit is over and the dust has settled, giving everyone more clarity. Your child may realize that a category that initially seemed important while on campus is no longer a top priority.

Ask Questions That Prompt Reflection

If you think it is important that your child consider certain aspects of the campus, but you want to avoid sounding bossy, ask questions that prompt reflection.

For instance, you might say, “Should we go look at the fitness center in case you start working out?” or “Would it be a good idea to visit the science labs, since you’ll probably be spending a lot of time there?” Such questions can guide your child indirectly without giving the impression that you are exerting your will.

Be Alert Without Smothering

During a campus visit, your child might want to spend some time on his or her own, and it is important that you let that happen within reason. Alone time can give your child a chance to make friends on campus and get more acquainted with the college culture.

To this end, be attentive without smothering your child. For instance, you can agree to meet up after a certain hour or schedule check-in calls to make sure everything is okay. Again, the point is to give your child a healthy taste of the independence he or she is on the brink of having.

14 Tips for an Effective College Visit

About College Admissions Playbook

Stressed about getting into college? College Admissions Playbook, authored by Varsity Tutors , offers prospective college students advice on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, SAT and ACT exams and the college application process. Varsity Tutors, an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report, is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. The company's end-to-end offerings also include mobile learning apps, online learning environments and other tutoring and test prep-focused technologies. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

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Why Visit Colleges?

Find the right college for you..

A key part of deciding which college to go to is finding a good fit. And a great way to get more information is to visit the colleges in person.

Virtual tours are also a great way to learn more about a campus. It can help you determine whether a college is the right place for you and prepare you for a campus visit at your convenience.

A Firsthand View

Why are college visits important? A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, brochure, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the college , you need to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.

Get Answers to Your Questions.

A visit also lets you talk to students, faculty, financial aid staff, and admissions officers. You can get answers to important questions like these:

• What’s the campus meal plan like? How is the food? What are the options?
• What's the social scene like? What kinds of activities are available?
• Is there plenty of dorm space or a housing crunch?
• How many students are commuters? How many are campus residents?
• Is there a health center? What mental health resources are available?
• What career development resources are available? What student employment opportunities are available?

Use this checklist for a campus visit to remind yourself of everything you want to do once you reach your destination.

Your family members can also participate in the visit and any information sessions. They can help you decide which colleges to apply to and which one to attend.

Benefits of a Campus Visit.

Visiting a college is a great starting point. Pick up any official college material you see on the campus tour, such as brochures and financial aid forms.

Don't forget to get business cards, too, so you'll have a real, live contact if you have a question about admissions or financial aid. Do college visits help with admissions? Yes, these visits allow you to speak to the admissions officer handling your application.

Student newspapers and activity calendars give you a sense of what campus life is really like. Check out bulletin boards to see what bands are coming to the campus, what parties are advertised, what internships are posted, and what the day-to-day energy of the place is like.

Get Ready to Decide.

It’s your decision. Heed your intuition. Do you feel comfortable walking around campus? Do you feel at home? Do you click with the students and faculty? Is this what you imagined college to be like? Spending time on campus helps you determine whether a college is a good fit.

Adapted from  Campus Visits and College Interviews  by Zola Dincin Schneider. 

Related Articles

'Mama June: Family Crisis': Honey Boo Boo Tells Her Mom Not to Visit Her at College (Exclusive)

Alana ‘honey boo boo’ thompson tells mama june not to visit her in college (exclusive), dakota fanning on adapting paris hilton’s memoir and ‘happiest times’ since turning 30 (exclusive), ‘below deck’: ‘rhony’ alum jill zarin fires back at being called ‘insufferable’, chance the rapper and wife announce split after 5 years of marriage, michael j. fox watches old interviews and pokes fun at his younger self (exclusive), elizabeth hurley reacts to son damian directing her ‘steamy’ scenes | spilling the e-tea, travis kelce jokes about future baby names amid taylor swift romance, erin and ben napier clap back at 'nasty' feedback from haters about their home renovations, 'sasquatch sunset': riley keough, jesse eisenberg & christophe zajac-denek on being spotted filming, raven-symoné clears up 'african american' comments from viral oprah winfrey interview, nicole richie and joel madden's teenage kids join them for a rare appearance, dave coulier reveals emotional voicemail from late bob saget, sonequa martin-green on potential for a ‘star trek: discovery’ movie after series finale (exclusive), cailee spaeny shows off her real-life photog skills at ‘civil war’ premiere (exclusive), lionel richie says 'pop pop is ready' for daughter sofia's baby to arrive (exclusive), michael j. fox reacts to ‘surprising’ baftas standing ovation (exclusive), jason kelce shares his weight loss goal following nfl retirement, diddy's longtime collaborator opens up about house raids, says mogul is devastated, arnold schwarzenegger embarrasses travis kelce over past dwayne johnson comments, why mama june's husband thinks she’ll ‘ruin’ their marriage, in a new clip, alana 'honey boo boo' thompson is setting boundaries with her mom as she prepares to head off to school..

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson is making it very clear that her family is not welcome at her college. 

In an exclusive clip from an upcoming episode of Mama June: Family Crisis , the 18-year-old reality star -- who is currently enrolled at Regis University in Denver, Colorado -- quickly shuts down her relatives insinuating that they will be frequent visitors on campus. 

"So if we come out there every other weekend, that's cool with you?" Mama June Shannon , 44, asks Alana. The camera then quickly cuts to Alana before panning to June's older daughter, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird , looking shocked for her sister. 

"I'm not going to open my front door," Alana shouts across the room to her mother.

In a side interview without her family around, Alana says she thought the 1,500 mile move from Georgia to Colorado would be enough of a signal to her mom that she wanted some space. 

"When I moved to Colorado, I'm moving for a reason," she tells the camera. "I'm moving away -- away from the drama, away from Mama."

Drama is one way to describe the situation between Alana and her mom. A description for the upcoming episode indicates that after "an emotional set of goodbyes" and Alana's move to college, Lauryn visits her sister in Denver and the pair discuss June allegedly stealing money from Alana . 

In an episode at the end of March, Lauryn and Alana looked at a special bank account set up for the younger sibling from her years as a child actor only to discover that the account contained just $33,000, far less than the "six figures" or more that they were expecting. It was that rude awakening that ultimately led to Alana  being upset when her mom was invited to her going-away party for college. 

The new clip from the upcoming April 5 episode appears to show that the animosity between mother and daughter -- or at least the hostility on Alana's behalf -- has not faded in the slightest. 

"I don't really want you to come out and visit me in Colorado," Alana says of her mom in an interview with the show's producers. "You done put me through all this drama and stress back home in Georgia, just imagine what you finna going to go out there and do in Colorado."

The video ultimately cuts back to Alana's going-away party, where June expresses her interest once again in visiting her daughter out in the Centennial State, which Alana once again rejects.

"I hope you do, like, follow your dreams and wherever it takes you. We're only a phone call away, or a flight away, or a 23-hour drive," June tells her daughter. "Honestly, I think Colorado will be our new vacation spot."

"No, I don't think it will, I think you should just stay in Florida where y'all normally vacay," Alana responds back, pointedly. 

Mama June: Family Crisis  airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on WeTV.

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Nebraska legislators buck Trump by blocking Electoral College vote change — for now

Nebraska legislators on Wednesday night blocked a late effort to change how the state allocates its Electoral College votes, despite public pressure from former President Donald Trump to shift to a winner-take-all system that would likely benefit him in the fall .

The measure fell short, 8-36, in a procedural vote. While it’s possible supporters could take another stab at advancing the proposal, there remain serious hurdles as the legislative session draws to a close, and it’s unclear whether the proposal has enough support to get across the finish line and become law.

Nebraska currently doles out three of its five electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts. In practice, that puts the competitive 2nd District in the Omaha area in play, even though Republicans typically win the statewide vote easily.

Wednesday night's failed attempt to change the law to award all the state’s Electoral College votes to the statewide winner leaves the fate of the proposal in doubt with a few days left in the legislative session.

State Sen. Loren Lippincott, who introduced the original winner-take-all bill, told the Nebraska Examiner that he’d make one final attempt to bring the measure up for a vote before the legislative session ends April 18. However, it's unclear whether there’s enough support for the change to move forward.

Lippincott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republican state Sen. Julie Slama had offered the electoral bill’s legislative text as an amendment to existing legislation, the quickest pathway to get a vote on the proposal.

But the amendment was rejected after three dozen lawmakers voted that it wasn’t relevant enough to the underlying legislation to be considered as an amendment, failing state law that requires an amendment to be “germane.” Slama was among the eight who voted that the amendment was relevant.

Lawmakers have repeatedly tried to change the state’s Electoral College allocation, failing narrowly in 2016 . Lippincott introduced the latest legislative proposal last year; it received little attention until this week when GOP personality Charlie Kirk raised the issue on his podcast.

On Tuesday, Trump and Nebraska GOP Gov. Jim Pillen called on state legislators to take steps that would implement a winner-take-all system . Less than 24 hours later, the legislation, which had once seemed to be all-but-forgotten, came roaring back to life

The renewed effort also attracted attention from President Joe Biden’s campaign. Brent Comstock, a consultant who works with several elected Democrats in Nebraska and nationwide, confirmed that the Biden campaign reached out to Democrats in the state about the vote.

“Democrats in Nebraska care about the importance of the president’s agenda and want him to succeed here in [congressional district] 2 and across the state,” Comstock told NBC News. “They’re working together to make sure that happens: More jobs, access to health care, clean energy.”

Shortly before Wednesday night's vote, Slama said on the floor that she could “read the writing on the wall.” She went on to blast her fellow Republicans for not supporting the measure, arguing that their vote against the “germaneness” of the amendment was a repudiation of the winner-take-all system itself. She also blamed them for not prioritizing the legislation when it was introduced more than a year ago and paying lip service to the proposal.

“If you’re going to tweet out on an issue, if you’re gonna put out press releases on an issue and try to pressure the Legislature to do something, maybe when the concept actually comes up and people are voting on it, maybe you all should do the work,” she said.

Shortly after the vote, Slama replied to a Nebraska journalist on social media saying she didn’t believe the issue would come up for a vote again this legislative session. It’s possible that Republicans like Lippincott can make another attempt, but with just a few legislative days left in the unicameral body’s session, Republicans have warned there may not be enough time or support to overcome procedural hurdles.

Absent another shot at a vote, it’s also possible that Pillen, who has been a vocal supporter of changing to a winner-take-all system, could call a special legislative session to address the issue. But even so, Republican lawmakers have openly questioned whether the plan has enough support to overcome opposition from Democrats and independents.

Republicans have long been attempting to move to a winner-take all system in Nebraska. Proponents, like Slama, argue the current allocation diminishes the state’s political power.

“Nebraska waters down their influence when other states have not followed Nebraska’s lead when it comes to the apportionment of presidential votes,” she said on the floor Wednesday night.

But the bill’s opponents had harsh words for the legislation and for its backers.

Some blasted the effort to revive the bill, accused Republicans of taking orders from Trump and conservative activists, and hurled insults at Trump and Kirk. Others said Republicans were playing politics at the last minute, near the end of the legislative session.

“What happens at some point when Democrat votes outweigh Republican votes? Is everybody going to want to change it back?” Democratic state Sen. Jen Day asked, while defending the existing setup.

“By dividing its electoral votes, Nebraska forces candidates to engage with constituents across the state, listening to their concerns and crafting policies that resonate with a broader spectrum of the population. Doesn’t that sound great?”

Nebraska is one of only two states that doesn’t award all its Electoral College votes to the statewide winner, a method it adopted ahead of the 1992 presidential election. Since then, the state’s Omaha-area district has awarded its vote to a candidate other than the statewide winner just two times — to Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020.

While the debate is functionally about just one out of 538 Electoral College votes, shutting Biden out from competing for the 2nd District vote could be pivotal in a tight presidential race.

A potential outcome could involve both presidential candidates getting 269 Electoral College votes — one vote shy of the 2070 needed to win. In that situation, the race would be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, where each state gets one vote.

Ben Kamisar is a deputy political editor in NBC's Political Unit. 

Bridget Bowman is a deputy editor for NBC's Political Unit.

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Charles White Locks In KU Visit

Charles White talks Kansas visit with Blue Wings Rising

• Author: Caleb Sisk

In this story:

Kansas has consistently been in an attempt to get more people on campus for visits which is a big factor when considering a school. Visits could be the main reason behind a commitment as the prospect experiences his potential future for the next 3-5 years. One of the newest members of the official visit list is Charles White.

Charles (DJ) White is a St. Mary’s high school linebacker from Orchard Lake, Michigan. He is a 2025 prospect and plays linebacker. He also is rated as a three-star.

Below is his official visit announcement.

He spoke with Blue Wings Rising following the announcement to talk more about his expectations and Kansas as a whole.

He talked a bit about what he believes makes Kansas so unique compared to other schools. “Definitely the new facilities.”

“Building a bond with the coaches even more and seeing the campus is what I look forward to the most on my visit to Kansas.”

White dove deeper into his pitch from Coach Simpson who has confirmed he is the closest with. “His pitch to me is that I’m a very versatile player and he likes the physicality that I have and bring.”

As mentioned earlier a visit can be a make or break for a prospect. He talked about how big of a deal it is moving forward. “This definitely plays a big factor because of my relationship with the coaches. It will also help me with my decision as to where I want to go in plus I get to bring my brother and parents which is going to be great so that’s a huge key for the visit.”

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