Visiting a College Campus

 

 

You may be able to take a "virtual tour" online - check out www.campustours.com to see if the school you are interested in has this capability. 

Campus visitations should be made the summer before your senior year.  PCHS allows a student to have ONE college visit (the absence will NOT count toward finals) the spring semester of junior year OR the fall semester of senior year. 

Plan to visit a college campus when classes are in session (because this gives the most realistic impression of the school) and the admissions office is open.  Columbus Day (October) and Veteran's Day (November) are high school vacation days when colleges remain in session.  Most colleges have special open houses on those days. 

Before you go to visit...

Call the admissions office in advance, preferrably 2 - 3 weeks, and tell them the date and time you expect to arrive.  You might want to bring a copy of your transcript for the admissions counselor to review with you.  If you want to stay overnight in a dorm, ask if they can make arrangements.  Also find out if you can visit classes and or talk to current students about the college environment and its academic, extracurricular and social life. 

While you are there...

You may be able to learn about the college by meeting with an admissions counselor or attend an information session, taking a tour of the campus (including visiting the dorms), sitting in on a class, having a meal in the cafeteria, picking up copies of the student newspaper and / or alumni magazine.  Throughout the visit, taking to as many students as you can and don't be bashful about asking questions!  Make sure that you take some time to explore the campus on your own and absorb the atmosphere.  Ask yourself...Is this a place where I would feel comfortable living and would I be able to learn and do my best?

Questions to ask...

When you talk to students... If you attend a class... If you talk to an admissions counselor...

• How many hours per week do you study?  Is that typical here?

• How many hours per week do you work?

• Are campus jobs readily available?

• Are faculty members interested in students and are they available outside of class?

• Do many students go home on weekends?

• Are the athletic facilities open to all students are only to athletes?

• Is it possible to study in your dorm?

• Is the food good?

• What is the technolgy like?  Is there easy access to it?

• What's the library like as a place to study?  To do research?

• What do you like most about this college?  Least?

• How easy is it to get the classes you want?

• If you could change something about this school, what would it be?

• Are students prepared for the class?  Do they seem interested in the material?

• What type of technology is used in the class?

• Do I feel that the students are learning - either new facts or new ways of thinking about a subject?

• Do I like the size of the class? 

• If there time for questions and discussions?  Do students participate?

• Am I challenged by what is taking place in the class?

• Is there a good relationship between professors and students?

• What variety of programs does the college have that fit my interests?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the college's advisors / counselors?

• How many students will there be in the courses I'm likely to take in my first year?  Are those courses taught by professors or graduate assistants?

• How easy is it to switch majors?

• What kids of campus jobs are available for first-year students?

• Will there be any new programs or facilities in the next two years?

• What are the college's recent graduates doing now?

• What percentage of students return after their freshman year?  What percentage of freshmen graduate in four years?

• What kind of career planning services are available?

• Go over the detailed list of the costs of the school (housing, lab fees, fees to add/drop classes, computer fees, security deposits, etc.) - you might need to talk to the financial aid department