College Resource Center

Checking out the college campuses before applying gives you a good sense of whether or not you will like the school. Not only are their academic accolades important, but more importantly, is this a school you can live with for the next four or five years? So before you start making a short list of colleges and universities that you’ll send applications to, visit the college campus and take the tour.

Join a college campus tour during the week so that you can see what it’s like to be there during the school day. You’ll see the interaction among students and also see what classroom interaction is like, if there is any interaction at all. Call on the admissions office to see if they offer overnight visits. This is a great way for you to see firsthand what it’s like to live there. You’ll be able to stay with a student on campus, eat at their dining hall and perhaps attend a class or sporting event. Campus tours are conducted by students and you’ll be able to hear firsthand about their own experiences at the school. Make the most of your visit by using a college campus visit checklist.

Here are some things to consider when going on a college campus tour:

Location
The location and size of a college campus is important for many students. Is it a small college in a large city? Is it a large university in a small town? Or is it a large univeristy with numeruous buildings sprawled all over a large city? What do they mean when they say it gets cold? What’s it like being living in a beachside college campus?

Environment
What does the campus look like and how do you feel about it? Is it safe and secure in a city environment? Are the buildings old with lots of character? Are the dorms and apartments clean and welcoming? Are the classrooms well equiped with the latest technological advancements? What’s an average class size? Who teaches the classes assistants or professors?

Social
Do most students stay on campus? Do they live off campus? Is it a commuter school? What’s the social scene like on the weekends? Is it dead as a doornail after 5pm on a Friday afternoon? Or does it get vibrant and energized as the last class of the day winds down? Do people hang out in the square? What do the students do on the weekends?

Facilities
Is there a gym on campus and how easily accessible are the treadmills? Are there classes you can take to keep in shape? Can you join a sports team or pick up games? What’s the library like and do students really use it? Computer facilities in case yours craps out on you?

Dining Options
What’s the dining hall like? Do you have a choice of places to eat on campus? Are these part of your meal plan? What about off campus dining options? Where does everyone go to hang out and eat/drink?

Greek Life
Are there fraternities and sororities? Where are their houses located? What types of organizations are there?

Don’t solely rely on the photo galleries that are posted on the school website or admissions brochures to give you an idea of what the school is like. Going to the school and doing a college campus tour is such an important part of making the ultimate college choice. Knowing whether you can live with your school’s environment is even more so. The college experience is about the social environment and taking a college campus tour will give you a glimpse of what college life will be like at that school. Seeing the college campus firsthand and experiencing the school during a school day will go a long way towards making the right decision about your college.