Plan A College Visit To Find My Perfect College

Plan a College Visit to
Find My Perfect
College
Compiled by:
Table of Contents
Choose the Type of College Visit that Works for You
Twenty Questions to Ask During a College Visit (Plus Nine Annoying Questions Your Parents Should Ask)
How to Get More from a College Tour
Take a Virtual College Tour
Ten Questions for Commuter Students to Ask on a College Visit
How a College Visit Can Help Me Decide what College Is Right for Me
Real Life Story: How College Visits Helped One Student Find His Dream College
Am I Ready for a College Visit?
Plan a College Visit to Find My Perfect College
Do I need this EduGuide?
Yes, if you are a high school student who wants to attend college. To get the most from a college tour, you've got to plan your college
visit carefully. Read on for ideas that will help you gain the greatest benefit from your college tours.
How does it work?
2 ONLINE EDUGUIDE
l Quizzes help you know where you stand. www.EduGuide.org
l Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.
Plan a College Visit to Find My Perfect College
Do I need this EduGuide?
Yes, if you are a high school student who wants to attend college. To get the most from a college tour, you've got to plan your college
visit carefully. Read on for ideas that will help you gain the greatest benefit from your college tours.
How does it work?
l Quizzes help you know where you stand.
l Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.
l Real Life Stories tell the actual experiences of real parents and real kids.
l ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.
What will I learn?
l What to expect from different types of college visits
l What questions to ask on a college tour and what questions your parents should ask
l Where to find Web sites where you can take a virtual college tour
l How other students chose their dream college
l What questions a commuter student should ask when looking at schools
Quick Solutions
l What can I do in fifteen minutes? Find out if you’ve done the necessary background work to take a college tour by taking the
quiz "Am I Ready for a College Visit?" Call a college admissions office and schedule a personal visit. Review the ShortCut
“Twenty Questions to Ask During a College Visit” so you feel prepared and confident when you take a campus tour.
l What can I do in an hour? Research faraway colleges on your dream list online through virtual college tours. Talk with your
parents about the things you are looking for in a college so that you are all on the same wavelength during your college search.
EduGuide Staff
Open House
A college open house can bring hundreds of prospective students to campus. The event may include an introduction by admissions
3 personnel in an auditorium or lecture hall, group tours of campus, and informational sessions on college admissions requirements,
ONLINE EDUGUIDE www.EduGuide.org
financial aid, and academics.

EduGuide Staff
Open House
A college open house can bring hundreds of prospective students to campus. The event may include an introduction by admissions
personnel in an auditorium or lecture hall, group tours of campus, and informational sessions on college admissions requirements,
financial aid, and academics.
Pros: You’ll get a general overview of the college or university without having to go through a personal interview. You get to see the big
picture. A college open house can offer a good first look at a school.
Cons: Because you will be one of hundreds of students on campus, you won’t be able to ask questions or spend time visiting
particular areas that interest you. You may not get a true feel for the campus because there will be many more people on campus than
usual.
Group Tour
To make the best use of staff and volunteer tour guides, many schools hold group tours. Visiting students may have private interviews
with admissions counselors before or after their tour, but campus tours follow a set schedule.
Pros: Other students or parents in the group may ask questions you hadn’t thought about. You’ll benefit from the answers to their
questions.
Cons: Because the group tour follows a set itinerary and schedule, you won’t have time to linger in a building or campus area that
interests you. Individual requests can’t be addressed during this kind of tour.
Private Tour
While many admissions offices prefer to give group tours, you can request a private tour of campus. You, your parent, and a student
tour guide will explore campus together and either begin or end your visit with an admissions interview and possibly a meeting with a
financial aid representative. If you requested it, you may be able to chat with a faculty member, sit in on a class, or eat lunch in the
cafeteria.
Pros: This visit is all about you. You can ask the tour guide about things that are important to you. You can ask to see areas of the
campus that might not be on the standard tour. You may have more time to see the athletic facilities or talk with a professor.
Cons: If you’re shy, you may not feel comfortable being the center of attention. You won’t have the benefit of hearing other people’s
questions and comments.
Specialty Event
Campus events for prospective students with specific interests, such as fine arts, science and math, athletics, or leadership, are
similar to college open houses, but they target a particular group. Activities can include participating in classes in the area of interest,
meeting with faculty, and listening to panel presentations by students in the majors that are the focus of the event.
Pros: You’ll get to meet prospective students with interests similar to yours. You’ll meet faculty and students in your potential major.
You’ll receive more indepth information about the school’s program.
Cons: Group tours and presentations may not give you the opportunity to ask questions. Also, because the day is geared toward
presenting one aspect of the college experience, you may miss out on other facets of campus life.
4 ONLINE EDUGUIDE www.EduGuide.org

Pros: You’ll get to meet prospective students with interests similar to yours. You’ll meet faculty and students in your potential major.
You’ll receive more indepth information about the school’s program.
Cons: Group tours and presentations may not give you the opportunity to ask questions. Also, because the day is geared toward
Twenty Questions to Ask During a College Visit (Plus Nine Annoying
Questions Your Parents Should Ask)
EduGuide Staff
The object of the game Twenty Questions is to get enough information to be able to correctly identify an object. These twenty questions
can help you figure out whether a school is the perfect college for you. Ask them during your college tour or admissions interview.
Five Questions To Ask the Admissions Counselor
1. What services are available to help students make a successful transition to college life?
2. Are most freshman classes taught by professors or by graduate students? How many students are likely to be in my firstyear
and introductory classes?
3. What kind of financial aid do most students receive? What scholarship, workstudy, and grant programs am I eligible for?
4. What makes this college different from [a similar or competing college]?
5. Do most of the college’s students get good jobs after graduation? Do many apply to graduate school? Do they have a high
acceptance rate?
Five Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Students
1. What do students do on the weekends? Do most students go home, or are there lots of activities to participate in?
2. Do you feel that your professors really care about you and the other students? Can you get help when you need it?
3. Where else did you look when you were applying to colleges, and what made you choose this one?
4. Is there anything you don’t like about this school? What do you like best?
5. What are the top three issues that concern students here?
Five Questions to Ask a Professor
1. What is a typical workload of homework, papers, and tests in your classes?
2. How accessible are you to students? Are you only available during office hours, or do you interact with students outside of
class?
3. What are the main differences I can expect between a high school and a college class?
4. Do students have the opportunity to assist with faculty research? Are students encouraged to pursue their own research?
5. What do you like most about teaching here? Why did you decide to teach at this school?
Five Questions to Ask Yourself
1. Will I fit in with the students I’ve seen and met during my visit?
2. Will the academic programs challenge me and prepare me for a career?
3. Are there clubs, activities, and organizations that interest me?
4. Did I feel welcomed by the staff and students? Can I picture myself living here for four or more years?
Nine Annoying Questions Your Parents Should Ask
1. What is college campus safety like? Can students request escorts to their dorms late at night? Are there emergency call boxes
throughout campus? What kind of training do campus security personnel receive?
2. What security measures are in place in the dormitories? How is access to the dorms controlled?
Twenty Questions to Ask During a College Visit (Plus Nine Annoying
Questions Your Parents Should Ask)
EduGuide Staff
The object of the game Twenty Questions is to get enough information to be able to correctly identify an object. These twenty questions
can help you figure out whether a school is the perfect college for you. Ask them during your college tour or admissions interview.
Five Questions To Ask the Admissions Counselor
1. What services are available to help students make a successful transition to college life?
2. Are most freshman classes taught by professors or by graduate students? How many students are likely to be in my firstyear
and introductory classes?
3. What kind of financial aid do most students receive? What scholarship, workstudy, and grant programs am I eligible for?
4. What makes this college different from [a similar or competing college]?
5. Do most of the college’s students get good jobs after graduation? Do many apply to graduate school? Do they have a high
acceptance rate?
Five Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Students
1. What do students do on the weekends? Do most students go home, or are there lots of activities to participate in?
2. Do you feel that your professors really care about you and the other students? Can you get help when you need it?
3. Where else did you look when you were applying to colleges, and what made you choose this one?
4. Is there anything you don’t like about this school? What do you like best?
5. What are the top three issues that concern students here?
Five Questions to Ask a Professor
1. What is a typical workload of homework, papers, and tests in your classes?
2. How accessible are you to students? Are you only available during office hours, or do you interact with students outside of
class?
3. What are the main differences I can expect between a high school and a college class?
4. Do students have the opportunity to assist with faculty research? Are students encouraged to pursue their own research?
5. What do you like most about teaching here? Why did you decide to teach at this school?
Five Questions to Ask Yourself
1. Will I fit in with the students I’ve seen and met during my visit?
2. Will the academic programs challenge me and prepare me for a career?
3. Are there clubs, activities, and organizations that interest me?
4. Did I feel welcomed by the staff and students? Can I picture myself living here for four or more years?
Nine Annoying Questions Your Parents Should Ask
3. Can students have overnight guests? Are there rules about visitation by members of the opposite sex? Are there any single
sex dorms? How about substancefree dorms?
4. What academic and emotional support systems are available to students? Do you have a counseling center? Is there tutoring
help available?
3. Can students have overnight guests? Are there rules about visitation by members of the opposite sex? Are there any single
sex dorms? How about substancefree dorms?
4. What academic and emotional support systems are available to students? Do you have a counseling center? Is there tutoring
help available?
5. What medical services are available on campus? Where is the nearest hospital? How are students billed for medical
services? Is student health insurance available?
6. Is there much partying on campus? Are there certain activities that are grounds for expulsion? Will I be informed if my child
does something illegal?
7. How are roommates chosen? What is the process for handling conflicts or incompatibility between roommates?
8. What is the return rate for secondyear students? What are some of the reasons students leave or transfer?
9. What is a typical financial aid package like? Do most students receive financial aid? Can you help us with the financial
paperwork? Under what conditions might my child lose financial aid?
Plus a College Visit Checklist
EduGuide Staff
A college tour is designed to make you want to attend that school. You need to look past the lovely architecture and the tour guide’s
upbeat script to get a true feel for the campus. Try these tactics.
Sit in on a lecture. See how the students interact with each other and with the professor. Could you learn in this environment? What is
your impression of studentteacher relationships?
Visit a dorm room. Most schools have several living facilities, so try to visit them all. Do you feel comfortable? Check out the bulletin
boards to get a feel for student life. Are there notices about social events, community service opportunities, people needing rides
home, ads for tutoring services? These notices tell you a lot about what's important to students.
How’s the food? Visit the dining hall or the food court. Look at what it has to offer, and sit down for a meal. You'll get most of your
meals here here, so make sure you like the food. Sure the unlimited ice cream looks enticing, but are there also a variety of healthy
foods to eat?
Read the paper. A school newspaper will give you a good idea of what goes on in and around campus when the school isn’t doing the
new recruit dance. Look at the articles, the letters to the editor, and the ads to catch an accurate glimpse of campus life.
Look at a restroom. Seriously, do it. Unsanitary restrooms may be a sign of other deficiencies. If the campus areas used by the public
aren’t up to par, what about the areas that you don’t usually see? Peeling paint in dorms or sagging lounge furniture also tell a story
you may not want to hear.
Checklist: Did I Get Enough Information from My College Visit?
After several college visits, your head may be spinning. Was college A or B the one with the terrific computer labs? The dorms at
college C were old, but the library was state of the art. If you’ve taken detailed notes during each college tour, you’ll be able to recall
your impressions once you’re home and have more time to think about your choices.
Use this checklist to make sure you have all the information you need:
l Academic programs: majors, class size, study abroad, research opportunities
l Housing: dormitories, offcampus student housing
l Campus student life: clubs and organizations, politics, social activism, entertainment
l Athletics: organized sports teams, intramural sports
l Student support: tutoring, counseling center, career center, computer labs, college campus safety
l Campus facilities: library, gym, dining hall, student union, commuter lounge, performing arts center
l Campus atmosphere: casual, formal, high pressure, laid back

To make it easier to keep track of the colleges you visit, you can download this “College Visit Summary Sheet” from the book “Making It Into a Top
College” (HarperCollins: 2009) ©Howard and Matthew Greene.
paperwork? Under what conditions might my child lose financial aid?
Plus a College Visit Checklist
EduGuide Staff
A college tour is designed to make you want to attend that school. You need to look past the lovely architecture and the tour guide’s
upbeat script to get a true feel for the campus. Try these tactics.
Sit in on a lecture. See how the students interact with each other and with the professor. Could you learn in this environment? What is
your impression of studentteacher relationships?
Visit a dorm room. Most schools have several living facilities, so try to visit them all. Do you feel comfortable? Check out the bulletin
boards to get a feel for student life. Are there notices about social events, community service opportunities, people needing rides
home, ads for tutoring services? These notices tell you a lot about what's important to students.
How’s the food? Visit the dining hall or the food court. Look at what it has to offer, and sit down for a meal. You'll get most of your
meals here here, so make sure you like the food. Sure the unlimited ice cream looks enticing, but are there also a variety of healthy
foods to eat?
Read the paper. A school newspaper will give you a good idea of what goes on in and around campus when the school isn’t doing the
new recruit dance. Look at the articles, the letters to the editor, and the ads to catch an accurate glimpse of campus life.
Look at a restroom. Seriously, do it. Unsanitary restrooms may be a sign of other deficiencies. If the campus areas used by the public
aren’t up to par, what about the areas that you don’t usually see? Peeling paint in dorms or sagging lounge furniture also tell a story
you may not want to hear.
Checklist: Did I Get Enough Information from My College Visit?
After several college visits, your head may be spinning. Was college A or B the one with the terrific computer labs? The dorms at
college C were old, but the library was state of the art. If you’ve taken detailed notes during each college tour, you’ll be able to recall
your impressions once you’re home and have more time to think about your choices.
Use this checklist to make sure you have all the information you need:
l Academic programs: majors, class size, study abroad, research opportunities
l Housing: dormitories, offcampus student housing
l Campus student life: clubs and organizations, politics, social activism, entertainment
l Athletics: organized sports teams, intramural sports
l Student support: tutoring, counseling center, career center, computer labs, college campus safety
l Campus facilities: library, gym, dining hall, student union, commuter lounge, performing arts center
l Campus atmosphere: casual, formal, high pressure, laid back
To make it easier to keep track of the colleges you visit, you can download this “College Visit Summary Sheet” from the book “Making It Into a Top
College” (HarperCollins: 2009) ©Howard and Matthew Greene.
http://www.pbs.org/tenstepstocollege/visit.pdf
http://www.pbs.org/tenstepstocollege/visit.pdf
Gas Up Your PC for a Spin Around Campus
When your dream college is across the country, it may not be possible to sit in on a class, eat in the cafeteria, and hang out in a dorm
room. But you can still get a good idea of what the campus is like through a virtual college tour.
Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to check out prospective colleges online. And you won’t just find an online version of
the college brochure. Look for the following on the Web sites of the colleges you’re considering:
l Slide shows
l Video tours
l Interviews with students and faculty
l Webcams
l Audio clips
Want more? Search for college information, videos, and student and alumni groups on:
l YouTube
l Facebook
l MySpace
There are also Web sites specifically designed to provide future college students with a virtual glimpse of hundreds of colleges and
universities. Find tour videos, maps, photos, interviews, and more on:
l www.CampusTours.com
l www.eCampusTours.com
l www.collegeclicktv.com
l http://youniversity.tv
Finally, if you have questions, email someone at the college. On most college Web sites, you can find email addresses for
admissions counselors, financial aid representatives, professors, and sometimes even students and alumni. Most will be happy to
answer any questions you have. Some college Web sites even have live chat features where you can converse with a college staff
member through instant messaging.
And don’t forget to visit the Web site for the community in which your desired college is located. Convention and visitors’ bureaus and
city Web sites can tell you what kinds of restaurants, entertainment, and future employers are close to campus.
Even if you’re planning to live at home and commute to a local college, you should still plan a college visit. You may feel that you
already know the school because you live nearby, but your perspective as a student attending the school will be completely different.
Remember, too, that even if you go to a school away from home, if you live in offcampus student housing there, you are considered a
9 commuter student.
city Web sites can tell you what kinds of restaurants, entertainment, and future employers are close to campus.
Even if you’re planning to live at home and commute to a local college, you should still plan a college visit. You may feel that you
already know the school because you live nearby, but your perspective as a student attending the school will be completely different.
Remember, too, that even if you go to a school away from home, if you live in offcampus student housing there, you are considered a
commuter student.
Here are Ten Questions Commuter Students Should Ask on a College Visit.
1. Is there an office of commuter services and/or a commuter student adviser? What services do they provide?
2. Are there lounges for commuters? Where do commuter students study and hang out between classes?
3. How do commuters get involved in campus student life? Are there programs and events specifically for commuter students?
4. In emergencies, can commuters spend the night in the dorms?
5. Is there a meal plan available for commuter students? How much does it cost, and how does it work?
6. What is parking like on campus? What are the fees?
7. How do I find out about public transportation? Are there any public transportation discounts for commuters?
8. What percentage of the student body commutes? Do most commuters live at home or in offcampus housing?
9. How do I find out about class cancellations due to bad weather?
10. How well do commuter and resident students get along with each other?
Elizabeth Johnson
If your mailbox has been bursting with mail from colleges and universities, you know that college brochures make every campus look
amazing and sound outstanding. The best way to find out the reality of each college on your dream list is to pay a personal visit.
During a college visit, you’ll get to see how students live, what classrooms and college buildings are like, where students hang out,
and what the surrounding community offers. You’ll get a feel for how you would fit in and whether you can imagine yourself spending
four years there.
You’ll also discover makeorbreak details that the college brochures leave out. When Beth visited a college in upstate New York, it
was high on her list until her tour guide mentioned that in the winter, crosscountry skiing was the easiest way to get from the dorms to
the classroom buildings. Since crosscountry skiing was not part of Beth’s college plan, that school dropped from the list.
When should you begin visiting colleges? The earlier, the better. Eighth grade is not too soon. Visits don’t have to be formal; you could
attend a collegiate sporting event, participate in a summer academic program, or just drop in on an older sibling at college. Even if you
have no idea where you want to go to school, you can begin to figure out what you like or dislike in a campus. When Matt spent a week
at a Big Ten campus for a Scouting event, he learned that a large university was not right for him. When he began college shopping
seriously, only small and medium colleges made his dream list.
By the spring of junior year, you should begin looking seriously at colleges you might want to attend. Check with your high school
counselor to see if your school provides a certain number of excused absences for students to visit colleges. Otherwise, plan to
spend part of your spring break on a college road trip. Once you’ve been accepted at one or more colleges, you may want to plan a
10. How well do commuter and resident students get along with each other?
Elizabeth Johnson
If your mailbox has been bursting with mail from colleges and universities, you know that college brochures make every campus look
amazing and sound outstanding. The best way to find out the reality of each college on your dream list is to pay a personal visit.
During a college visit, you’ll get to see how students live, what classrooms and college buildings are like, where students hang out,
and what the surrounding community offers. You’ll get a feel for how you would fit in and whether you can imagine yourself spending
four years there.
You’ll also discover makeorbreak details that the college brochures leave out. When Beth visited a college in upstate New York, it
was high on her list until her tour guide mentioned that in the winter, crosscountry skiing was the easiest way to get from the dorms to
the classroom buildings. Since crosscountry skiing was not part of Beth’s college plan, that school dropped from the list.
When should you begin visiting colleges? The earlier, the better. Eighth grade is not too soon. Visits don’t have to be formal; you could
attend a collegiate sporting event, participate in a summer academic program, or just drop in on an older sibling at college. Even if you
have no idea where you want to go to school, you can begin to figure out what you like or dislike in a campus. When Matt spent a week
at a Big Ten campus for a Scouting event, he learned that a large university was not right for him. When he began college shopping
seriously, only small and medium colleges made his dream list.
By the spring of junior year, you should begin looking seriously at colleges you might want to attend. Check with your high school
counselor to see if your school provides a certain number of excused absences for students to visit colleges. Otherwise, plan to
spend part of your spring break on a college road trip. Once you’ve been accepted at one or more colleges, you may want to plan a
longer overnight stay to confirm your impressions and make a final decision.
Elizabeth Johnson is a Lansing, Michiganbased freelance writer and EduGuide contributor.
Real Life Story: How College Visits Helped One Student Find His
Dream College
EduGuide Staff
Earl Matthews had visited half a dozen schools in his quest for the perfect college. One was too big. Another campus had a modern,
cold feel that he didn’t like. Another wasn’t strong enough in the major he wanted. Finally, he narrowed his choice to two schools. In
his mind, they were tied. He honestly couldn’t decide which one was his dream college. Both were small liberal arts colleges. Both
had beautiful, treefilled campuses. Both offered campus student life activities he enjoyed. And both offered him nearly identical
financial aid packages.
Earl had already visited each school twice. At one, he had a private tour of the college followed by an admissions interview, and he and
11his mom ate at a local restaurant recommended by both the tour guide and the admissions counselor. At the other, he was part of a
large group of students who met for an introductory session about the college, followed by a group tour and lunch in the college dining
hall—unfortunately during the college’s spring break when campus was deserted. His second visits to the schools were connected to
Elizabeth Johnson is a Lansing, Michiganbased freelance writer and EduGuide contributor.
Real Life Story: How College Visits Helped One Student Find His
Dream College
EduGuide Staff
Earl Matthews had visited half a dozen schools in his quest for the perfect college. One was too big. Another campus had a modern,
cold feel that he didn’t like. Another wasn’t strong enough in the major he wanted. Finally, he narrowed his choice to two schools. In
his mind, they were tied. He honestly couldn’t decide which one was his dream college. Both were small liberal arts colleges. Both
had beautiful, treefilled campuses. Both offered campus student life activities he enjoyed. And both offered him nearly identical
financial aid packages.
Earl had already visited each school twice. At one, he had a private tour of the college followed by an admissions interview, and he and
his mom ate at a local restaurant recommended by both the tour guide and the admissions counselor. At the other, he was part of a
large group of students who met for an introductory session about the college, followed by a group tour and lunch in the college dining
hall—unfortunately during the college’s spring break when campus was deserted. His second visits to the schools were connected to
special events: an academic scholarship competition at one college and music and theater scholarship auditions at the other.
To break the tie and come to a decision, Earl visited each college once more, this time for an overnight visit. When he called to arrange
his visits, admissions counselors at each college encouraged him to come for special events on campus. One offered to get him
tickets to the theater department’s spring show, and the other suggested a date when students would be presenting their
independent research projects. Earl refused. He wanted to experience an average day as a college student. He set up visits a week
apart, in the middle of the week when most students were certain to be on campus.
For both visits, he arrived on his own in the late afternoon and met his student host at the admissions office. He hung out with the
student and his friends in a dorm room and then ambled over to the dining hall for supper. When his host at one school had to drive a
friend across town, Earl tagged along. At the other college, he joined in a friendly card game in the dorm lounge and later went out for
a latenight pizza with a group of friends.
At both schools, after breakfast in the dining hall the next day, Earl attended a class. He also spent some time just hanging around,
walking through the campus and imagining himself there as a student. Then he headed home.
Did the overnight visits help Earl make a decision? Absolutely. While he couldn’t pick out any one incident that clinched the deal, he
discovered where he truly belonged. “Everyone was nice to me at the one school, but I felt like I was on the outside looking in,” he
said. “At the other school, I felt like I could move right in and be at home.”
And four months later, that’s just what he did.
Due to the dynamic nature of our quizzes, they are only available on the web. Follow the addresses below to take a quiz on our
website.
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And four months later, that’s just what he did.
Due to the dynamic nature of our quizzes, they are only available on the web. Follow the addresses below to take a quiz on our
website.
http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/TakeQuiz/tabid/114/quizId/37/view/StepTakeQuiz/Default.aspx

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