College Visits for Prospective Students
Exploring University Campuses as Part of the Application Process
Dec 10, 2008
The college visit is an integral part of the application process. Researching a college or university on line or through literature should never take the place of an actual visit, whenever possible. In some cases, a college visit before beginning the application process will save time and money. In other circumstances, once acceptance letters arrive in early spring, making a decision is easier after a thorough personal visit. College visits help further differentiate top choices.
College Visits Should Showcase Academic and Social Life
With tuition costs rising in an unstable economy, it makes more sense than ever to explore an institution that may serve as home for the next four years. Taking the admissions’ sponsored tour will answer many questions, but prospective students should be prepared to venture on their own. Creating a list of questions before the visit will assist in this endeavor:
- What are the dorms like? Is it possible to see an actual student room?
- How modern are the dorms? Do they contain safety features like fire alarms?
- What meal plans are offered by the cafeteria? Are there other food options?
- How prominent is campus security?
- Can prospective students sit in on classes?
- Is there a student activity center? What does it comprise?
Other areas to consider are the proximity of dorms to academic wings, prevalence of libraries, layout of the campus: how easy is it to navigate the campus? Student parking and medical facilities should also be on the list of questions to ask and places to see.
Visiting Several Colleges in the Same Region or City
If considering two or more institutions in close proximity to each other, plan a multiple day excursion in order to obtain good comparisons and contrasts. Ask admissions officials if the college has arrangements with local hotels for reduced rates. Some institutions in the same locale share resources and allow students to take courses at institutions other than their own. This may be an appealing feature if the college is a small institution but has such partnership arrangements with bigger universities.
The college visit will enable students and parents to see first hand the immediate neighborhood. Some colleges may be far from towns or cities, virtually isolating students from shopping malls and grocery stores. Others may be in densely populated urban centers, adding safety and security considerations.
The College Visit Narrows Choices
College visits should narrow final choices. Often, the appeal of a college is not based on one or two primary elements but on a “total package” that includes all aspects of school facilities, campus population, and academic challenge. Although students are often attracted by nationally renowned sports teams, they, and their parents, should consider that the college experience will, ideally, entail the next four years of educational pursuit.
If the travel distance is too costly (flying from one coast to another, for example), and the college is interesting in attracting the applicant, ask if the school will cover the costs of transportation. Some private college will do this if they are seriously considering an applicant. Every effort should be made to look over a prospective campus first hand.
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