Real talk: College applications are kind of a drag. You basically fill out the same paperwork over and over again.
BUT it's not all bad. Our favorite part of the college search process? Tours!
Those U.S. News college rankings can't tell you about the social scene or where to find the best food on campus. Visiting college campuses is an important part of the decision process, giving high school students a taste of the college experience.
Below, we cover what to look for when touring higher education options and give you a cheat sheet of questions to ask on your tour.
Checklist of things to look for during a tour
When touring a college campus, you've only got a limited amount of time to figure out what it's like. Focus on these important factors.
Go to the student services office
What do you do if your federal student aid (FAFSA) application gets denied? Who can you turn to if you need career counseling? What if you're simply struggling in your classes and need academic support?
Enter student services.
Stop by the student services office on your campus tour. Check out their opening hours and the resources they offer. You can also ask current students - like your tour guide - if the student services officers are helpful.
Get brochures, maps, and school info
When it comes to picking a college, the more info you have, the better.
Think of it this way: Would you start a new Netflix series based on one recommendation? Nah. But you might take a peek if nine out of 10 friends recommend it.
The more info you can get on a campus tour, the better. The college website is a good starting point, but it's also a good idea to grab brochures, campus maps, and financial aid pamphlets.
On top of that, take the opportunity to talk to students on campus.
Tour various dorms
Odds are you'll be living in a dorm in your first year of college - or, depending on the school, for all four years. This is going to be your home. Take the time to get to know it.
Don't trust stereotypical representations of dorm life you see in movies.
Most campus tours should include dorm tours (uh, if they don't - red flag?!). Tour as many dorms as possible and learn about the admissions criteria. For example, scholarship recipients may have different housing options than other students. And ask about dorm-related services like meal halls.
Check out the campus library
Old school as it may sound, you may have to head to the campus library to do research. That doesn't mean you have to check out musty, dusty books. Campus libraries offer all kinds of resources - from online journal subscriptions to printing and scanning tools.
Take a look at the campus library and see what kinds of resources it offers. It's also worth asking about hours of operation for late-night cram sessions.
Trust us: You'll pull an all-nighter at least ONCE in your college career. Ensure you've got a safe, comfy space to get the work done.
See various class buildings and classrooms
A standard college tour takes you across campus. Depending on the time of year, the tour might be limited to outside areas to avoid class disruptions.
Insider hint: Get a look at what's going on inside the class buildings, including the classrooms.
Look, we're not encouraging any rule-breaking, and we're definitely not encouraging any law-breaking (our legal team made us add that). But we do think it's worth looking inside the class buildings and classrooms when possible.
Are they clean? Well-maintained? Comfortable? Do they have quality labs for certain fields of study, like chemistry?
Discover the gym and athletic areas
We've all heard about the "Freshman 15." Let's get real: If you gain a little weight in college, who cares? The most important thing is that you're happy and healthy. That said, a little exercise can give you the endorphin boost you need to feel your best.
Many colleges and universities have a gym or athletic area that students can use for free or a reduced price. The question is: Is this a gym you want to use, or does the sight of it alone give you athlete's foot?
Take a moment to scope out the sports facilities and see if they'll meet your needs.
See (and try) the food court and eateries
We mentioned this briefly when discussing dorm tours, but it's so important that it requires another shoutout: FOOD! If you're paying for a meal plan with your dorm (which is usually the case), you want to ensure the food is actually edible.
We definitely recommend requesting a visit to your potential alma mater's food court, eateries, cafeteria - whatever they may call it. It's standard practice to enjoy a meal on campus as part of a campus tour.
You could be eating this slop for up to four years, so choose wisely!
Pay attention to the surrounding areas
Most college students only think about on-campus life. Sure, that will be the main focus of your academic and social life, but there's so much more to your college years. What about the off-campus areas?
It's important to consider a few things when looking at the areas surrounding your campus. Are they safe? Are there opportunities for off-campus jobs? Is there a good relationship between university students and locals?
This is even more important if you'll be living or working off-campus.
Learn about the transportation system
This point goes hand in hand with the whole off-campus thing. If you're going to a tiny school in the middle of nowhere, transportation may not be an issue because you'll never leave campus.
BUT if you're going to a school in a larger community, you probably want a transportation system that travels between campus and the surrounding areas. For example, university towns may have shuttle buses that take students from the city to campus.
See the campus health center
Nobody wants to think about this when they're touring college campuses, but you'll probably get sick at least once in your college career. When something happens, you want to be confident you can access health services.
Campus health centers offer all kinds of nonurgent support, too. They might provide everything from general physical exams to birth control.
You know that semester abroad you want to do in Tanzania? They might even take care of the travel vaccines you need, so see what they offer.
Check out the career center
At the end of the day, your whole plan with college is to get a job, right? For this reason, it's important to see what career services are available.
Campus career centers are often undervalued. A career center can help you prep your resume and cover letter or connect with internships, mentorships, job listings, and other career resources.
Pay them a visit to see what kind of aid they offer.
Discover the religious center on campus
If you're a religious or spiritual person, it can be reassuring to know you have a community of like-minded people on campus. Ask what religious centers are available on campus and visit them if it's important to you.
Even if you aren't a religious or spiritual person now, these kinds of services aren't always strictly faith-based. A religious or spiritual center can offer valuable support if you ever go through a low point.
In your first year away from home, this can be invaluable.
Questions to ask on your college tour
A campus tour is just a presentation. TBH, the person giving the tour is basically reading a script. They want to show the school in the best light possible.
Want the facts? Ask these questions:
- What do you like best about going to this college?
- What's the on-campus community like?
- What do students do in their free time or on weekends?
- What do you love most about your college?
- What do you like least about your college?
- Why did you choose to come here?
- What's it like to live here?
- What extracurricular activities are available (sports, volunteering, etc.)?
- What are the most popular extracurriculars on campus (e.g., fraternities/sororities, sports, etc.)?
- Are there special interest organizations for students?
- What housing options are available?
- Do professors and graduate students mentor undergraduates? Do these groups mix?
- What's the student body graduation rate?
- What kinds of mentorship or research opportunities exist?
- What kinds of job opportunities exist (work-study, part-time jobs, etc.)?
Use College Rover to easily compare your top college choices
It's important to narrow your list of colleges before scheduling tours to pick which schools are worth visiting.
The first step to finding your perfect college match? Ensure your fave schools offer the bachelor's degree or master's degree programs you want to pursue - whether that's environmental engineering or acting.
Then, check out stats like accreditation, enrollment numbers, extracurricular activities, and the average GPA and test scores you'll need to get in. You'll also want to see their financial aid packages (college costs a lot, FRFR).
Yeah, we know: It's a lot of research, but don't stress: Plenty of college planning resources can help, like College Rover. We give prospective students the facts they need in one easy-to-use platform.
We even have a side-by-side comparison tool, so you can compare your top picks and find the right college for you - whether an Ivy League university, a state school, or a niche liberal arts private college.
