College Campus Visit Checklist: What to Do and Ask

Brochures and rankings tell you what a college wants to say about itself. A visit, in person or virtual, tells you whether you could actually picture yourself there. You do not need to visit every school, and you do not need to spend a lot. A visit to any nearby campus, even one you are unsure about, helps you work out what size, setting, and feel you prefer.

Before you go

• Register for the official tour and information session. Many colleges require sign-up, and some offer department visits or open houses. Check the admissions page for options.
• Read up first. Look at the school's page in our College Finder and its programs, so your questions are specific.
• Pick your priorities. Decide the three things that matter most, such as class size, a particular major, or cost, and look for evidence of them while you are there.
• Plan the logistics. Check parking, the schedule, and how long you will need, and build in time to wander on your own.

What to look at on campus

• The students. Do they seem engaged, rushed, friendly, stressed? Imagine being one of them.
• Classrooms and labs. Peek into a few if you can. Are they full, modern, crowded?
• Where students actually spend time, such as the library, student center, and dining hall, not just the showcase buildings.
• The surrounding area. Walk a few blocks off campus and see what is nearby, since you will live there.
• Housing. Ask to see a typical room, not only a model one.

Questions to ask on the tour or info session

Guides and admissions staff do this all day, and they expect questions. These tend to produce useful answers:

• How do students choose a major here? Can I apply directly to my program, or do I apply to the school and declare later? (See direct admit vs. open major.)
• Are there majors that are capped or have extra requirements to enter, and how do students get in?
• How are classes taught in the first year, and how large are they?
• Who is my academic advisor, and how often will I meet with them?
• What support exists if I struggle, such as tutoring or writing help?
• How does the school help students find internships or research opportunities?
• What does a typical first-year schedule and workload look like?
• What percentage of students graduate in four years? (Compare this figure across schools from each school's own data.)
• If I change my mind about my major, how easy is it to switch? (Our guide to switching majors without losing a semester shows what to watch for.)

Questions to ask current students

• What surprised you most when you got here?
• What do you wish you had known before you enrolled?
• What do you do on a typical weekend?
• How easy is it to get the classes you want?
• Would you choose this school again?

Students will usually give you a more candid answer than an official tour script, especially if you ask in a casual setting and not in front of the whole group.

Right after the visit

Write notes the same day. Within a few hours, details blur together, and after three or four visits you will not be able to tell schools apart. A short list helps: three things you liked, three things you did not, and one question still unanswered. Rate each school on the priorities you chose beforehand.

Can't visit in person?

Many colleges offer virtual tours, live online sessions, and recorded student panels. Join a virtual session, email the admissions office with questions, and ask whether a current student can talk with you. If you can visit later, after you are admitted, many schools host admitted-student days, which are a good chance to see the place before you decide. See choosing between college offers for how to use them.

Policies on tours, interest, and what counts as demonstrated interest vary by school, so check what each college says rather than assuming.