Visiting colleges is fun, but with all the excitement, it’s easy to miss some important lasting details that can make (or break) a campus experience.
Know the costs before you go:
Make comparing campuses easy by knowing the tuition, room, board, and expenses before the visit. This way you can enjoy the experience while being practical about the value provided and how it can be paid for.
Try the food: Meal plans have a variety of options to match student needs and schedule. Stop by the cafeteria or other food vendors on campus to look for…
- Quality: Is the food worth the cost of the meal plan? Is there enough fresh food available to keep students healthy and energized?
- Access: Where is the cafeteria and what’s the time schedule? Are there multiple food locations open at different hours serving different food?
Talk to the students: Ask about their experience and why they chose the school. What do they like best, or are there some things they want to see improved? Hearing it directly from current students can provide great insight to make a decision.
What’s the campus like? A campus can change rapidly depending on the day of the week. Big events and sports will take over space, especially during football season. Other schools may be very busy during the week and very quiet on weekends. Compare schools considering their percentage of resident and commuter students to recognize differences in campus life.
Class drop-ins: If possible, stop into a classroom to listen and learn. Be on the lookout for teachers in majors you are interested in. Ask questions about their respective programs and gauge your own interest in pursuing more knowledge. How would you handle class in this environment?
Facilities: A campus is made up of many buildings and locations. Gyms, classrooms, labs, and parking are just some of the things in plain view, but while on tour look for details like how spacious or crowded it was and the ability to navigate between buildings. Ideally, you are looking for very safe, clean and well-managed locations. Most importantly, how’s the internet connection?
