It’s finally time for your campus visit. What should you look for? High school counselors will tell you to look at the academics, the cost of attendance and scholarships you can receive.This is all great advice, but here are some more things that you should look for while visiting colleges.
1. Student Atmosphere
Look at how the students interact with each other. One thing that I looked for on my visits was laughter. Do students seem like they are in a community of friends and are adjusted to life at college? Note: Not everyone will be smiling through the stress of their classes.
2. Happy Professors
Sit in on a class to see how the professors interact with students. Do the students seem eager to answer questions? Does the professor foster discussion or just steam-roll the classroom? If you meet professors between classes, ask if they enjoy their job. The best classes are with professors who love to share their knowledge with their students.
3. Good Cafeteria Food
Visit the dining commons. Make sure that there are a lot of options and a variety of food to eat. Don’t just become enamored by the pizza, burgers, fries and ice cream machine. Check out the salad bar. There may be some days when the dining commons may not have a lot of options that appeal to you, and the salad bar will become your best friend. Ask your tour guide about other places to eat on campus.
4. Nice Dorms
Look for dorms that you can see yourself living in for the whole school year. Yes, the freshman dorms may be the lowest quality dorms on campus, but they often bring the best memories. Ask if the upperclassmen dorms are nice because this is where you may live for the rest of college.
5. Guy-to-Girl-Ratio
This is an interesting ratio that can affect the dynamic of the college and what you experience during your four years at school. Do you want a group of friends that is diverse? Are there couples walking around campus? Keep your eyes out for groups of guys and girls together.
6. Take in the Beauty of the Campus.
While you are on your tour, be sure to take in the beauty of the campus. Can you see yourself enjoying the nature around campus? Are there places that you can sit outside to read and do homework on a nice day? Does the college put effort into making the campus a nice place to live? Look for beauty in the buildings and in the classrooms. Sometimes a classroom with big windows and nice seats makes all the difference between a good and bad day.
7. Off Campus
Look for places within walking distance of the college where you can buy essentials like food. Ask if there are places off campus that students like to go to blow off steam. Be sure to look for coffee shops where you can do homework or spend time with friends.
Visit as many colleges as you can. Keep track as you go of what you liked and didn't like about each one. Before you visit, ask yourself what you want out of college. It is important to look at the size and academic rating of the college. Remember to look beyond the statistics and see how students live everyday life. Be true to yourself. Go to a college where you can see yourself walking to class each day and having a good experience.
