College Visit Guide: Questions to Ask & Things to Notice
Before You Go
A little prep makes the visit far more useful than just walking the tour route.
- Look up the school's profile in advance (size, location, majors offered, average class size) so you're not spending visit time on facts you could've Googled.
- Schedule the visit for a day when classes are in session, not during finals, breaks, or summer — sitting in on a real day tells you far more than an empty campus.
- If possible, book an admissions interview, a class visit (sit in on a real lecture in an area of interest), and time with the department for an intended major, not just the general tour.
- Check if an overnight stay with a current student is offered — it's one of the best ways to see real campus life.
- Make a short list of "must-see" buildings (dorms, dining hall, library, athletic facilities, the academic building for the intended major) in case the official tour skips them.
Questions for the Admissions Tour Guide / Office
- What do students complain about most? What would you change about this school if you could?
- What's a typical Friday night like on campus?
- How easy is it to switch majors or add a double major if interests change?
- What's the retention rate from freshman to sophomore year, and why do students who leave usually leave?
- How accessible are professors outside of class? Do intro classes get taught by professors or mostly TAs?
- What support exists for first-year students (advising, tutoring, writing centers)?
- How does registration for popular classes work — do underclassmen often get locked out?
- What's the school's relationship like with the surrounding town or city?
Questions About Academics & the Intended Major
- Could I sit in on an intro-level class in your intended major?
- What kind of research, internship, or co-op opportunities do undergrads in this department typically get, and how early can they start?
- What does a typical course load and schedule look like for a sophomore in this major?
- How many students are usually in upper-level classes in this department?
- What career paths or grad programs do recent graduates from this major usually go into?
- Is study abroad common in this major, and does it cause delays in graduating on time?
Questions for Current Students (Ask More Than One!)
- Knowing what you know now, would you choose this school again?
- How easy is it to make friends outside your dorm or major?
- Where do students actually study? Is the library always packed?
- What do you wish you'd known before coming here?
- How's the food, honestly? (Ask multiple people — one bad meal isn't a pattern.)
- Do you feel safe walking around campus at night?
- What's something about this school that surprised you, good or bad?
Questions About Financial Aid & Affordability
- What's the average financial aid package for a student in our income bracket, and what % is grants vs. loans?
- Are merit scholarships renewable each year, and what GPA is required to keep them?
- Is there a payment plan option, and are there hidden costs (lab fees, activity fees, etc.) beyond tuition and room/board?
- How does the school handle aid if a student needs a 5th year to graduate?
Things to Observe on Your Own (Don't Just Follow the Tour Guide)
- Bulletin boards and posted flyers — they reveal what clubs, events, and student life are actually like, not just what's advertised.
- The dining hall at a normal meal time — is it crowded, social, decent food? Eat there if you can.
- A dorm room (not just the "model" one shown on tours) — ask to see a real, lived-in room if possible.
- Where students are studying and hanging out at different times of day — library, quad, coffee shops.
- Campus safety features — lighting, blue-light emergency phones, how late buildings stay open.
- The surrounding neighborhood — walk a few blocks off campus to see what's nearby.
- Bathroom and building conditions — a good gut check for how well-maintained the campus is overall.
- Athletic and fitness facilities, especially relevant if your student plans to play a sport, club, or rec league.
After the Visit
- Write down first impressions within a day or two — visits start to blur together once you've seen several schools.
- Rate the visit on a few key categories (academics, social life, location, cost, gut feeling) so it's easier to compare across schools later.
- Send a thank-you note to the admissions rep or interviewer if there was a 1:1 meeting — some schools track "demonstrated interest."
Scheduling Tips
- Book visits 3–4 weeks in advance, especially for fall, when senior visit season gets crowded.
- Try to see 1–2 schools per day max — more than that and details start to run together.
- If visiting multiple schools in one trip, leave buffer time between visits in case a tour or interview runs long.
- Many schools post visit dates and registration on their admissions website months ahead — fall slots for popular schools can fill up fast, so register early.