JUNIOR YEAR
How to plan a campus visit
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isiting schools is one of the more exciting parts of the college application process. Typically, this involves going on a little trip and getting a feel for what it might be like to attend school somewhere; from the sights and sounds around town, to the culture of the classroom and the campus. Now, with the arrival of COVID-19, virtual tours have been an increasingly popular (and cost-efficient!) alternative to on-site visits. Different schools will have different protocols for setting up tours, so the best place to start is usually on their website. Conventional wisdom says it’s best to go on these tours during the spring of junior year, if possible, but a summer visit can yield advantages. Sure, the campus will be less active, but that means all the people you want to meet with will (theoretically) have more time for you. Keep financial limitations in mind as you pick and choose the campuses to visit in person. Obviously, flying out to a school across the country is going to cost more than driving a couple hours to a nearby school. For getting first person experience, budgeting money is just as important as budgeting time. Once you’ve got a visit lined up, here are some of the areas you’ll want to explore, and questions you might ask as you’re looking around.
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By Gus Iversen
Classrooms – What is the average class size? How does course selection work for incoming freshman? How does priority work in the registration process? How many classes, or how many credits, does the average student sign up for each semester? What percentage of students study abroad? Dorms – Is living on campus required or optional? What percentage of students live on campus? How do students wind up in a certain dorm, with certain roommates? What is the campus dining situation like? Do most students move off campus after the first year? Library – Many schools have very impressive libraries that provide access to unique resources that are not available anywhere else. Find out what kind of research opportunities are available through the library system, and if you know what you’ll be studying, ask how those resources might serve someone in your specific position. Extracurriculars – If you’re interested in specific extracurricular activities, such as Greek life, organized sports, clubs, activism or other campus organizations, make sure your tour guide knows. Ask them to connect you with people involved in the groups so you can learn more. College Bound Magazine
