There’s no doubt that the college visit is a vital component of your college search process. But, of course, you already know that if you’ve read our previous blog: Why is Visiting Colleges Important?
Once you get your visits scheduled, we recommend making a list of all the questions you’d like answered while you’re on campus. What would you most want to learn from your student ambassador or tour guide? This is your chance to hear about what campus life is like — from someone who is currently navigating it!
Keep reading for some must-ask questions to keep handy during your next campus tour!
How did you get involved during your first year on campus?
If the opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities is an essential item on your college checklist, this is a question you don’t want to miss talking about with your tour guide. They’ll be able to share the process for getting involved and give you details about some activities that might be of interest.
How did you make friends during your first year?
The thought of going to a school where you don’t know anyone can be scary. It can be hard to put yourself out there and meet new people, and talking about that experience with a student who has already done it can help to calm those nerves. They might even have a few tips or tricks that you can use when you arrive on campus at the start of the semester!
What does your typical day look like?
Your schedule in high school was most likely put together for you: wake up, attend back-to-back classes, go to after-school activities, tackle your homework, and then do it all again the next day. Your schedule in college will be much less structured and it will be built by you! Talk with your guide to get an idea of when a college student’s day starts and ends, and everything they do in between.
What are weekends like on campus? Do most students stay here or do they tend to go home?
This is a great question if you want to know whether you’re looking at a “suitcase school.” What does that mean? A suitcase school is a college where most students live in campus residence halls, but a significant percentage go home or stay off campus on the weekends. If you plan to spend your weekends on campus, you’ll want to make sure there are plenty of activities sponsored by the school or happening in the surrounding area.
What are the best places to visit in the area?
Of course, nobody expects you to spend every weekend on campus! Take some time to explore the surrounding city or town. Current students will have the inside scoop on the best places to get a good cup of coffee or grab food with friends off campus.
What is it like living in a residence hall?
Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Living in a residence hall will definitely be a different experience from living at home if you plan to reside on campus. Residence halls, including your room, bathroom, and laundry room, will most likely be a shared space. It can be a pretty big adjustment for a lot of students. Ask your guide how they navigated that transition (and maybe get the lowdown on the best times to do laundry).
What’s the food like on campus?
This one’s a classic, and we can guarantee your tour guide will be expecting this question! If you live on campus with a meal plan, you’ll be eating in the dining halls regularly. Be sure to find out how many dining locations the school has and if there are lots of food options, especially if you’re a picky eater.
Do you feel safe on campus?
If we’re being honest, your parents might beat you to this question. You want to make sure you’re going to a school where you can feel comfortable walking through campus during the day and in the evenings. Also, keep an eye out for emergency call boxes! Most schools have these placed throughout campus and they should never be too far away.
What makes this college different from other schools you looked at?
What was the “it” factor for your guide? Most students have something that sealed the deal for them, and maybe what stood out to them will stand out to you too. Was it the opportunity to get involved on campus? State-of-the-art equipment in their program of choice? Ample study abroad options? It’s a great idea to get your guide’s perspective on what makes that school so special.
Hopefully these questions help to spark a few ideas for your next visit! If not, you have a handful to get the conversation with your tour guide started!
And if you’re ready to pay York College a visit, our Spartan Ambassadors would be happy to take you around campus during one of our daily visits or an upcoming Open House!
