College tours can be daunting. The opportunity to immerse yourself in an environment you may call home for the next 4 years accompanies an important question: how should you maximize the experience? The Enrichery encourages prospective college students to initiate productive conversations with tour guides during campus visits.
Ultimately, the questions you should ask will pertain to issues most meaningful to you. Are you vegan? If so, consider inquiring into plant-based food options on campus. Are you touring a school in a city with a vastly different climate to that of your hometown? You might want to ask for advice on how to adapt to the unfamiliar weather.
Before taking your college tour, we recommend sitting down, perhaps with a parent, to plan relevant questions. We’ve compiled the following list to help you get started.
Questions specific to the admissions process:
- Are there opportunities for prospective students to sit in on a real class/lecture?
- Are there any upcoming events for prospective students to participate in and learn more about this school?
- Why do you (i.e., your college guide) think your application to this school was accepted?
- How well do you feel orientation week prepared you to succeed at this school?
Questions specific to academics:
- How common is it to participate in a study abroad or exchange program at this school?
- How easy is it to change majors at this school? How common is it for students to do so?
- What are the most common teaching styles/methods among professors at this school? (Consider asking about specific departments and/or majors)
- To what extent do you feel professors are open to mentoring and/or advising students on their career journeys?
Questions specific to campus life:
- How strong is Greek life at this school?
- How easy is it to move around campus? How do most students get from class to class?
- What percentage of the student body commutes? (If the response is above 50%, an insightful follow-up question could be: Would you say this diminishes school spirit on campus?)
- What is the most popular sporting event on campus?
Questions specific to student services:
- What tutoring, counseling, and support services are available on campus? How can they be accessed?
- How has this school’s career services office helped you in the past?
- How involved are this school’s alumni in networking with current students?
- What lesser-known but enjoyable recreational activities are available to students on campus?
Questions specific to your college guide:
- If you could change one thing about this school, what would it be?
- What is your biggest piece of advice about making friends at this school?
- (If your college guide is not from the city in which the school is located) What have you done to make yourself feel at home in this city?
- What’s something you wish more current students knew about or took advantage of at this school?
At The Enrichery, we help high schoolers through the college admissions process from start to finish. From prepping for the ACT or dSAT to helping with college applications and essays, we’ve got you covered! If you have any questions about college admissions and how we can help your family on this journey, give us a call at (713) 370 – 4118 or contact us today!
