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College Entrance Guide
IB Coordinator and College Counselor: Barbara Kuhl
PART THREE: CAMPUS VISITS
The best way to find out about a college is to visit it. This is your opportunity to interact with the environment and people to really get a sense of whether a place is right for you. Take advantage when you are on campus: walk around, ask a lot of questions, speak to students and faculty and get a feel for the personality of the institution.
You will have opportunities to visit some campuses with LILA, who is organizing a school campus visit during the school year. However you should also plan to visit campuses on your own, with a parent. You should try to schedule visits to two campuses in one day.
The best campus visit is an overnight stay in the dorms when classes are in session. The next best visit is a stay of few hours when classes are in session. Summer visits are better than no visit at all. If you cannot visit a college during the school year, plan to go during the summer before your senior year or during vacation and bring a camera!
Planning the visit
Call the Admissions Office and make arrangements for your visit at least two months before you plan to go. Ask if you can have an overnight stay (if you wish one), if classes are in session, what activities they recommend for students/families visiting the campus. If an interview is required for admission, ask if they can schedule one while you are on campus.
While on campus
Take a campus tour. These are usually led by current students. During your visit, ask questions [see next section]. This is not the time to be shy! Be sure and visit the freshmen dining hall and see if you can eat a meal on campus. Visit the dorms, computer labs and library. Go to the Student Union and the bookstore. Ask yourself if this is where you want to live for the next four years. See if the students who are there seem to be comfortable and enjoying the campus.
As you pass classrooms where the door is open look at the class. Note the posture, facial expressions and whether students are taking notes, engaging in discussion or sitting back? Are the students spread out or sitting in a clump? How large are the classes? Look at the chalkboards, the walls and structure of the rooms. Do they seem old, new, comfortable?
After or before the organized tour, explore on your own. You need to get a good feel for the place.
What to Learn and Ask on the Campus Visit
Academic Program- What is the college’s curriculum philosophy?
- Is there a core curriculum?
- What is the average class size? for freshmen? For upper-class students?
- Does your college offer a major in…?
- Can I get an internship in my field of study? Can I study abroad? Where?
- Have there been recent cutbacks in courses?
- What percentage of freshmen return sophomore year?
- What percentage of students goes to graduate school? Are there graduate programs?
- What are some of the placement statistics for graduates entering the job market?
- Is there a career planning center available to students?
- What percentage of the faculty teaches freshmen and sophomores? Are they full time professors? Will graduate students teach me?
- What is the faculty advisor system?
- How would you qualify the interaction between students and faculty members?
- How accessible is the faculty? Do they have office hours? Are they available outside the classroom?
- Does the campus appeal to you?
- How far is it from the local community? Will the city be a positive or negative factor?
- Is pride shown in maintaining a clean and well-ordered environment?
- Does your college have a safe campus? What is your crime rate?
- Are freshmen required to live in a residence hall?
- How is housing assigned? How does the housing system work?
- Is housing guaranteed for four years?
- What percentage of students lives on campus?
- Where are the residence halls located in relation to other parts of the campus?
- What are other dining facilities like around campus? Does your meal plan allow you to eat in all of them?
- What kinds of students go to college here? Is it a diverse student population? What is the % of…? Are they all from the local area?
- What do students do on weekends? What percentage of students remains on campus on the weekends?
- How do students get around campus? Is there transportation to the mall? To town?
- What kinds of student organizations are there on campus? Are there fraternities or sororities? What percentage of students belongs? How big a factor is Greek life?
- Are there ethnic clubs/dorms/activities?
- What kind of athletic teams are there? Are there intramural leagues?
- Is there an active and effective student government?
- Does the school have a student union or other recreational facilities?
- What varsity and intramural sports are played? Are the students active supporters of athletic events? Are the facilities adequate?
- What is there to do off campus? How expensive is it?
- Is a car necessary? If not, what are the transportation options? Will I be allowed to have a car? Is there parking? Is it free or is there a fee?
- Verify admission requirements, review fees and deadlines
- Ask about cost of attendance, scholarships and other forms of financial aid
- Ask for the academic/school calendar and a catalogue
- How are the facilities in the various departments – athletics, music, drama, etc.
- How active are the alumni?
- What kinds of support services are available? (Academic and personal – Tutoring center, Counseling, etc.)
- Do I need a computer?
- How can I apply for financial aid? Does your college offer athletic, merit, scholastic, or performance scholarships?
- Can I get a job on campus?