<p>I am a rising senior in high school. I haven't gone to any college visit yet, since during the school year was pretty hectic. I decided that this summer break would be a great time to go. </p>
<p>What are some good questions to ask during a college visit that some colleges fail to mention? </p>
<p>Thanks. </p>
<p>What are the things that you have to have in your life to be happy? Ask questions about food, parties, course rigor, student friendliness, cut-throat behavior, workout facilities, love, off-campus adventures, cars and parking, townies, weekends, professors, labs, pranks, etc. Do a little research on each school before you visit and see if any particular questions pop out at you. Write these down, and then write down the answers to your questions with a brief summary of the campus experience–before you go to bed. Give the visit a 1-10 rating. This note-taking will pay dividends when all the schools start to run together in October.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 thank you so much. </p>
<p>summer break not a great time. better than not going, but what makes a school is not the tidy grounds and impressive buildings, its the students and faculty. Colleges have different feels. Its one thing to think about attending a big U or small LAC, its another to visit a class and understand first-hand what its going to be like to spend 4 years learning in classes of 50 - 500, or in classes of a dozen. There are differences among colleges of the same type, but the biggest difference is among types & location. Going to a rural college is different than going to one in the suburbs or city, a big U is not the same as a LAC or larger private with small classes for the most part.</p>
<p>I suggest getting a book on college admissions, any good one covers college visits. Then as soon as colleges in your area are back in session visit ones of diffferent types to get a first-hand impression of what it would be like for you to be attending one of that type.</p>
<p>@mikemac I understand what you are saying about the students and faculty make up the school. But I never really have time during the school year due to after school mandatory rehearsals. So going on visits now during summer break will at least give me some insight on schools and I can ask some questions to the students who lead the tours and who are there for summer classes. </p>
<p>OP, just make sure you account for any differences between the summer visits and any other visits you might do. In-school visits are more likely to get raves than summer visits. Work hard on those summer visits to introduce yourself in the cafeterias and hallways and student unions to likely faculty and students (even grad students, who might have some idea on the u/gs from having taught them). Be a pest, not a wallflower. Imagine yourself as an investigative reporter for a rival college newspaper.</p>
<p>When I was visiting schools this past spring, I wrote down and printed out a huge list of questions on different areas of college life (academics, dorms, etc) and asked any I thought weren’t being addressed. Also, instead of note taking, I did a voice log on my phone at the end of each info session and tour (I found it easier than note taking, but do whatever floats your boat).
I can PM you the list of questions I used, if you’d like.
Good luck!</p>
<p>@rebca912 if you would be so kind to send those questions. I really would appreciate it.</p>
<p>Did you feel uncomfortable asking a lot of questions or did it just feel naturally?
I mean because we are asking about their school which mean we are interested,right? </p>
<p>I’ve PM’d you the list of questions. As for the questions, I usually didn’t ask all or even most of them on a tour. There were a couple O always asked (like the wifi question) but I mostly just waited to see what i thought wasn’t being addressed and asked about it.
Sometimes it can feel a bit weird to just shout out a question when a tour guide is walking, especially in a larger group, but you get used to it pretty quickly. And most tour guides leave room for questions at major locations (academic buildings, dorms, athletic facilities), which are great places to ask questions specific to those areas.</p>
<p>Don’t limit yourself to a prepared script. Pay attention, and be ready to ask a question that occurs to you during the tour. It can open up some interesting dialogue with the student guide, or if you have a chance to speak with an admissions counselor later. I think they take interest in someone who asks a question they can’t answer. Take names and business cards. Don’t worry about a question seeming trivial,especially at smaller schools where they might take note of visitors individually. Pay attention to special features at a school you like (including the neighboring community). If you meet with a regional representative in person, or communicate, it’s nice to mention that you liked something distinctive about the place. </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I will definitely keep in mind while touring and talking to admission counselors. </p>