<p>Most tours I’ve been on with my son and daughter included a dorm room visit. However, as expected (!!), the dorms they ended up in were both quite different from the one shown at their choosen schools. I felt the biggest benefit was my kids being able to get a feel for what dorm life would be like. Just looking around as we entered and walked thru was educating for them.</p>
<p>One of the best tips I can give is to pick up the student newspaper while on the tour (most student newspapers are also online, so you can view more than just the one available during your tour). That and just looking around while on the tour will give you the best impression of what the school is like. </p>
<p>Talking with the tour guide after the tour is also helpful (having a tour guide stick around after the tour can be a good indication of how much that person really likes the school and not just acting as tour guide for the money). Classes vary depending on who is teaching the class, so hard to get a real feel there. Admission briefings are really sales pitches.</p>
<p>Funny story: I wanted to get my daughter to get a feel of what a college tour was like so we went on one while on vacation in New England (we live in CA but with ties to MA). Did it so she would have no pressure as the college wasn’t on her radar at the time. She actually liked it enough to apply and was accepted. She ended up going there and is currently a sophomore and still loves it.</p>