When you're visiting new college campuses, one of the main things to remember is to slow down and ask questions!
As an incoming freshman touring various colleges, you will be presented with opportunities to visit with students, admission staff, and professors. To best utilize this time to your advantage, it is vital to come prepared with your questions.
It is important to be aware of the multi-faceted college admissions process. It can be very time consuming with the seemingly never-ending tasks such as building a college list, preparing for standardized tests, writing application essays, etc.
Among these tasks, college visits need to be a high priority. Incoming freshman may not understand the importance of the unique and exciting experience that campus tours offer during the college search. College visits are more than a check on your gut instinct of a school. They provide invaluable opportunities to explore your prospective college campuses before making the commitment.
Ask questions about topics that are most important to you—no question isn’t worth asking!
Try to ask the same questions at each school you visit to use as points of reference and comparison between the colleges you visit.
Spend some time interacting with your tour guide—they are there for you! It is important to get a first-hand student perspective on things.
Being able to immerse yourself in each college’s atmosphere in person allows for a more in-depth experience. This will help you decide which college works best for you as you begin your undergraduate journey. Visiting multiple colleges allows you to gain new perspectives on the kind of environments best suited to your individual needs.
Do not rush through your visits; take the time to really imagine yourself living and studying there! You are able to gain a more accurate sense of the student life, academics, housing experience, and much more. Make a list of questions prior to your visit. This will take the stress off of trying to remember each and every question you might have. Being prepared also reflects positively on your character as colleges consider you for admission. In this article, you will find some questions that are important to ask in the process of discovering which college will be right for you!
What leads students to choose this college?
Desired applicant qualities/traits/experiences
Other details about the application evaluation process
Role of ACT/SAT scores
Graduation rates
Career placements or grad school acceptances for graduates
Alumni networks
What makes the college special?
Admission standards for certain majors
Transfer credits
Job placement percentages
Percentage of students going to graduate/professional schools
Average class sizes
Average amounts of coursework
Accessibility of professors outside the classroom
Honors programs
Popular majors
General education requirements
Academic advising programs
Financial aid
What percentage of a student’s financial need does the school typically meet?
Offered scholarships/grants
Average financial aid package
Loans vs. grants breakdown
Merit scholarship requirements
What happens to my financial aid package if I take longer than four years to graduate?
Average amount of loan debt
Work-study opportunities
Athletic/music scholarships
Completing the FAFSA
Cost of attendance
Graduation rates for double/triple majors
Reasons why students don’t graduate on time
Retention rates
Requirements for graduating in four years
Academic support services
Getting help from professors
Tutoring options
Writing centers
Study groups
Computer labs
Learning disability services
Accessibility of health services
Freshman orientation programs
On-campus counselors
Emotional support animals
Number of students in support services
Dorm set-up
Dorms appealing to special interests (sports, music, etc.)
Percentage of students living in dorms
Roommate matching process
Single dorms
Possible roommate conflicts
Weekend events
Cafeteria hours/meal plans
Fraternities and sororities
Personal/campus transportation
Student diversity
On-campus jobs
Opportunities to work on projects/research with professors
Available internships
Departments known for research contributions
Study abroad programs
Career services
Most popular extracurricular activities
Community service clubs
Music organizations
Athletics
Other various clubs of interest
A key tip in asking your questions is to avoid the ones that can more easily be answered by a quick Google search. Instead, make sure you get in those questions that will help you get a feel for the atmosphere, the students, and life on campus. Also, spend some time doing your homework by looking over the college’s website before your visit. This is your chance to really get to know a college, so take advantage of the opportunity, and don’t be shy!
Great Lakes Christian College is one of Michigan’s only Bible colleges, where God inspires everything we do. There’s no better way to feel the power of His presence and love than by visiting us in person.
There are several ways to see the campus: