Find your perfect college degree
College is not just all about studying for a career. It’s also about building experiences for personal growth. Many studies have proven that students who receive support and actively engage in campus life are more likely to succeed academically and personally.
Although you can always choose to transfer schools, it’s important to think carefully about this decision. Moving frequently can interrupt your studies and make building lasting friendships and a strong support system harder. Each transfer could also delay your graduation and raise your overall costs.
Campus visits allow you to experience the environment firsthand. This will help you assess whether the environment fits your needs and preferences.
But campus visits go beyond just testing the atmosphere– it’s also planning for your future. So here’s how to make the most out of your campus visits; to help you find the best school.
Tip #1: Identify your standards for a college.
There’s no single answer for what makes a great college. If you ask ten friends about the qualities they look for, you’ll get ten different answers. You need to assess yourself and identify your own standards.
According to Indeed.com, choosing the best college is a combination of practical factors. These include:
- Academic programs
- Cost of attendance
- Location
- Campus organizations/recreational activities
- Student support services
Assessing your needs may not always be easy. Here are a few questions you should answer to help clarify your standards:
- What program am I looking for?
- Do I need financial aid?
- Do I need personalized learning, or am I comfortable with a more standard approach to education?
- Do I prefer a large university with many activities or a smaller college with fewer options?
- Am I after good career services? Fun events? A convenient location? Suitable housing and accommodations?
Consider keeping a physical or a mental checklist of the things that matter most in college. Having your criteria should help you narrow down your choices faster with every campus visit you make.
Tip #2: Research, research, research!
You can start your college search after figuring out what you need and answering key questions. It might seem overwhelming, but breaking it into smaller steps can help. Here’s a two-step guide:
#1: Search by Criteria
Start by searching for colleges that match your key criteria, such as academic programs, location, and size. Use online college search tools and resources to narrow down your options.
For instance, if you want to study in a specific field, use filters to find colleges with strong programs in that area. If you prefer a particular location, like a city or region, apply location filters to focus on colleges in that area.
#2: Gather Information
Knowing your prospective schools is an excellent way to set them apart. Skim through the schools’ websites and note their best features, facilities, and programs that, if you prefer, should let you study at your own pace.
#3: Ask Questions
Reach out to the school and to students who were or are currently studying in the school to ask them about their campus experience, as well as for pieces of advice. You also talk to recent alums of the schools. They often have the best stories, insights, and advice to give, those that especially hit close to home.
You can also join information sessions. Attending information sessions in your prospective schools will help you better grasp and compare what campus life is like in different universities and allow you to ask your questions about the school.
Tip #3: Consider virtual campus tours.
Virtual campus tours are an excellent way to learn about different schools without leaving your house. Many schools offer virtual campus tours for prospective students as a time- and money-saving alternative, especially for those who live far from the campus.
Granted that virtual tours are limited to what you can see through your device, they won’t be as immersive as in-person campus tours, but they should help you cover more schools in a shorter time and decide which campuses you want to see in person.
Tip #4: Visit the Campus.
After completing the virtual tour, you should visit the campus to get a true sense of the environment and culture. During your visit, take note of the following:
Dress to impress– but comfortably.
Dress comfortably in preparation for exploring campus grounds, and dress decently to increase your chances of getting accepted. Remember that schools have dress codes, so sift through your wardrobe and ensure you show up dressed formally while being comfortable.
You’ll be meeting new people and school faculty for the first time, and first impressions will matter, and so will your comfort! Don’t sacrifice it because you’ll be walking around quite a lot, and you wouldn’t want your outfit to take away from your experience.
Talk to people!
It’s the people that make up every university’s community and environment. And what better way is there to immerse yourself in it than to interact with people in the school?
Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to people you encounter; don’t be afraid to ask your tour guide questions. Your curiosity as a prospective student will be appreciated, and you might make some friends along the way.
Do as much as you can. See as much as you can.
Arrange to sit in on classes, watch ongoing school events, check out the residence halls, or maybe even consider staying overnight in one of the dorms if you can evaluate accessibility accommodations. In short, take a deeper look at the current students–how your student life could turn out to be in the school you are visiting!
Pushing to see and do as much as possible within the day of your visit is good practice. This way, you’ll get an idea of what being enrolled in this school will be like.
Check out other campuses nearby.
Drop by if there are schools minutes away from the campus you’re visiting. This strategy can provide a broader perspective and help you compare different environments and offerings. Even if you have a clear favorite, seeing other schools can confirm your choice or reveal new options you hadn’t considered.
Learn about the local community.
The college might not have everything you want, but the local community could make it more appealing. Look for nearby spots where you can eat, study, have fun on weekends, and possible job opportunities. Also, check if affordable housing options exist since on-campus housing can be pricey.
Pro Tip: Keep a journal or take notes during each visit to capture your impressions and compare them later
Tip #5: And lastly: Visit again!
You likely won’t be able to dig deeper, get past first impressions, get in on hidden and unexpected facts, and learn otherwise valuable things about a school if you only visit a campus once. So don’t just visit once. Chances are, your campus tour is arranged for daily tours, so take time to revisit a campus if you can!
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