questions to ask campus tour

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College Admissions

Touring your prospective colleges is a great opportunity to learn from the people who study, work, and teach on campus. By keeping your eyes and ears open, you can gain a strong sense of a school and its culture, far beyond the facts and figures on its website.

To make the most of your visits, you should prepare thoughtful questions to ask on a college tour. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive college visit checklist of questions for your tour guide, current students, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. Plus, we'll offer some advice on what not to ask.

Before breaking out the list of college tour questions, let's review the point of campus visits in the first place.

Why Are College Tours Important?

If you have the means and time to do so, you should definitely take advantage of campus tours. They're an invaluable opportunity to explore your prospective college campuses , as well as their surrounding areas, in person.

You can check out the school's facilities, like the library, dorms, dining halls, gym, and science labs, as well as branch out to see its surrounding city or, if you're aiming for rural , dairy farms. Gathering your impressions of your college's campus and beyond will help you gain a much stronger sense of whether or not it's a place you'd like to live and learn for four years.

If you have an amazing visit, then you might feel that much more empowered to put together a stellar application . If not, then you might save an application fee and cross that school off your list.

Besides sampling the dining food or hanging out on the quad, you can also learn a lot about the student experience from your tour guide, usually a current student, and other students that you meet. You might arrange to stay overnight in a dorm or set up meetings to speak with admissions officers, financial aid officers, and/or professors.

All of these people can offer their unique perspectives and experiences, especially if you ask meaningful college tour questions that lead to broader conversations. As everyone reading this will have different goals, keep in mind that you should pick and choose based on your specific interests. If a question asks about popular classes in general, for instance, you can adapt it to ask specifically about popular classes in, say, the Biology Department.

Besides customizing to your interests, you also would be well served to prepare different questions for different people. This first group of good questions to ask on a college tour would be best suited to your tour guide or other current students of the college.

Find out what students have to say about their college experience.

Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Current Students

Most college tour guides are big fans of their colleges and are enthusiastic to share why. They tend to know lots of history and fun facts about the school, but you shouldn't necessarily expect them to rattle off specific data and statistics about graduation rates and financial aid packages (save those kinds of questions for administrative officers).

Apart from knowing a lot about the college, tour guides are usually current students, so they can also speak to their personal experience. Remember, they were in your shoes just a few years before!

Let's consider what questions would be appropriate for tour guides, divided up by academics, support resources, internships , study abroad programs, extracurriculars, residential life, and general culture. Finally, we'll suggest some personal questions for your tour guide. As you read, consider which questions you'd like answered, and how you might customize them to meet your specific interests and needs!

• Are some majors or departments considered stronger or more popular than others?
• How large are the classes?
• Are the classes more lecture-based or discussion-based?
• Would you describe any classes as especially innovative or project-based?
• How many of the classes are taught by a professor, and how many are taught by a teaching assistant?
• Are the professors accessible outside of class?
• What kind of classes have smaller section meetings? What are they like?
• Are there any especially popular classes or must-have professors?
• How much freedom do freshmen have in choosing courses?
• Are students usually able to take their first choice courses?
• How's the Wi-Fi?
• How are freshman advisors assigned?
• Is it easy to change your major?
• How would you describe the freshman experience, in terms of advising or any classes that everyone has to take?
• Do the professors hold office hours? How often can students interact with professors outside of class?
• Can undergraduates work with professors on research?
• Are there honors programs or capstone classes? If so, what are they like?
• How many hours of class do students typically have each week? How much homework outside of class?
• Are finals more exam-based or project / essay-based?
• Where are the best places to study on campus?
• What are the hours for the library? Do these change during reading periods or exam weeks?
• Are there any research methods or databases I should learn about for my classes?
• Do any majors require seniors to write a thesis or complete a senior project?

As mentioned above, you might alter some of these questions to refer to a specific major or class. An intro science lecture, for instance, might contain hundreds of students, while a literature class could be discussion-based and limited to twelve students. Keep this in mind as you check out the rest of the questions on this college visit checklist.

Like the fearless owner of this rainbow Beetle, don't be afraid to customize your college visit questions.

Academic and Social-Emotional Support

• Can you get help from professors outside of the classroom?
• Is there free academic support or tutoring? Is it effective?
• What kind of resources are there for international student support and orientation?
• What kind of learning disability resources does the school offer?
• Is there a writing center to help with essays and research papers?
• Are academic advisers accessible and effective?
• Do the librarians help with research?
• Do students organize study groups or online discussion forums?
• Are there computer labs?
• How accessible and helpful is health services?
• Do students or administrators organize conversations for students to talk about their feelings on important issues and events?
• Are there social orientation programs for freshmen? Are they enjoyable?
• Is there career counseling? Is it helpful?

Research, Internship, and Study Abroad Opportunities

• What kind of opportunities exist for undergraduates to work on research or academic projects with professors?
• What kind of internships are available? Do a lot of students get internships?
• Are any departments known for their contribution to research?
• Do any majors prepare students to continue as researchers in a Master's or doctoral program?
• Are study abroad programs popular? Any ones in particular?
• Do most students study abroad on a program through the school or an external program?
• Do students of certain majors, like engineers, find it difficult to study abroad?
• Are there internship opportunities abroad?
• Are there opportunities through the school for summer internships or research?

Extracurriculars

• What are some of the most popular extracurriculars and why?
• What clubs or other opportunities exist for community service?
• Do sports play a large role on campus? What divisions are the sports teams ? What about intramurals or exercise classes?
• Can you talk about the fill-in-the-blank club? (Examples might include the student newspaper, student magazine, international relations clubs, art groups, science clubs, musical performances, plays, bands, ensembles...whatever you're interested in!)
• In what ways do students connect with and volunteer in the surrounding community ?

How many students do they really squeeze into those dorm rooms?/em>

Residence Life

• What are the dorms like? Are there lounges, laundry, and kitchens? Shared or private restrooms?
• Do certain dorms appeal to students with different interests, like a "healthy living" dorm?
• Do most students live in the dorms? What about after sophomore or junior year? If they move off campus, do they live in apartments or shared houses?
• Are any students placed in triples?
• How are the resident counselors? Do they plan social events for freshmen to get to know one another?
• Do most students get along with their randomly assigned roommates?
• What would I do in case of a conflict or need for a room switch? Is that possible?
• What kind of food does the dining hall serve? Are there different options? How is it, really?
• Does the dining hall accommodate special dietary restrictions?
• Are there any aspiring chefs on campus who host occasional exclusive gourmet pop-up dinners? (This question may be exclusive to this kid and this kid . So cool!)

Campus Culture and Surrounding Area

• Where do students tend to hang out on and off campus?
• Are there movie theaters and concert venues? What about good cafes for getting work done or finding the perfect pumpkin spice latte?
• How would you describe the presence of Greek life ? Do a lot of students belong to fraternities or sororities?
• How ethnically diverse is the campus?
• How many international students are there? What countries do they come from?
• Do students stick around or go home on weekends?
• What's the party scene like? (This might be a question to ask current students away from the group tour.)
• Have there been any recent student protests? What were they protesting, and how did staff and faculty respond?
• What are some big campus events, like homecoming or alumni weekend?
• Is it easy to get around campus or get off campus without a car?
• What transportation options are there around campus?
• Is it a safe area to walk around at night? What kind of safety measures are in place?
• Do many students work on or off campus? How easy is it to find a part-time job?

You don't want to put your tour guide too much on the spot, but you should feel free to ask about her experience at college!

Personal Questions

As mentioned above, tour guides are typically current students who went through the same college application process just a few years earlier! Most tour guides are also, presumably, happy about their choice to attend. I wouldn't recommend prying into their high school grades and test scores, but there are other personal questions that are fair game, like the following:

• What's your favorite class and why?
• What's it like to study in your major?
• How helpful did you find your freshman year advisor?
• What do you wish you had known going into freshman year?
• What do you wish you had asked on a campus tour when you were in my place?
• What's a typical weekday like for you?
• What surprised you about campus life here?
• Is there anything you wish you had done differently to improve your experience here?
• Are there any things you'd like to change about the school?
• What would be your most important advice for freshman?
• What's your favorite spot you've discovered on campus since arriving?

Your tour guide, along with any other current students you meet, is a great resource for honest, firsthand feedback about the student experience. As students, they're likely to have similar experiences and concerns as you, and they can give you a sense of what's in store if you're accepted and decide to enroll in the college.

For more technical information on admissions policies and financial aid offers, you might set up meetings with the relevant offices. Read on for questions to ask the administrative staff.

Boldly go where no college student really has to go again once she's accepted.

Questions to Ask an Admissions Officer

Making contact with the admissions office can not only get your questions answered. It can also get your "demonstrated interest" on file, which may help when it comes time to review your application. Rather than appearing as an anonymous applicant, admissions officers may recognize you from a meeting, email, or other records of contact. Not all schools keep track of this, but for some, establishing some kind of relationship may help show your enthusiasm for the school and thereby give you a bit of an edge.

If you want to meet with an admissions officer, make sure to set up a meeting via email or calling beforehand. If it's application season, usually March and April, try to schedule this a few weeks early to make sure they're not too busy to meet with prospective students. Then have your list of questions ready to show that you prepared and are ready to make the most of your conversation. Here are a few questions you might ask.

• What's unique about this college?
• What leads most students to choose this college?
• What qualities and experiences are you looking for in applicants?
• Can you tell me more about the application evaluation process ?
• How large of a role do SAT scores play in admissions?
• Do you have any advice for applicants? Does this differ for early versus regular decision applications?
• What percentage of students graduate in four years?
• What are the college's most important values, and how does it demonstrate this to students?
• What sort of student would succeed here?
• What sort of student might not be happy here?
• Can you tell me about career placements or grad school acceptances for graduates?
• How do you help students prepare for post-grad employment?
• Do you have an active alumni network?

Just as the admissions office will have lots of facts and advice about the admissions process, the financial aid office can walk you through your financial application. The next section covers questions you might have for them.

All of these are good topics to discuss with a financial aid officer.

Questions to Ask a Financial Aid Officer

Most schools offer a good deal of information about the cost of tuition, room and board, books, and other fees online, as well as the steps to take to apply for financial aid. If financial aid's an important factor for you, it could be helpful to meet with an officer and make sure you're doing everything you can to get your financial needs met.

I would suggest researching the school's financial aid website first, so you're not asking about info that's readily available online. Then you can use that base knowledge as a stepping off point for other queries, like the ones below:

• What kind of need-based financial aid do you offer?
• Do you meet 100% of demonstrated financial need ?
• What information do you require besides the FAFSA ?
• How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How much is offered?
• Are there other scholarships that students can apply for at the time of application?
• How much do students typically owe after graduating?
• Can I renegotiate my offer if it's lower than I expected?
• What are some opportunities for work-study ?

The financial aid office is the best place for any and all your money-related questions. If you get the chance to meet with a professor , then you can shift back into academic mode.

Tell me, Professor McGonagall, how serious are you about deadlines?

Questions to Ask a Professor

Finally, meeting with a professor could be a great way to make contact and learn about a department and class, especially if you have a strong sense of what you want to study . You can learn about her teaching style, the department's approach, and any opportunities for independent projects or research.

• What are your expectations for students in your class?
• How can students succeed in your class?
• What are typical requirements, like exams, papers, or presentations in a semester?
• What kind of materials would I use in your class?
• What skills or knowledge would you consider to be prerequisites?
• Do you offer any opportunities for students to do research?
• What other opportunities are available outside of the classroom to reinforce my learning, like cultural clubs or festivals?
• How often do you meet with or mentor students outside of class?
• What are the strengths of your program? Department?
• What's the community of students who major in this program like? Do they act as peer mentors, collaborate on projects, or form study groups?
• What could I do to prepare for further research at the graduate level?
• Would I be required or able to write a senior thesis or do a capstone project?
• How much flexibility would I have in shaping my major or taking an interdisciplinary approach?

As you can see, there's a wide range of questions you could prepare to ask tour guides, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. In addition to knowing what to ask, it can also be useful to know what not to ask. Are there any questions you shouldn't ask on your campus tours?

This question, for example, would be less than ideal.

Questions to Avoid on College Visits

I know, I know, they say there are no dumb questions—but there may be some worth keeping to yourself on your college visits. For instance, I mentioned above that it would probably be inappropriate to ask your tour guide to recite her high school resume to see how your grades, scores, and involvements stack up. While she can talk about her experiences applying and attending, asking for specific info like that would probably cross the line from curious to prying.

You should also avoid asking questions that are overly personal and not helpful to others in the group when you're on your tours. For example, I wouldn't advise sharing your life story and then asking your tour guide (or a professor, for that matter) to speculate about your admissions chances. She probably can't speak to highly specific concerns, and your fellow tour group members won't find it helpful either. If your question feels like it's too personal for a group setting, then cross it off your list.

A final good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid asking basic questions that can be easily answered via Google or a quick search of the school's website. For instance, questions like the following fall into that category:

• Do you have a psychology major?
• When was the school founded?
• How many students are in the freshman class?
• What was last year's rate of acceptance?

Based on these guidelines and suggestions, you probably have a sense of the kind of questions to ask on a college tour that will help you make the most of your campus visits. Most are prompts that may open into a more in-depth discussion. That being said, how can you use these questions to prepare for your college tours?

Start gathering your tastiest college tour questions.

How to Prepare for Your College Tours

Your first step is scheduling and signing up online for your college tours, as well as any other meetings or overnight stays. The best time to tour is when classes are in session so you can get the truest sense of the college in action.

Since you should prepare questions and take notes on the answers, I recommend writing them down and bringing a notebook (paper or electronic) to take notes. You'll be getting a lot of information, along with walking around and seeing everything, so it will be useful to have a record to which you can refer at the end of the day.

You certainly don't need to go overboard with the college tour questions. I would suggest preparing five to ten of your most important questions for each person (student, admissions officer, professor, etc). You may find you should choose about three during your tour, while you may be able to ask a lot more during a one on one conversation or meeting. Better to over-prepare than under-prepare, and you could list your highest priority questions at the top to make sure you get to them first.

In addition to asking questions and jotting down notes on the responses, you should take the time to observe everything going on around you. Beyond viewing the facilities, try to notice how the staff responds to you or how students interact with one another. Perhaps most importantly, is it a place where you'd feel comfortable?

Finally, spend some time writing and reflecting after your visit. Does the school seem like a good fit with your personality, interests, and goals? Do you feel excited about the prospect of attending? At the end of the day, you must save the final questions for yourself.

What's Next?

Are you in the midst of researching colleges and narrowing down your college list? This guide has some seriously helpful suggestions for figuring out what you want and choosing the colleges that best match your goals.

Once you've found some exciting schools, head on over here to learn when to apply. This comprehensive guide goes over the various application deadlines you need to know, along with some examples of regular and early deadlines for popular schools.

Finally, check out this guide on all the steps to apply to college , starting with choosing the best high school classes as early as freshman year and finishing with submitting your college apps!

Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Want to know what life’s really like at your dream school? Chat up the real experts on campus—the students.

When you tour colleges, make sure you talk with as many current students as you can. Ask them what they love and what bothers them most about their schools. This list of potential questions will help you spark some conversations with students on all your college visits , so you can find the school that fits you best.

Why did you choose this school?

Are you happy here?

What are your school's strengths?

What’s your #1 complaint about your school?

What else could stand to be improved?

How accessible are administrators, registrars, financial aid officers, etc.?

What majors are popular?

What departments or programs have the best reputations?

What’s your favorite class?

Are your professors good teachers?

Do your professors hold office hours, and will they meet with you outside of class?

Are most of your classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?

Were you able to take most of your first-choice classes?

Are your classes lecture-based or discussion-based?

How much reading and writing is required in your courses?

How often are collaborative work or group presentations required?

How satisfied are you with academic advising?

Do students use any on-campus tutoring programs or writing centers?

How big are your classes?

Does your major require an independent study or capstone project ?

Are professors available for research with students?

Is it popular to study abroad ?

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Campus Life

What's it like to be a first-year student here?

What's a typical day like?

How much time do students spend studying per week?

What do you do when you're not in class?

What do you do on the weekends?

What is the social scene like?

What kinds of things are there to do in your school's hometown?

How’s the food ?

Do most students live on-campus?

How are the dorms ?

Which clubs and student organizations are popular?

Do lots of students belong to fraternities or sororities?

What's your favorite place on campus?

Where do you like to study?

What are the facilities like (science labs, libraries , theatres, gyms, etc.)?

Are there enough computer labs?

How is the WiFi on campus?

Is it easy to get around campus?

Are sports popular?

Is there a lot of school spirit?

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Student Body

How would you describe your fellow students?

Are the students here friendly?

What makes the student body unique?

Is there diversity on campus?

Are there many students from other countries?

Do students of different races and classes interact easily?

Are students cliquish?

Career Services

Are internships available? How do you find them?

Is Career Services helpful?

Do you have a mentor?

Does your school have a co-op program ?

Are there opportunities to build leadership skills on campus?

What options exist for service learning in the community?

Do employers recruit students on campus?

How easy is it to find summer jobs and other kinds of work through your school?

Who are some of the notable graduates from your college?

How visible is your school's alumni association on campus?

What kinds of hands-on or practical experiences have you had in and outside of the classroom?

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80 Questions to Ask on a College Campus Tour

November 4, 2020

by Matt Hughes

Choosing a college is about more than just numbers and data; it's about a feeling, and there's no better way to tell whether a college is the right or wrong place for you than by visiting in person .

When you're on campus for a tour, you'll get to see for yourself where you could be spending the next four years of your life: where you'll study, sleep, eat, play and kick back. You'll get a glimpse of the students you'll be surrounded by and the professors you'll learn from, the activities you'll pursue and the teams you'll cheer to victory, as well as the larger region you'll explore and make your home.

To make the most of your campus tour, you'll want to ask the right questions — ones that get to the heart of what you're looking for in a college experience. Choosing good questions is especially important now, as the pandemic has put limits on the time you may have to spend on a campus or the places you can visit while you're there.

Plan a visit to Bucknell

To help you make the most of your visit, we've compiled a list of questions to think about as you prepare, organized into five areas that together represent the whole of a college experience:

• Student and Residence Life
• Student Support
• Careers and Alumni Life

As you'll see, there are far too many questions on this list to ask in a one- or two-hour visit, especially if there are other families in your tour group. Instead of starting at the top, use this list to help refine your own shorter list of questions that get to the heart of what's most important to you.

And of course, feel free to add a few questions of your own to your list. Choosing a college is all about finding what you're looking for.

Before we begin, a few words of advice:

Do Your Homework First

A lot of campus visitors ask questions about data and numbers during their tour: How many students go here? How many graduate in four or six years? What's your student-faculty ratio? What's the average class size? These are all important things to know before making your decision, but they should also be easy to find on any college's website (you can find answers to all of them on Bucknell's Fast Facts page). You'll only have so much time to ask questions during a campus tour, so make the most of that opportunity to dig deeper by asking questions that get to the heart of what you're looking for in a college experience.

What About Financial Aid?

Questions about financial aid also fall into this category, but for a different reason: The answers you're looking for are highly individual. On any campus you'll find students who pay full tuition and those who pay no tuition at all; it all depends on their individual circumstances and the scholarships they receive. The student or admissions officer leading your tour won't know anything about your family's financial situation, so they can only explain so much. They might tell you about the college's average aid package or scholarship opportunities, but you can probably find that information yourself on the college's website.

While you should ask questions about financial aid, your best bet for getting the answers you need is to set up a separate call or meeting with the college's financial aid office (you can reach Bucknell's at [email protected] or 570-577-1331).

You can also use the net price calculator you can find on many college websites (Bucknell's is here ) to get a better sense of how much aid you might be eligible to receive.

During your tour, you may also want to ask about specific scholarships that might apply to you, such as merit scholarships for the arts, sciences or athletics. Just bear in mind that the tour guide can only give you general answers.

With that advice out of the way, here are some suggestions for questions to ask on your campus tour.

Academic Questions — What Are Classes Like?

• Why did you decide to attend this college?

Ask this question if your tour is being led by a student tour guide. There's no better way to get a sense of whether a college might be right for you than to hear first hand what sealed the decision for someone who goes there now. If there's any question we recommend you ask, it's this one.

• Is there anything you don't like? If you had to say, what would you change about this college?

Another revealing question that can give you perspective you won't find in admissions materials or online marketing.

• What makes this college different from other schools you looked at?
• What majors are most popular here?
• Are most classes led by professors or teaching assistants?
• Are classes mostly discussion-based or lecture-based?
• What's the largest class you've ever taken here?
• How large was your average first-year class?
• How much freedom do first-year students have in choosing courses?
• How easy/hard is it to enroll in a class you want to take?
• Are there any popular classes that always fill up quickly?
• How much room is there to take classes outside your major?
• Is it possible to take classes from another college (within a university) or get a minor or second major from another college?
• Is it easy to change your major?
• Is there an honors program? What does it require?
• Are there any capstone courses or senior-year projects all or most students take part in? What do you do?
• Are there any particularly interesting, innovative or unique classes you can talk about?
• How popular is studying abroad at this school?
• Does the school run any of its own study abroad programs? Where are they?
• Are there opportunities to do research or fieldwork as an undergraduate student?
• Are collaborative or group projects common?
• Do classes often connect to the community or with outside businesses and organizations?

Student Life Questions — What’s It Like to Live Here?

• What does an average day for a first-year student look like?
• How do first-year students tend to make friends and meet other students?
• What do students do when they aren't in class?
• Where do students go to study besides their rooms?
• What are weekends like on campus? Do most students stay here or do they tend to go home or off campus (or to a nearby city) to hang out?
• How are the connections with the local community? Do you feel like part of the community here?
• What makes this community special? Why do you like living here?
• Is there anything you don't like about this community/living here?
• Is housing guaranteed all four years? Do most students usually live on campus all four years or move off campus when they're allowed to?
• What are the housing options for students in each class year?
• Is there special-interest housing, like housing focused on a particular major or academic interest, students from particular backgrounds, or students who wish to pursue a substance-free lifestyle?
• How are first-year roommates assigned? Do most students get along with their assigned roommate? What was your roommate like?
• How easy or hard is it to change roommates if you're not a good match?
• Are there a lot of fraternities or sororities? How important are they to the social scene on campus?
• What are the fitness facilities like? Do they get crowded?
• What options are there for club and intramural sports or fitness classes?
• How's the food on campus? Are there a lot of options?
• Do the dining halls accommodate special dietary requirements?
• What local restaurants do students love?
• Is it easy to get around without a car?
• What transportation options does the college provide?
• Is the area safe to walk around at night? What kind of safety measures are in place?
• Do many students work on or off campus? Are there opportunities to find jobs that will help my resume?
• What are the big annual events on campus?
• What are the sporting events like here?

Support Questions — How Easy Is It to Get Help?

• How easy or hard is it to get help from professors outside of class?
• How often do professors have office hours? Is it easy to schedule a time to meet or do they fill up quickly?
• Is there free academic support or tutoring? Is it available to all students in all subjects?
• Is there a writing center to help with papers?
• How can the library help with research? Do librarians or other staff provide individual help?
• What resources and accommodations are available for students with learning disabilities or other special needs?
• What is academic advising like? Is it easy to meet with your adviser, and what kind of help do they offer?
• Do students organize study groups or online meetups? Does the school help coordinate those meetings?
• Are computer labs open 24 hours? Are they easy to access or do they get crowded at certain times?
• What health and mental wellness services are available on campus?
• What is orientation like? How long is it and do any onboarding activities continue throughout the year?

Admissions Questions — What Are You Looking for in a Student?

• What qualities and experiences are you most looking for in an applicant?
• How are applications evaluated? What are the different things you consider?
• Are interviews required or available as part of the application process?
• How large of a role do standardized test scores play in admissions?
• Are you test-optional?
• Does this school give credit for AP or IB courses, or college courses taken while in high school? How much/what classes are eligible?
• Do I need to declare a major on my application? What if I'm not sure?
• How easy is it to change my major if I decide it's not for me?
• What's your best advice for someone who wants to get into this school?
• What leads most students to choose this college?
• What sort of person wouldn't be happy here?

Career/Alumni Questions — What’s It Like to Be a Graduate of This School?

• What sort of help does the college provide for finding internships?
• Are there a lot of internships available in the community or do you have to go farther away?
• Are there any internship opportunities on campus?
• Are work-study programs available? What about co-op programs for majors like engineering or science?
• Is there special advising for students who want to go to medical school, law school or other graduate programs?
• What does career advising and counseling look like?
• Do many recruiters come to campus? How many of them are alumni?
• How does the career center help students identify job opportunities?
• Are career advising services available after graduation?
• What other help does the career services office provide?
• How many/what percentage of students find jobs in their field of study?
• How active is your alumni network? Is the alumni association visible on campus?

Touring Bucknell

So there you have it — enough questions to keep a campus tour guide talking all day. We hope this list gives you lots to think about as you begin exploring colleges in person.

If you'd like to visit Bucknell for a campus tour, get started by exploring your visit options here . You'll find a menu of visit experiences including traditional guided tours and self-guided alternatives. Just as we believe in empowering students to create their own college experience, we also give prospective students choices to experience our campus the way that suits them best.

You can also get a taste of what you'll experience on campus through our virtual tour .

And if you have questions you'd like to ask us now, please contact us anytime at [email protected] or 570-577-3000.

Stay up to date throughout your Bucknell journey

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BY CAROLINE LEIGH FRIEDL

COLLEGE , college tips · April 29, 2022

45 In Depth Questions To Ask On College Visits You Need To Get The Full Picture

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In this post, we’re covering the most essentials questions to ask on college visits to help you find a university where you’ll thrive.

College campus visits are a beast. After traveling a few hours by car or flying halfway across the country, it can be ridiculously overwhelming being herded at light speed across a campus through dorms, dining halls, and presentations.

Well, walking through a university isn’t the overwhelming part. The overwhelming part is that massive question in the back of your mind…is this where I’m going to spend the next four years of my life?

Doubtless you’ve heard the stories of people who walk on a campus and it “just clicks” or others who toured twenty colleges and still didn’t know what the right choice is. You want to see all the right places and ask all the right questions to figure it out for yourself.

As a third year college student at UW-Madison, I’m going to help you navigate this clusterf*ck by telling you all the who, what, when, where, and why questions you need to be asking on your tour. I tagged along with my sister for her tours, and I toured universities in the Midwest and East Coast from Big 10 schools to art schools like Parsons so I’m decently well seasoned in what questions to ask during college visits.

Basically, I’m giving you a list of everything you should be asking yourself during the process — it’s the random little things that really count. For example, who knew having a cheap grocery store that’s close to campus would be so important?! Definitely not freshman year me lol.

45 Essentials Questions To Ask On College Visits

Student life questions:, ♡ what is the school spirit like, ♡ what social activities or sports are available to students is there a student fair where i can see what’s offered, ♡ is there greek life on campus what percentage of students participate and how much presence does it have, ♡ what is the university’s health services like what do they offer and how easy is it to get an appointment, ♡ what does the school spirit look like for the university’s sports what is the university’s most popular sport, ♡ what is the best way for students to buy tickets to the university’s sports events, ♡ what does the typical day in the life of a student look like, ♡ what does student life look like on the weekends do a lot of students go home, ♡ does the university offer internships or career services for life off campus, ♡ what is the food scene in the city like what are the student hotspots, ♡what is the student workout facility like do they offer classes for students, ♡ is it necessary to have a car on campus, {related post: 13 college tips that no one else will tell you }, dorm life questions:, ♡ what are the dorms like which ones are the most social versus the more study oriented dorms, ♡ which dorm halls have the best rooms and what are the best locations on campus, ♡ how good is the dining hall food how many are on campus and what is the meal plan like, ♡ can i request a roommate is it a random process, ♡ how long is student housing offered when will i be required to move “off campus”, ♡ when do people starting signing housing leases for the next year, ♡ are there any policies for overnight guests, ♡ are the dorms co-ed or are the floors gender specific, ♡ where are the closest / most affordable grocery stores on campus, ♡ what’s the best way to find housing if i’m looking to sublease or to find roommates is there a facebook group i can join.

QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMICS:

♡ does the university offer the major / minor i’m interested in does the university have a well known department for that subject, ♡ how easy is it to switch majors, ♡ what will the average class size be for my major will i prefer big or smaller lectures, ♡ what is the student / professor relationship like do they encourage office hours, ♡ how many ap or ib credits from high school will be accepted at this university, ♡ what student services are offered to help with academics is there a tutoring or writing center, ♡ will they assign me a student advisor how often will i have to meet with them, ♡ what study abroad opportunities are offered is it popular at this university what year do students normally go, ♡ how difficult is it to enrol in classes as a freshman, ♡ how many hours a day on average are spent doing homework for my prospective major, {related post: 16 life-saving tips to ace college finals week }, questions about campus:, ♡ how safe do students feel on campus what are the safety measures the university provides, ♡ what is the public transportation like on campus how much does it cost and do students get a discount, ♡ is there a main spot that people hang out on campus, ♡ what are the libraries like which are the popular ones or are there any designated quiet ones, ♡ is there campus wide wifi how well does it actually work, questions to ask your tour guide:, ♡ how has your perspective of the university changed from going on tour to being a student what is the expectation versus reality what surprised you, ♡ what did you think about freshman orientation how long is it, ♡ how easy is it to meet people and what is the best way to do so on a new campus, ♡ what is something the admissions value the most on an application from a student perspective, ☆ bonus question for the bold: what are the best student bars on campus which ones are most likely to let you in with a fake id (psa i’m not condoning underage drinking, but this is definitely helpful information to have…), {related post: 30+ cute & creative college school supplies you'll obsess over }, personal questions:, ♡ how far away is the university from my home how long does the travel time take and how much will it cost to go back for breaks, ♡ do i need scholarships or financial aid to attend this university would i need to take out loans, ♡ if the tuition is above my budget, what about this university is worth my investment, ♡ what is the campus size do i think i would thrive in a larger or smaller campus.

This post covered the absolute best questions to ask on college visits during your search.

Did you find a question in this roundup you hadn’t considered? Let us know what topic you want more of in the comments!

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Top Questions to Ask on a College Campus Visit

Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

When you’re touring campuses, think about questions to ask colleges beforehand. While your tour guide will be a great source of information, try stopping a few students and asking them what they like and don’t like about their school. Notice the emphasis on the “don’t.” If you’re touring a college, you’ve probably heard a lot of great things about the school, but not many (if any) not-so-great things. It’s important to hear both sides of the story to make an informed decision, so don’t shy away from asking students about how their school could be better. 

If you have time, consider taking your own tour of campus to meet students along the way and ask them questions. You’re more likely to get an honest answer out of students when they aren’t questioned in front of large tour groups. Check out our list of 52 questions to ask students during your next college campus tour. We’ve also included some questions to ask admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors if you get the chance. 

Don’t miss:  Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Jump to…

Questions to ask college students

Questions to ask admissions officers, questions to ask financial aid officers, questions to ask professors.

• Why did you choose this school?
• Are you happy here?
• What’s your favorite thing about this school?
• What are your school’s strengths?
• What’s your biggest complaint about your school?
• What else could be improved?
• Have you ever considered transferring? 
• What departments or programs have the best reputations?
• Favorite things about your classes? What do you dislike? 
• Do you like your professors? 
• How accessible are your professors outside of class? Do they hold office hours? Do they respond to emails? 
• Are your classes lecture-based or discussion-based? 
• How common is group work?
• How much reading and writing is required in your courses?
• Are finals usually more exam-based or project-based? 
• How many hours a week do you typically spend on homework?
• Is there a tutoring center and/or writing center on campus? 
• What majors are popular? 
• How big are introductory classes?
• How big are upper-level classes?
• When do students usually declare their major? 
• What do you think could be improved about this school’s academic experience?

Also read:  How to choose a college

Student life

• How would you describe this school’s campus culture?
• What do you like about student life here? Anything you dislike? 
• How was your first year on campus? How did you adapt to the culture?
• What surprised you about student life here? 
• Does your school prioritize mental health? How accessible are counseling services? 
• How do your friends speak about this school? Are they proud to be students here? 
• What’s your school-life balance like? Do you feel like academics dominate your life? Or do you have enough time for social activities? 
• What’s your favorite place on campus to do work? 
• What’s student diversity like? Does your school make efforts to be inclusive? 
• Have there been any recent student protests? What were they protesting? How did faculty and staff respond? 
• Do students spend a lot of time off-campus? What kind of things are there to do in town? 
• What’s a typical weekday like for you? 
• How do you spend your weekends? 
• How big is party culture here? 
• Are lots of students in fraternities or sororities? 
• What are the best and worst dorms? 
• Is it easy to get around campus? What transportation options are there?
• How’s the food? 

Extracurriculars 

• What clubs or student organizations are you involved in? 
• What are some of the most popular extracurricular activities?
• How do you get involved in extracurricular activities? 
• Do you feel like there’s enough activities on campus? Do you ever wish there was more to do? 
• Are there any activities you wish your school supported? 
• Do sports play a big role on campus?

Research, internship, and study abroad opportunities

• What kind of opportunities are there for undergraduate research? 
• Do a lot of students get internships?
• Is Career Services helpful? 
• How active is the alumni network? 
• How easy is it to find summer jobs and other kinds of work through your school? 
• Are study abroad programs popular? Any ones in particular?

Also see:  How to plan a college campus tour

Chatting with students is a fantastic way to get a feel for what a school is really like, but some questions are better suited for admissions officers. Not only can you get some questions answered, but making contact with the admissions office is a great way to get your “demonstrated interest” on file. If you take the time to do this, there’s a chance that admissions officers could recognize your name when application season rolls around. Not every school keeps track of this, but establishing some sort of relationship with the admissions office could potentially give you a slight edge. 

If you’d like to meet with an admissions officer, make sure to schedule a meeting ahead of time. Additionally, do your research beforehand so that you’re not asking questions about information that’s readily available online. Use your research as a stepping-off point for other questions, like the ones we’ve listed below. 

• What’s unique about this school?
• Are there different admission requirements for different departments or majors? 
• My favorite subject is _______. How could that translate to a major at your school? 
• Can you tell me more about the application evaluation process?
• What qualities and experiences are you looking for in applicants? 
• What are this school’s most important values? How are those values demonstrated to students? 
• What sort of student succeeds here?
• What sort of student might not be happy here?
• Is the support offered for first-year students fine?
• How do you help students prepare for post-graduate employment?

Students and admissions officers may not know the ins and outs of the school’s financial aid policies, so the best place for all your money-related questions is the financial aid office. As with admissions officers, you’ll want to be as informed as possible when speaking with financial aid officers. Take the time to visit the school’s financial aid webpage first, then create a list of questions based on that research. Here’s a few examples: 

• What kind of need-based financial aid do you offer? 
• What is your average financial aid package?
• What’s the typical breakdown of loans vs. grants? 
• What percentage of financial aid does the school typically meet? 
• How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How much is typically offered? 
• What is the average college debt that students leave this school with? 
• What work-study opportunities are there?

Meeting with professors is an excellent way to get a different perspective on the academic side of things. You’ll be spending a lot of time with professors during your college career, so it can’t hurt to get a jump start!

• What excites you about teaching at this school? 
• What are your expectations for students in your class?
• How do students stand out to you? 
• What do you think first-year students struggle with the most when transitioning to college-level academics? 
• Have you noticed anything about the students who major in this program? Do they form study groups and collaborate on projects? Or do they mostly stick to themselves? 
• How often do you meet with students outside of class? 
• What are the strengths of your program or department? 
• Is there room for improvement in your program or department? 
• Do you offer any opportunities for students to do research? 

Keep on reading:

• Ace your college admissions in 60 seconds
• How to choose a major
• Demonstrated interest in college admissions (with list of colleges that count it)
• What is the difference between college and university?

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Updated May 2, 2018

Helpful Questions to Ask on College Tours

• Plan for College
• Campus Life

When deciding what colleges to add to your list, touring a campus can be a valuable tool.

A campus tour is the best way to see what life at that school is really like. Most campus tours are led by outgoing student guides—and it’s their job to answer questions. They can help give you an inside-view into real experiences and a deeper understanding of what your day to day life will be like at the school. Here are a few things to consider asking on your campus tour.

1. How Much Time Do You Spend Studying and Doing Homework?

Emma B., a campus tour guide at Texas Christian University in Texas, says that while understanding how classes are taught is of course relevant, “the amount of work that you put into a class outside of a physical hour in a class is pretty important.” You’ll likely spend more time studying and writing papers than sitting in class. She adds that this question also “gives you an idea of how academically motivated students are.”

2. What Does the School Do to Make Students Feel Safer?

Christina N., a campus tour guide at SUNY Albany in New York, advises asking about safety protocols. Most schools have campus security, cameras, and emergency phones. Get into the specifics at each school you visit by asking questions like: “Do you feel safe while you’re at school?” and “What does your school do to make this possible?”

3. What Do You Do for Fun on Campus with Your Friends?

Emma B., the Texas Christian University tour guide, says she rarely gets personal questions from prospective students, but thinks asking questions like these are a good idea. She explains that getting information about the social elements of student life is what’s going to tell you if the school is a fit. Plus, tour guides often have a script they’re supposed to follow. Emma says asking them a personal question will get them off script, which gives you more accurate insight into how they feel about their school.

4. Do You Have a Favorite Professor?

Sara H., a tour guide at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, recommends getting personal. Instead of asking generalities about academics, she says, “It’s always a great idea to ask a tour guide if they have a favorite professor.” The guide may be able to share a personal anecdote that reveals more about the school’s professors than what’s in their online bios so you can get a better idea of whether they take meaningful interest in their students. Their answer can also highlight a worthwhile class you may not have considered.

5. What’s the Sports Culture Like?

Miranda R., a tour guide from Towson University in Maryland, often gets asked, “How good is the football team?” She says a better question to ask might be what the sports fan culture is like. You can look up the stats on the school sporting teams. Take advantage of having an actual student at your disposal by getting information you can’t find online—general campus sentiment toward athletes, student attendance at school-sponsored rallies, and personal takes on tailgating and the social scene around sports.

6. What Was Your Grocery List Like Freshman Year?

Emma says that one of the weirdest questions she was ever asked was, “What was your grocery list like?” It struck her as strange, but now she realizes it’s actually quite telling about freshman life. Asking this question can give you insights into the dining hall , how the campus cuisine helps with adjusting to life away from home and what student needs have to be fulfilled off campus.

7. What Do You Wish You Had Known Before You Attended This College?

This can be a positive way to ask about a tour guide’s not-so-positive experiences. Maybe they were unprepared for the fact that many students go home on the weekends. Maybe they wished that they had known how challenging it was to switch their major. No college is perfect, and hearing your tour guide’s experience can give you insight into things you may not have considered.

8. What Is Your Most Memorable Experience from This Semester?

If you ask about what your tour guide did over the weekend, you might hear a lot of the same sleep-study-hang out schedule from campus to campus. This question can reveal things that might make the college unique. From volunteering with the community to taking part in a beloved campus tradition to hearing about an epic roommate roadtrip, this can give you a glimpse into what real life might look like.

9. What Does Diversity Mean on Campus?

This question can give you insight into how the college handles diversity and inclusion . Many colleges will include diversity in their marketing materials, but hearing about a tour guide’s personal experience can be enlightening. You might want to also ask about resources and support systems on campus, as well as how administration has handled conflicts and differing viewpoints surrounding inequality.

Don’t be afraid to ask campus tour questions that will give you the information you need to make the best college list possible. Gather all the facts and expert opinions you can before you make the big decision of where to apply.

Applying to college? We can help.

Related articles, the debate: college meal plan vs. no meal plan, how to get the real story about campus life, what it’s like going to a college that doesn’t give traditional grades, i went to a commuter school and loved it.

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Visiting a college campus is one of the most exciting things! You get a small glimpse into a potential new home. I remember vividly going on college campus tours with my parents and older sister when she was looking for a college to attend and I was always so fascinated with the architecture, what the people looked like, and definitely how knowledgeable the student tour guides were! Asking good college tour questions during your visit is very important.

This is a prime opportunity to learn everything you possibly can about this school. So make sure you’re prepared with questions to ask along the way. My little sister has been touring colleges with athletic scholarships but you better believe I have been there with questions to make sure she is well-informed to make the right decision.

Here I have listed ~super~ important questions you should consider asking while you go on your own college tours.

General College Tour Questions

Are there any ways the college/university helps high schoolers transition to college life?

My college has a required class that all freshmen have to take during their first year of college. It is specifically designed to help freshmen with the transition from high school to college!

Fun fact: I met one of my freshman year best friends in this class! We were both lost in the building and bonded over looking for this class together, lol. You can meet new friends anywhere. Definitely ask about your tour guide’s transition to college!

What is your favorite thing about going to school here?

This helps give some insight on what you can look forward to while going to school here. I loved hearing their answers because it’s nice to see what people value in their college experience. This question helps you get a better picture of life at [insert college name].

What is this school known for?

My college life was so amazing because I had a feel of the campus culture. Now, my school has a lot. to improve on, but the overall big themes of the school are things I loved. This is a great question to see if the college culture will be for you. If they say something about sports, you want to ask yourself if that is something you value a lot.

What are the big majors at this school?

This is another thing that will help you determine if it is a good fit for you or not. If they say they have a world-renowned business program, you may want to ask yourself how much funding or thought goes into the STEM majors at your school.

What is the graduation rate?

This question is important because low graduation rates reflect badly on a college/university. First, look online to see if you can find it before you tour the college. You want to know the college cares for the students and will do their best to prepare you for life after college!

Are there writing labs and other helpful resources for students?

I had so much fun visiting the writing lab at my university! If you don’t know, a writing lab is a place on campus that you can go to to get help with your writing. I went a couple of times for my essays and my grade always got better after I went! My writing lab guaranteed that your grade would increase a whole letter grade after visiting for help (and it always did 🥲 )

In addition to a writing lab, my school also had a lab where people would help you with your presentation! If you ever have a presentation, they will help you make sure it is as good as can be.

How are the professors here? Do students here use rate my professor ?

Asking about the professors is where I get much-needed insight as to how students here feel about their professors. Now keep in mind your tour guide isn’t a fair representation of every student on campus. But, one time I got such useful information on who NOT to take for a physics class and she was SO right.

Ratemyprofessor.com is life-saving… forreal. It is a database where students go in and review each and every (ok not everyone is on here like new professors probably won’t be reviewed yet) professor on campus. Most of the time, the reviews are spot on! I check this site before every semester to make sure the professors I chose are top-notch and actually care about their students.

Does your advisor help you stay on track with your classes? How is your relationship with your advisor?

Advisors can be extremely helpful or a pain in the you know what. Ask them to see if their advisor has been a helpful part of their experience! I also recommend you reach out to the advisor yourself. You want to make sure they are helping you stay on track to graduate!

How well is the university at helping students getting internships?

This is something I did not focus on enough in college! I initially did the pre-med route and solely focused on potentially going to med school and I didn’t really have a backup. I think having a plan b and plan c is so essential and internships can help you figure out what you want to do in the future!

Is there an honors program here? If so what are the requirements?

Most colleges do have some type of honors program. If you are interested, ask what the requirements are so you can get in!

NOTE: For this section, I recommend scheduling an appointment with a financial aid advisor because they will have much more information that you want than your tour guide, who is probably a student. But I do leave a couple of questions because when my older sister was on her campus tour, the girl gave her a business card of a very helpful person to ask for scholarships!

How helpful is the bursar/financial aid office?

The bursar office is where you will take care of your financial needs. Ask for scholarships, grants, loans, all of it.

Who do I talk to for information on scholarships and grants?

This information is on their website I assure you. But, you can still ask if you want!

Getting Involved

Do you all have leadership programs on campus?

My FAVORITE thing I got involved with was the Leadership Scholars program for the college of arts and sciences. It was life-changing and I met my other best friend through this group. We were the “ambassadors” of the college. We volunteered, put on events for our college, and traveled abroad together.

What are you involved in on campus?

Since they give campus tours, this is probably one of the main things they’re involved in because it takes up a lot of time. It’s a job! But, hearing what else they are involved with is awesome because it gives you ideas of what you can get into when you arrive .

Are there study abroad opportunities?

Studying abroad is too much fun! I went for a couple of weeks in the summer with the leadership program I mentioned. Get out there! There are so many things out in the world, explore while you study.

Are there quiet hours?

I get that you will be having fun with friends and possibly inviting people over to your dorm every now and then. But, you will want quiet hours during midterm week, dead week, and finals week… I promise you.

Are the dorms same-sex or co-ed?

This is important because my dorm had co-ed floors, but my floor was same-sex. I loved it! This is a great question to ask just so you are aware of how your living situation will be.

What are the best dorm halls for freshmen?

Do students get free tickets for sports?

I went to a university that is big for sports. All sports were free for students, except for football and basketball.

I HIGHLY doubt the tour guide won’t take you to these places but if you haven’t made it to these places during the tour, I recommend you ask to see the following places :

• Bursar / Financial Aid Office
• Student Union
• Freshman Dorms
• Parking Lots / Garages

If you are an athlete on a tour, ask these questions…

My sister is an athlete so we typically got a tour with a student and the coach! These are additional questions we asked to predict how life would be as a student-athlete in college.

Do the teammates get along on the team?

How is the balance of sports and school?

Is there tutoring available for athletes?

Do you all take away scholarship money from athletes?

Let me know about more helpful college tour questions that have been helpful for you!

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FREE TRAINING: How I Secured 6-Figures in Scholarships & Graduated Debt-Free

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Paying for college begins here

57 Essential Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Updated on August 4th, 2023

A campus tour for college admission is an opportunity. Visitors have a chance to learn more about the school, which can be critical for the  college selection process . But figuring out what questions to ask on a college campus visit isn’t always easy. Your student only has a small amount of time to find out what they need to know.

College visit questions need to allow your student to discover the information they can’t find elsewhere. It’s a crucial part of making the most of the college tour experience . At times, this means broaching topics that aren’t discussed on the school’s website, in the college’s brochures, or student reviews. In others, it’s all about diving deeper into a subject that’s only touched on online or in college materials.

Luckily, choosing the questions to ask on a college visit doesn’t have to be a challenge. If your student doesn’t know where to begin, here are some helpful questions to ask when touring a college they can use.

• 1 Why College Visit Questions Are Important
• 2.1 Basic Questions to Ask on College Visits
• 2.2 Academic Questions to Ask During a College Visit
• 2.3 Campus Life College Visit Questions
• 2.4 Residence Life Questions to Ask When Touring a College
• 2.5 Student Body Questions for a College Visit
• 2.6 Work and Career Questions to Ask on a College Tour
• 3 When to Bring Up Your Questions to Ask When Visiting Colleges

Why College Visit Questions Are Important

Most colleges make a ton of information available to prospective students. A school’s website is often massive, providing students with a solid overview of everything from the admissions process to the available programs to housing. Even extracurricular activities and academic support are typically covered. Usually, the site provides more details than any student would be able to cover.

Plus, schools usually have other information resources available. Booklets and brochures are the most common option. Additionally, many colleges have YouTube channels, allowing them to easily share videos that showcase the college campus, curriculum, and student life.

With all of that information available, it wouldn’t seem like your student needs to ready any questions for a college visit. But that isn’t the case. While preparing questions to ask when touring a college doesn’t seem critical on the surface, it’s incredibly important.

Even with all of the available resources, specific topics might not be covered. By creating a list of questions to ask when visiting colleges, your student makes sure that they can discover details that aren’t discussed elsewhere during campus visits.

Additionally, a ‘questions to ask on a college tour’ list lets your student focus on subjects that matter most to them. Not only will students succeed because they guarantee that they don’t overlook something critical to their decision-making process, but they also ensure they cover the same information at every college tour. That way, they can fairly compare their options.

Sample Questions to Ask on a College Tour

When it comes to questions to ask when visiting colleges, the options seem nearly endless. However, by focusing on the right areas, your student can gather crucial details they need. Then, when it comes time to choose a college, they have enough information to make that decision.

In most cases, your student will have a chance to speak with the college tour guide themselves. However, they can also reach out to current students, and alumni network as they can be an excellent resource when you want to learn about that school’s college experience.

Here are 57 sample questions to ask on a college tour, broken into categories.

Basic Questions to Ask on College Visits

• Why differentiates this school from other colleges?
• Are you happy being a student (teacher) at this school?
• What are this school’s strengths?
• If you had to say, what’s your biggest complaint about this college?
• What is one area where this school could improve?
• How accessible are the professors, financial aid officers, student services employees, etc.?
• What’s the average financial aid package look like?
• What do the four-, five-, and six-year graduation rates look like?
• How many freshmen return here for their sophomore year?

Academic Questions to Ask During a College Visit

• Which majors are the most popular here, and why?
• How many courses/hours does the average full-time student take each semester?
• What programs or departments have the strongest reputations?
• What teaching style do most professors here use?
• Are most classes led by professors or teaching assistants?
• Is accessing first-choice classes a challenge?
• Do classes tend to be discussion-based or lecture-based?
• How much time should students expect to dedicate to studying and assignments outside of the classroom?
• Are collaborative or group projects common requirements?
• Do students have access to tutoring programs, writing centers, computer labs, or other learning-oriented resources?
• What’s the average number of students in a classroom at a time for introductory courses? What about advanced classes?
• Is studying abroad an available or popular option?
• Are there opportunities for undergraduate research?
• Is the Disability Services office helpful? What resources do they make available to qualifying students?

Campus Life College Visit Questions

• What does an average day for a first-year student look like here?
• What do students do when they aren’t in class?
• What are weekends like on campus?
• Is there a vibrant social scene?
• Where do students go to hang out?
• Is there something about the local community that sets it apart?
• What student organizations or clubs are the most popular?
• Are there a lot of fraternities or sororities?
• If a student was looking for a great place to study, where on-campus should they go besides their dorm room or the library?
• What facilities (gyms, libraries, theaters, labs, etc.) are available to students?
• Is the WiFi on campus fast? Are there dead spots on campus? Does it go down a lot?
• Are sports a big part of this school’s culture?

Residence Life Questions to Ask When Touring a College

• What is the dorm environment like? How many students are there per room? Are the bathrooms private or shared? Are there kitchens, laundry rooms, or lounges?
• Are dorms separated by shared interest, academic year, or another criterion?
• Do most students get along with their initially assigned roommate or are changes frequently requested?
• If I need a room switch, is that possible? Who do I contact?
• How’s the cafeteria or on-campus food?
• Do the dining halls accommodate special dietary requirements?
• Are there any local restaurants that students love?
• Can you get around easily without a car? What are the available transportation options?

Student Body Questions for a College Visit

• What makes this student body unique?
• Is this a diverse campus? Are there international students?
• Are students generally friendly?
• What percentage of the students live in the dorms?
• Does this school have a lot of cliques?
• Does it ever feel too crowded here?
• Have there been any student protests on campus recently? What issue was the focus?

Work and Career Questions to Ask on a College Tour

• Can you find internships here? Where do you go to learn more about them?
• Are work-study options available?
• Is the Career Services office helpful?
• Are there leadership opportunities on campus?
• Does the school help students get involved in the community? What opportunities are available?
• Can students find summer jobs through the college or in the local community with ease?
• Is the alumni association active and visible on campus?

When to Bring Up Your Questions to Ask When Visiting Colleges

If your student wants to go through their questions to ask on a college visit list, they need to time them wisely. Interrupting the guide or preventing others from having an opportunity to ask their questions are both bad ideas. Similarly, broaching topics at strange moments – such as asking about dorm life when you haven’t made it to the dorm part of the campus housing tour – isn’t a great move.

Instead, your student should try to align their questions with each segment of the campus tour. For example, as they go through the classroom buildings, asking about the academic experience is appropriate. Once they reach the cafeteria, asking about the food is fine.

Just make sure your student gives others a chance to get their questions answered, too. They probably aren’t the only student participating, so they need to give others the space to find out what they want to know.

Additionally, your student shouldn’t stress if they can’t get every question answered during the tour. Usually, once the exploration part is done, there will be another chance to learn more about topics that weren’t covered.

If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Head over to  https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar  to reserve your spot today .

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February 6, 2020 at 4:03 pm

Great list of questions to ask when visiting colleges. I think the one that stands out the most, to me, is asking about popular majors. Colleges tend to have their own specialties, even if their majors are broad, so knowing which ones are the most popular will help students get the most out of their college experiences.

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What are good questions to ask on a college tour?

The best college tour questions tend to be about campus life. A few examples of good questions include: What is the typical class size? Do all first-year students live on campus? What are some examples of extracurricular activities? Do all students have access to an academic adviser? Where do students go to relax outside of class?

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Questions to Ask Admissions on a College Campus Visit

By Brian O'Connell

July 2, 2019

Taking your high school student on a college tour is a rite of passage for both the student and the parent. But, too often it doesn’t deliver maximum impact on the family’s college experience because many parents aren’t asking the right questions.

Why not? Several factors affect the gathering of information during the campus tour . Sometimes, tour guides – who are almost always students – don’t possess comprehensive knowledge on important issues like financial aid or the intricacies of the college’s admissions policy.

Or even more often, parents and students are told they’re free to ask any questions they want, from a broad selection of college officials, but neglect to do so. The parents may feel like they don’t have the time to break off for an individual question and answer session. Sometimes, the parents assume they’ll get the information in the tour package or later over the phone with a college advisor.

Additionally, sometimes parents don’t ask the right questions because they don’t know the right questions to ask.

Parents also feel they can get their questions answered , either by word of mouth from other parents whose own children have attended the college or via the college’s web site or social media presence.

Those are decent sources of information, as is a call to the college for a question on tuition, campus life or admissions. But not asking the right questions of the right college administrator while on a campus tour seems like an unforced error for parents and students.

Here’s a fix for that.

Seven Admissions Questions to Ask When You’re on a Campus Visit

Don’t let good information gathering opportunities slip through your fingers, especially on all-important college admissions queries . Be sure to ask these admissions questions during your next college visit, and pave the way for a smooth transition from high school life to college life for your son or daughter.

Can I get a hold of a college admissions officer today while I’m on campus?

Right out of the gate, this should be your first question on a college tour – ask it right away as you and your student arrive for the visit.

Most colleges will make administrators available to some extent during a campus visit, but since college tours are scheduled so frequently over the summer months, there are no guarantees.

Also, as so many college admissions staff may be away on vacation or already booked during the summer months, reality dictates that you ask upfront who’s available from college admissions when you arrive for a college tour – and how, where and when you can find that administrator.

What qualities do you look for in new students?

On this query, a campus tour guide may give you a boilerplate answer straight from the training seminar he or she took to become a tour guide. So unfortunately, it’s a question you might have to ask several times of different people to get a straight answer.

Yet it’s worth the effort.

Stop by the student life and/or college admissions office and ask the question – you’ll want to know what makes students at a given school unique and attractive as admissions candidates.

It might save you from sending your daughter or son to the wrong college and help you steer your child to the right college.

How many new students wind up transferring to another college by their sophomore year?

Ask the college admissions office how many freshman students don’t return for their second semester of their freshman year or for their sophomore year. Also, ask a junior or senior student what kept them coming back to campus during their later college years.

Students leave a college for plenty of reasons. They can’t afford it, they don’t believe college is right for them, or their college is failing them in key areas like academic support. A robust retention rate is a sign that the college knows what’s it’s doing and will keep your son or daughter engaged for four years.

That’s not always easy. According to U.S. News & World Report , one-third of freshman students don’t return to the same college the next academic year.

You’ll want to know your college’s freshman “leave” rate and an admission’s staffer should have one for you while you’re on campus.

The college might report their retention rate, which is the percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who return for their sophomore year. Subtract the retention rate from 100% to determine what percentage of freshmen leave by the sophomore year. The top 100 national universities have a retention rate of 89% or more and the top 100 liberal arts colleges have a retention rate of 84% or more.

Are there good work-study opportunities on campus?

Any incoming college student will appreciate a few extra bucks every week and a part-time work-study job can fit the bill.

Consequently, asking early about work-study job opportunities can put you at the front of the line for quality part-time work at a decent per-hour salary (at least for an 18-year old college student). A tour guide or student employment office staffer should point you in the right direction.

Make sure you’ve filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) first and ask if the college can place your student in a work-study job in his or her field of study.

Are there ongoing career consulting opportunities on campus?

Yes, graduation is more than four years away (more if your child moves on to graduate school) but it’s never too early to find out the quality of a given college’s career services program.

Parents and students who want that information should focus on several metrics of the college’s job placement performance:

• The track record of a school’s professional job placement office
• The track record of the college’s job placement efforts in the student’s major/vocation
• The availability of career fairs on campus

Also consider the ability to connect with alumni through local and regional professional organizations, which can lead directly to good job opportunities for graduates.

Since the ultimate goal of any campus visit is to choose a college that will train your child for a professional career with a good job right out of school, all of the above should be on your list of career questions on campus tour day.

Does the college have a favorable bias toward early admissions candidates?

Most colleges and universities offer at least two forms of admissions acceptance: early admissions and regular admissions.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages and parents who understand how a particular college prefers to accept students for admissions has some leverage other parents don’t.

For instance, if the word from an admissions college administrator, or even from “in the know” current students, says that their college likes to lock in early admissions candidates and is less enamored of regular admissions candidates, applying early might improve the raw odds of being accepted.

But, be sure you understand the difference between early decision and early action applications. With an early decision application, the student commits to enroll if admitted early. An early decision application is binding, while an early action application is not.

Consequently, asking about the percentage of incoming freshman who were accepted as early admission or regular admission candidates can tilt the admissions odds in your favor.

That alone makes it a question worth asking.

What level of student support should we expect on campus?

Different colleges have different levels of support for students, and you’ll want to know where your son or daughter stand if they need support on a wide range of student academic and life issues.

How will my child work with an academic advisor? Who can steer my student into a good “study abroad” program?” What is my child gets sick or suffers from a stress or anxiety issue at your college? Who can we turn to and what services do you offer students for general academic and life issues at your college or university?

Those questions and more deserve an answer if you’re going to spend potentially tens of thousands of dollars annually to place your child at a specific college.

A candid discussion with an admissions representative can get you the information on student services that you need.

A final bit of advice for anxious parents of college-bound students:

Don’t ask all the questions.

Give your student the space they need to ask questions of importance to them. At the end of the campus tour, get lost, so your child can ask a few questions without you breathing over their shoulder.

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41 Unique Questions to Ask on Your Next College Visit

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Admit-a-bull // official admissions blog, questions to ask on a campus tour.

By Joe Emerson | Last Updated: Oct 3, 2018

Make those campus tours of your target colleges as beneficial as possible by doing the research necessary to answer these and other questions before you go. The knowledge you gather will help you craft a more relevant (to each school) list of questions to ask on a campus tour .

Freshman Experience

• What is the freshman retention rate?
• Is there a learning community or comparable academic support system for freshmen?
• What steps are taken to engage freshmen on a personal level and involve them in campus life?

Major Issues

• When do you have to declare a major?
• Is the major you want oversubscribed?
• Are academic options broad enough to accommodate a change of heart on majors?

Teachers and Numbers

• What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
• Is there an average or cap for introductory class sizes? Upper-division class sizes?
• How prevalent is the use of assistants, and are professors easily accessible?

Life on Campus

• What activities/entertainment does the campus offer?
• What types of on-campus housing are available?
• Are there adequate campus services, from clinics and gyms to study centers and dining facilities?

Support Systems

• Is there a mentoring program?
• Are there school resources for finding jobs on and off campus?
• Does the school have career and job-placement services?

The College Town

• Is the community student-friendly?
• Are affordable student rentals easy to find off campus?
• What are the community’s nightlife, culture, and entertainment offerings?

Download Your Free Guide to Questions to Ask on a Campus Tour Here

If you want to tour USF, go online to schedule one or take a virtual tour. For enrollment questions, the Office of Admissions has answers.  Contact us online  or by phone at  813-974-3350 .

About Joe Emerson

Joe Emerson spent 30 years as a magazine and newspaper reporter, editor and copyeditor who turned to freelancing after 20 years with The Tampa Tribune, which closed in 2016 after 125 years of serving the Tampa Bay area. Writing and delivering valuable information remain his passion.

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Questions to ask on a campus tour

University visits can be one of the best parts of deciding where you want to study. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your campus tour.

Campus visit questions to guide you

What opportunities are available.

Whether you're interested in sports, part-time jobs, research assistant positions, or getting involved in different  student clubs , it’s always good to know what options might be available for you in the future. You can start with a broad question like this one and get more specific as you learn more about what's available on campus.

How would you describe student life?

One thing your tour might not give you is an accurate read on is the student life. Generally, tours run during classes or on weekends and you don’t get to see the usual campus buzz. Every campus has its own vibe so asking about it will help you envision yourself on campus.

What's the food like?

Food is a necessity as well as a want, so knowing that there is good food, and lots of options – veggie, halal, dietary restrictions – available on campus is always important.

How does co-op work?

Waterloo's co-op program  is an amazing opportunity, but it may not be the right fit for everyone. Be sure to ask any and all questions you may have pertaining to co-op and if it's a good option for you.

• When does co-op start?
• What could I do to prepare?
• How do I get a co-op job?
• Where are the co-op jobs?
• Can I find my own co-op job?

Don't forget to ask your tour guide about their or their friends' co-op experiences. Everyone brings a variety of different experiences to the table, and you never know what might resonate with you.

• Who did you work for during co-op?
• What did you do there?
• Would you go back? If so, why? If not, why not?
• Were you able to pay for school with the salary you made?
• How did you find a place to live?

Prepare for your transition to university by checking out these other resources as well.

• Top 5 tips for campus tours
• Nine factors other than academics to consider when choosing a university
• How to choose a university program
• Waterloo tours and events

What events are there for students?

Hearing about events the university organizes and what options would be available to you as a potential student can help you visualize yourself on campus, which could be beneficial in figuring out if this is the right fit for you or not.

There will be tons of sports games, concerts, special lectures, trivia nights, events in residence or at on-campus pubs, prof-student mixer events... Universities are like small cities so there are always things going on. 

What safety measures are there on campus?

Whether you ask or your parent asks, this is a good question to put everyone’s minds at ease. It’s important to know what kind of security is available. Are there shuttles after dark? Is the campus well lit? Are there campus police patrolling buildings? How are residences secured? How has the university responded to COVID-19 to keep students safe?

No matter which universities you visit, it's important that you ask any and all questions you have.

What kind of support is available?

University is a transition, both academically and otherwise. Knowing about  the student services available  is always a source of reassurance if you ever need them in the future. Whether that's seeing a doctor, nurse, or counsellor; getting career advice; attending social events in residence; talking to an advisor about choosing courses; or attending job search workshops, there's an incredible range of services to help. 

And think about living in residence. Sometimes these support services come right to you such as tutoring and other supports in residence .

Lastly, why did YOU choose to study here?

It’s almost guaranteed that your tour guide is either a current student or graduate of the university you’re touring. Find out why they chose the school, they may have insights you can’t find online.

No matter which universities you visit, it's important that you ask any and all questions you have. So don’t be shy and make sure to have a list of things to ask on the go!

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• Tours and events at Waterloo
• Nine factors to consider when choosing a university
• What I wish I knew before applying to university

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The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations .

14 Questions to ask on a campus visit

• January 29, 2024

So you’re about to tour a college campus? Make the most of your campus visit by preparing a few questions. This will help you learn more about the colleges on your list and decide which one is right for you.

Use this list of questions to get started:

• What are some of the most popular majors here?
• Where do students hang out around campus?
• What do students do in their free time?
• What extracurricular activities are popular around campus?
• What campus ministries are available?
• What research or internship opportunities are available?
• Are there food options beyond the main cafeteria or dining hall?
• What does the school do to ensure safety around campus?
• What is the campus parking situation like?

Questions to ask current students on your campus visit:

• Why did you decide to come here?
• What is your favorite thing about attending here?
• What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
• Have you done any internships or on-campus jobs?
• Do you have a favorite professor?

Looking for more lists of questions? Try these:

“ 60 Questions to Ask on Your College Tour ” by The Princeton Review .

“ 50 Questions to Ask on a College Visit ” by   U.S. News and World Report .

Want to schedule a visit to Erskine College? We’d love to have you on campus!

Elizabeth Sims

Brianne Holmes

10 Smart Questions to Ask on a College Tour | Act Smart

• by Ajah_Excel
• April 23, 2024
• 8 minute read

When on a college tour, it is important to always ask questions. Choosing the right college is a pivotal decision that can shape your future in many ways.

It’s not just about the institution’s reputation or the academic programs it offers; it’s also about finding the perfect fit for your personal and professional aspirations.

That’s why visiting colleges and taking campus tours are essential to decision-making. College tours provide a firsthand experience of the campus, its facilities, and the overall atmosphere.

To make the most of your college tour, asking smart questions beyond the surface level is crucial. This article will explore ten intelligent questions that will help you gather valuable insights during your college visits.

Table of contents

Why go on a college tour, how to schedule a college tour, #1. what unique opportunities does this college offer in my field of interest, #2. what resources are available to help students succeed academically, #3. what extracurricular activities and clubs are available on campus, #4. can you provide information on housing options and campus safety, #5. how does the college foster diversity and promote inclusion on campus, #6. how effective is career support, #7. what is dorm life like, #8. how is the food on campus, #9. how accessible are staff and faculty, #10. what support services are available for students’ physical and mental well-being, faqs – questions to ask on a college tour, recommendations.

For some reasons, going on a college tour is a valuable and crucial step in the college selection process:

1. Get a firsthand encounter:

A college tour allows you to experience the campus firsthand. You can see the academic buildings, residence halls, libraries, and recreational areas as you walk around the campus and look around the facilities.

This firsthand experience can help you imagine yourself as an undergraduate at that school and feel the campus air.

2. Evaluate the environment on campus:

You can get a sense of the culture and environment on a college campus by going there. You can notice student communications, feel the local area, and check whether it aligns with your inclinations and values.

It assists you with deciding whether you would feel great and cheerful being part of that school’s local community.

3. Accumulate significant data:

You can learn important information about the college that may not be available in brochures or online during a college tour. Also, you can learn about particular academic programs, research opportunities, extracurricular activities, and student support services.

You will interact with admissions staff, current students, and faculty members, ask questions, and gain insights that will assist you in making an informed decision.

See also: Can You Enroll in Two Colleges at Once in the UK? Student’s Guide

4. Survey the fit:

By visiting in person, you can better assess the compatibility between the college’s offerings and your personal and academic objectives. You can determine if the school gives the assets and unique open doors that align with your inclinations, professional goals, and educational requirements.

It likewise permits you to check whether the school offers a steady and comprehensive climate where you can flourish.

5. Interface with the community:

On college tours, you often have the chance to talk to current students, teachers, and staff. Through these interactions, you can learn about their college experiences and gain firsthand perspectives.

Interfacing with the school’s community can help you understand the qualities, customs, and emotionally supportive networks inside the school, providing you with a more profound comprehension of its way of life.

6. Clarify doubts and concerns:

If you have specific feedback about a school, a visit is an optimal opportunity to address it. You can ask about the financial guide, lodging choices, focus on abroad projects, professional administrations, or some other explicit areas of interest or concern.

Directly answering your questions can help you make better decisions and reduce uncertainty.

Going on a college tour is a good idea because it lets you see the campus in person, learn valuable information, determine if the school meets your needs and interests, and meet other students.

It plays an essential role in assisting you with making an educated decision about which school is the best fit for your instructive excursion.

See This: 10 Best Cognitive Science Colleges 2024 | Cost & Scholarship

To plan a school visit, visit the school’s site and search for the admissions or campus visit segment. Most universities have an internet-based enrollment framework where you can choose a date and time for your visit.

On the other hand, you can call the school’s admissions office and inquire about tour availability and scheduling options.

10 Smart Questions to Ask on a College Tour

Understanding the specific advantages a college offers in your desired major or field of study is vital. Inquire about research opportunities, internships, cooperative education programs, and partnerships with local industries.

This question shows your enthusiasm for academic growth and helps you gauge how the college supports students in pursuing their career goals.

Colleges differ in the resources they offer to support students academically. Ask about tutoring services, study groups, writing centers, and other academic support programs.

Understanding the resources available will give you an idea of the college’s commitment to helping students achieve their full potential.

Education is not just limited to the classroom. Engaging in extracurricular activities helps you develop leadership skills, form connections, and create a well-rounded college experience.

Ask about clubs, sports teams, student organizations, and cultural events that interest you. This question highlights your desire to be actively involved in campus life.

Living arrangements and safety are crucial factors to consider during your college years. Ask about the various housing options, such as residence halls, on-campus apartments, or off-campus housing.

Additionally, inquire about campus security measures and safety protocols to ensure you feel secure throughout your time at the college.

See also: The Best College Cities for Student Housing in the US

Diversity and inclusion are essential aspects of a well-rounded education. Ask about the college’s commitment to diversity, multicultural programs, and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity.

Understanding the college’s efforts in these areas will help you determine if it aligns with your values and promotes a welcoming environment for all students.

Read: What If My Family Can’t Meet Our EFC? Best Alternative

College is an experience that includes career preparation. You will require direction on whether you intend to enter the workforce or continue your education in graduate school. The trained staff who work in career centres are experts at guiding students through career exploration.

Career centres can help you submit applications for summer jobs, fellowships, and internships. They might even have access to funds that they can use to help you explore your career options with alumni, employers, and experiences.

See also: 15+ Easy-to-Learn Careers with the Highest Job Satisfaction in 2024

People from all over the country and the world live together in dorms, which are lively and exciting locations. Dorms can be great places to meet new people and learn more about each other. However, you have to learn how to stay away from toxic people .

Inquire about the layout and size of a dorm room. Make sure you are aware of the available storage space. Are the rooms air-conditioned? However, you can learn how to cool down a dorm room with the hacks here.

Students can tell you when and how noisy dorms are. They can also discuss whether students typically study in the library, dorm rooms, or another location.

This question is fundamental if you have dietary or religious restrictions or are a picky eater. For instance, if you are allergic to gluten, dairy, or tree nuts, you should make sure. Naturally, it would be best if you asked about the food’s quality, variety, and taste.

There’s more to learn about food than just that. Consider how crucial it is to gather around a table to discuss the day and life. Meal times are a great way to catch up with friends, laugh, unwind, and share in college. If the food is good, these times will last and build relationships.

You might be having trouble with a homework assignment or have a burning question about a lecture. You might want to carry on a stimulating conversation about a subject that was discussed in class.

Having access to faculty and staff is crucial for any reason. Staff ought to take part in the existence of the grounds, which are accessible for time or casual discussions. They are here to assist you in learning. Learn from students how they interact with faculty members and how they feel about it.

College life can be demanding, and it’s crucial to have access to resources that support your physical and mental health. Ask about health services, counselling centres, fitness facilities, and wellness programs.

Understanding the support available can ensure that you have the resources you need to thrive both academically and personally.

See also: 10 Unique College Admission Essays

When going on a college tour, it’s a good idea to bring a notepad and pen to jot down important information and questions that arise during the tour. Comfortable shoes are essential since you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Consider bringing a camera or your smartphone to capture images of the campus and any features that interest you.

College tours can be both guided and self-guided, depending on the college. Guided tours are led by current students or admissions staff who provide information about the campus, facilities, and academic programs.

Many colleges offer tours and visits on weekends, but availability may vary. It’s recommended to check the college’s website or contact the admissions office to confirm their visiting hours and availability during weekends or holidays.

How are you paying for college? How do you manage your time? What do you do to balance your school work with other aspects of your life? (Work, student organizations, social) Did you live in a residence hall and, if so, what was it like?

A college tour is a great way to learn important information about your chosen schools. By asking these ten intelligent questions on a tour, you can go beyond the glossy brochures and gain valuable insights that will assist you in making an informed decision.

Make the most of your college visits by acting intelligently, asserting yourself, and searching for the ideal academic setting that complements your objectives.

• Highpoint.edu – 16 Must-Ask Questions On Your Next College Tour
• Princetonreview.com – 60 Questions To Ask on Your College Tour
• Cappex.com – 100 Questions to Ask on a College Visit
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