CHECKLIST FOR A CAMPUS VISIT
A campus visit is highly recommended and may be an invaluable experience to
help you determine where God wants you to attend college. Before you visit
the college, consider some of the options below. If possible, it is of
worth to set up an individual visit, as well as visit during a college's
pre-determined College Visit Days (if they schedule special visit days).
Also, develop a list of questions. There are some questions to get you
started below (also use your College Visit Form Questions), and plan
specific activities in order to accomplish your goals.
BEFORE YOUR VISIT:
[ ]Call the college and set up a visit date complete with appointments with
an admission counselor, financial aid advisor, professors in your major,
a meal in the dining facilities and classes you can sit in on.
[ ]If you are staying overnight, make sure the college provides
accomodations for you and your parents or do you need to make your own.
[ ]Get distance/driving directions and find out what time you need to
arrive, your starting point and your contact person.
[ ]Find out what you need to bring (i.e. transcripts, resume, portfolio,
video taped performance(athletic or music), sleeping bag(if you are
staying in the dorm, etc.).
[ ]Make a list of questions you want to find out - there is help below and
on your College Visit Form.
[ ]Visit the college web-site.
[ ]If you will be missing a CCS school day for your visit: At least one
week in advance, get a College Visit Form. On the top page, have your
teachers sign, you sign and then bring to the Guidance Office. The rest
of the form needs to be filled out during your visit and turned in the
day you return to school in order for the absence to be excused.
**College visits are considered excused absences IF you get the College
Visit Form, fill out and turn in the papers as directed above.
DURING YOUR VISIT:
[ ]Meet with an Admissions Officer.
[ ]Verify admission requirements (tests, scores, GPA, etc.).
[ ]Discuss your chance for success in certain programs.
[ ]Find out how to apply.
[ ]Obtain a school calendar and catalog.
[ ]Determine college costs (tuition, room, board, fees, books, etc.).
[ ]Ask about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, as well as
lines, forms required, etc.
[ ]Meet with faculty in the department of your intended major.
[ ]Ask questions about academic requirements/offerings.
[ ]Attend a couple of classes to get an idea of typical size, teaching
styles, academic atmosphere, etc.
[ ]Ask about the placement record for graduates in the field you might study.
[ ]Identify career planning services and tutoring services for
undergraduates.
[ ]Tour the campus - check out the dorms, dining facilities, library, etc.
[ ]Talk to students about the general academic environment and the amount and
kind of study necessary for success, out-of-class activities, etc.
[ ]Find out what student activities (clubs, organizations, intramurals,
etc.)
are available and about campus life and the rules of social activities.
[ ]Investigate transportation options.
[ ]Drive around the town and see what is available - stores, entertainment,
food, etc.
[ ]Get proper names and addresses of the faculty/staff you meet with so you
can send Thank-you notes after your visit.
AFTER YOUR VISIT:
[ ]If you did not write down the answers to your question during the visit,
do this immediately upon leaving, before you forget.
[ ]Make other notes about the visit - what you liked best, least, etc.
[ ]Write down any ing questions you think of after you leave.
[ ]Send thank you notes to the people you met with.
*Some of this information taken from ACT
QUESTIONS FOR A CAMPUS VISIT
ADMISSIONS
1. What are the admission requirements?
2. Will my activities and school involvement be considered?
3. Is there an essay on the application?
4. Is there an early decision or early action plan?
5. Are personal interviews or letters of recommendation required?
6. Do certain majors have special admission requirements?
ACADEMICS
1. How is a faculty advisor assigned to students?
2. When do you choose a major? How difficult is it to change majors? How
many students do this? Can you have 2 majors?
3. How many entering freshmen return for the sophomore year? How many
graduate witin four or five years?
4. What is the success of graduates within my major?
5. How big is the freshmen class? What is the average class size?
6. Do graduate students teach undergraduates or are all classes taught by
professors?
7. Do faculty maintain office hours? Do students have a faculty advisor?
8. What tutoring services are available?
9. Is there an Honors Program? How does a student get selected?
10.How is registration for classes handled?
STUDENT LIFE
1. What percentage of students live on campus? Must all freshmen live on
campus?
2. How well are the resident halls supervised?
3. How many students are assigned to a room?
4. Are bathrooms public or private?
5. Are there dorms? by floor? wing? how?
6. What is the visitation policy for the resident halls?
7. How are roommates assigned? May I request a specific roommate?
8. What services are available in the resident halls? laundry?
9. What kind of telephone service to the resident halls provide?
10.Are all students allowed to have cars on campus? Is a parking permit
required?
FINANCIAL MATTERS
1. What is the approximate cost of one academic year? What does this amount
include?What does the registration fee cover?
2. Do I HAVE to file the FAFSA form?
3. Will applying for financial aid have any impact on admission decisions?
What about students placed on the waiting list?
4. How is financial aid awarded to students? Is it based on need or merit?
How do I apply for financial aid? What is the ratio of loan money to
gift aid?
5. Are all students' needs met completely? If not, how much of a student's
need is met?
6. What scholarship opportunities are available? How do I apply for
scholarships?
7. Do special groups (athletes, musicians, legacies, minority students)
receive special treatment?
8. When do students learn about their financial aid package?
9. Do you have an installment plan? What about other financing options?
10.What employment opportunities are available? Do you have to receive
financial aid in order to get a job on campus?
SAFETY ISSUES
1. Are there emergency phones located throughout the campus?
2. Are buildings, walkways and parking lots well lit?
3. Does the school provide escorts for students who are walking on campus?
4. Is access to dorms monitored using a card access system or other security
system? Are dorm rooms equipped with quality locks on doors and windows?
5. Does the school enforce drinking, and weapon laws?
FOOD AND MISC.
1. Do you have your own food service, a caterer or local fast food?
2. Must I purchase a meal ticket? How many meals per week?
3. Is there a salad bar? Choice of entrees?
4. Are special diets available?
5. What about between meals and snacks?
6. What is nearby the campus (restaurants, fast food, malls, grocery stores,
banks, entertainment, etc.)? How close are these things to the campus?
7. What differentiates your school from other schools?
8. What is the philosophy, mission statement, purpose, Biblical stance, etc.
of the college?
9. What kind of personal qualities do students tend to have here
(i.e. conservative/liberal, religious backgrounds, etc.)?
10.If our roles were reversed, what would you like to know about me so that
you could make an intelligent and fair decision on my application for
admission?
Quick Tips for attending a College Fair:
(taken from Counselors Guide Outlook)
1. Be prepared with questions such as: "Tell me about _____
College?", "What makes your school unique?", "What is your school known
for?", "What do you like best / worst about your school?"
2. Do your 'homework' before the event - identify colleges that might meet
your requirements
3. Print labels with your name, address, high school and year of
graduation. This will save time in filing out information cards
4. Make use of fair resources - attend info sessions, meet with financial
aid advisors, etc. Ask questions!
5. Take notes - don't think you will remember everything
6. Resist the temptation to "cruise" the fair, picking up materials to read
at home. They will most likely become trash if you do it this way. Go with
purpose expecting to accomplish things
7. Ask open-ended questions that require more than a 'yes' or 'no' response
8. Get the name and contact information of the people you meet
9. Consider how representatives interact with you - are they friendly? Do
they know their school?, etc.
10. Pace yourself and have fun!