Take this advice on the road with you with our downloadable and printable College Visit Guide.

Register online (or by calling the school’s admissions office) for an information session and tour. It’s important to secure a spot ahead of time.

Reach out to your regional representative (the admissions officer assigned to your school, state, or region) and professors in your area(s) of academic interest to schedule meetings during your time on campus.
If you are a junior or senior, check to see if they’re offering on-campus interviews—if so, register for one!
If it’s not possible to schedule a meeting in advance, plan to stop by the admissions office and speak informally with an admissions officer.
Always dress appropriately and come prepared with questions.

Check in at the admissions office, as many schools track attendance and record it as demonstrated interest in the school.
- This is particularly relevant for international students. Do everything you can to communicate to the school that you are interested and are likely to attend if admitted.

Ask questions when appropriate. Though not necessary (no one is tracking your participation), it will help you better engage in the conversation.
In general, don’t ask any questions that can easily be answered online.

Thank the admissions officer for his/her time and ask for his/her business card.
Ask for the card of anyone else you meet too (professor, department head, regional representative, interviewer) so that you can send a thank you email the next day.

Take detailed notes! Many schools ask in their supplements, “Why is X the perfect school for you?” or “Why do you want to attend X?” Personal anecdotes from campus visits are excellent additions to these types of essays.
Continue asking questions and engaging in the conversation—you will learn much more this way!

Wander around campus. Get a sense of what it would be like to enroll there. Talk to as many people as possible: could be current students that you know or total strangers!
Note: While your tour guide is employed by the admissions office to present a positive view of the school, students you encounter on campus will offer the most candid replies—and are often excited to share their stories.

You may be going on 6 or 7 (or more!) college tours in a week—inevitably, the memory of each visit will fade.
Use the brief survey below to ask yourself the most relevant questions as you complete your tours—both to help decide whether the school is a good fit and to differentiate that school in your mind when it comes time to apply.

Take this advice on the road with you with our downloadable and printable College Visit Guide.

For an individualized visit plan and advice specific to your interests, consult a College Advisor.

Your Comprehensive Guide to College Visits