College Planning

Campus Visits

Questions to ask, what to notice, and how to help your senior picture themselves there.

Before you go

  • Register for the official tour and, if offered, an info session.
  • Look up class sizes, majors, and any programs your senior cares about.
  • Plan to walk beyond the tour route — dorms, dining, and the surrounding town.
  • Bring a notebook; every campus blends together by the third visit.

Questions worth asking

  • What does support look like — advising, tutoring, mental health?
  • How easy is it to change majors or add a minor?
  • What do students do on weekends?
  • What percentage of first-years return for sophomore year?
  • What internships or research do students actually land?

What to notice

01

The vibe

Are students relaxed and talking, or heads-down and rushed? Trust the feel.

02

The details

Bulletin boards and flyers reveal what campus life is really about.

03

The fit

Can your senior picture their daily walk to class, their dorm, their people?

04

The gut check

Ask afterward: could you see yourself here? First reactions are telling.

Can they picture themselves there?

The best-fit school is the one where your senior lights up imagining a normal Tuesday, not just admissions-day polish.

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