The campus tour is the ideal time to ask questions of your student guide that you don’t want to ask an admissions department interviewer, especially questions to which you feel you would get a more “up front” answer from a student. Since the guide works for the university and might feel obligated to give positive responses only, it is also a good idea to speak with students who attend the college as well. Plan to have lunch or coffee in a common area and talk to students sitting near your table or while standing in line. Questions to ask can be divided into four areas as follows:

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• Academic Questions

• Campus Life Questions

• Questions about the Surrounding Area

• General Questions

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Academic Questions

 

• Do professors teach most freshmen courses, or do graduate students do much of the teaching?

• What is the attitude of most professors toward students? Are they friendly? Accessible? Willing to give extra help?

• How hard do you have to work to be successful?

• Some colleges are doing a lot these days in the area of career counseling. How does this college stack up? Is there a Career Planning and Placement Center on campus? What percentage of graduates got jobs last year? What percentage of graduates go on to professional or graduate schools?

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Campus Life Questions

 

• What do students do on weekends? Do many of them go home? Is the campus empty?

• What is the situation with regard to drinking and drugs? Can a student be assured of securing a room in a substance-free dorm if desired?

• Try to visit a residence hall and ask in the resident office for information regarding resident options and food plans.

• Are there single-sex dorms? If all dorms are coed, do they have single-sex floors within dorms or single sex by room? Are bathrooms coed?

• Can a student be assured of living on campus each year if s/he so desires?

• Are there good places nearby to eat, aside from the official dining halls?

• If the school is not co-ed, what kinds of social arrangements are made?

• How important are fraternities and sororities in campus life? Does most social life depend on them?

• Do theatrical companies, orchestras, and other musical groups or outside lecturers come to the campus? If not, are such activities available in town?

• Are groups in the college community involved in what’s going on in the outside world – politics, international relations, and community service? Or is the atmosphere mostly one of aloofness from such matters?

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Questions about the Surrounding Area

 

• How are relations between the town residents and students?

• What’s the transportation like between campus and town? (This is particularly important at colleges where freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus.)

• Is a large urban area accessible? For urban schools, how safe is the neighborhood?

• What social or cultural activities are available in the surrounding area?

• What opportunities exist nearby for hiking, biking or other outdoor activities?

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General Questions

 

• What kinds of help are available—academic, personal, psychological, medical—in case you need them? What about medical insurance for students?

• How are personal problems handled? For instance, what can you do if you your roommate are not compatible?

• Are there lots of rules and regulations on dress, conduct, etc. that must be observed?

• Are there special restrictions for freshmen? For example, parking is not provided for freshmen, all freshmen must live on campus, etc.

• What do you like most about the college? What do you dislike most?

• What is the general attitude toward students by the college admissions officers, registrar, dorm managers, assistant deans, and academic advisors? Once admitted and fees are paid, are freshmen considered nuisances or quite the opposite?