Going on a College Tour? Helpful Prep Tips + College Evaluation Form

College visits on your mind? Not sure how to prepare or what to expect?

In this article, we answer the top questions we hear from students about college visits! 

• When should I go on college visits?
• Which colleges should I visit?
• What is "demonstrated interest" and how can it benefit me?
• What should I do to prepare for my college tour?
• What should I do while on campus?
• What should I do after the tour?

When should I go on college visits?

Spring through summer is college visit season!

Summer is a great time to visit colleges since you'll likely have more flexibility with your schedule. Plus, it can be a great excuse for a summer trip or vaca!

If you're reading this in the winter or spring, know that spring break is a great time to plan visits to colleges you might be interested in attending. If you plan on taking a trip during your high school’s spring break, it’s best to go to the colleges’ websites and register for a campus tour sooner rather than later because these dates often fill up quickly. Since colleges’ spring breaks are usually different than high schools’ breaks, most campuses will be bustling with activity. This can be a great way to experience a typical day on campus while the college students are there!

However, you don’t have to wait until spring break to visit college campuses. In fact, if you live within an hour or two of colleges, feel free to start exploring locally in January and February.

Which colleges should I visit?

If you are fortunate enough to be within driving distance or a train ride from different types of campuses, then take advantage of what is close to begin figuring out what type of college campus feels right for you.

If possible, try to visit a campus in a city, one in the suburbs, and one in a rural community. In addition, it’s worthwhile to experience campuses with different-sized student bodies: a smaller college with under 5,000 students, a medium-sized college with 5,000-15,000 students, and a large campus with over 15,000 students.

While you may not want to attend a college just down the street, these local schools can help you figure out what you like and dislike in a college. Then, you can start to narrow down your college list. As a result, when you decide to take longer trips to visit colleges, you can make the most of these opportunities.

What is "demonstrated interest" and how can it benefit me?

As mentioned, it’s highly recommended that you sign up for the official campus tour not only because you will get a more comprehensive idea of the college but also because it shows demonstrated interest in the college (aka, you're actually interested in attending!). By showing a demonstrated interest in a college, they might feel better about admitting you.

However, if you cannot visit for financial reasons, you should contact the colleges to which you are applying to let them know about your situation and to find out if they have any opportunities, such as a Fly-In Program, that will either help to offset the cost or completely cover all expenses for your visit. In addition, some colleges offer special programs over specific weekends.

It’s important to note that you must apply to most of these programs as early as the summer before senior year. Therefore, it’s a great idea to start researching them now.

What should I do to prepare for my college tour?

After you have scheduled an official tour, it’s a good idea to start investigating your options.

• Virtual Tour: Take a virtual tour, if available on the college’s website, to get a good feel for the campus and what you might like to visit
• Go to a Class / Meet a Professor: Contact admissions to see if you can sit in on a class and/or meet with a professor. If they allow prospective students to do so, then research a professor and request to sit in on a specific class that interests you. Prepare questions that you would like to ask the professor. Some colleges have a link on their admissions website to sign up to attend a class
• Majors / Programs: If you have a specific major or program you are interested in, ensure they are being offered at the schools you are touring. If they do, then take the time to read about them and find the buildings on a map so that you can easily locate them once on campus
• Services / Resources: Research the types of services that the college offers. Our College Search Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders will provide you with information to consider before and during your time on campus. Most of these services, such as the writing center and peer tutoring, are available to all students
• Overnight Opportunities: Some colleges offer prospective students the opportunity to stay with a current student either overnight or for a weekend to have a deeper understanding of the college culture. For some of these colleges, this opportunity may only be available to high school seniors who have already been accepted
• Schedule an Interview with Admissions: Reach out to the admissions office to see if there is an opportunity to interview while on campus. If given the opportunity, prepare ahead of time! Spend the time to thoroughly research the college, including the program of studies, majors, professors, and extracurricular activities
• Campus Events:  Research what campus events might be taking place the day that you are visiting. It could be something small, such as a visiting author, to something large, such as a sports game

What should I do while on campus?

Either before or after the official tour, take some time to explore on your own. Below are some suggestions of things to do while on campus to get a good feel for the environment.

• Find the building that houses your major or program of choice and walk through it
• Eat in one of the dining halls
• If given the opportunity, ask a few students how they feel about the college, maybe something as simple as “What are your favorite and least favorite things about this school?”
• Attend an event on campus. If you haven’t researched before coming, ask the admissions office if they know of any events happening on campus
• If there is a downtown area, go out to dinner locally to get a sense of the surrounding community
• Pick up the campus newspaper to read it on your car ride home
• Collect the names and email addresses of any staff or faculty member who took the time to talk with you
• Be sure to take pictures while on the tour. They will be super helpful when thinking back and comparing schools later!

What should I do after the tour?

When you get back into your car, take a few minutes to debrief. You can print out this college evaluation form (shown below) to take notes, use the notes app on your phone, or write in a journal. Whatever method you use, it's important to spend 15-30 minutes evaluating your impressions after touring a campus. If not, all of the tours will eventually blend together and you may have a hard time remembering the specifics of what you liked and disliked about each college.  

DORMS:  ☆☆☆☆☆ (Overall Rating)

Things to Consider:

What did you think of the size of the rooms? How are the other amenities? What did you think about the bathrooms? Size? Location? Is there a common area? Study area? Do all freshmen live together or near each other?

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Dorms:

FOOD:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 

Things to Consider:

How many cafeterias/food spots are there on campus? How was the quality of the food? If you have any specific allergies or food requirements, can they accommodate you? Details about meal plans.

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Food:

STUDENT BODY:  ☆☆☆☆☆

Things to Consider:

If you spoke with anyone, what were their thoughts? Could you see yourself with the students? Did you get a sense of school spirit and pride?

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Student Body:

CLASSES/PROFESSORS:  ☆☆☆☆☆

Things to Consider:

If you were able to sit in on a class, was it as you expected? Better? Worse? How engaged were the students? How did the classroom look and feel? If you were able to speak with the professor, what did you discuss?

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Classes/Professors:

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:  ☆☆☆☆☆

Things to Consider:

Did you learn about any clubs or activities that might interest you? Did you notice any signs on bulletin boards with interesting events? Were you able to attend a sports game? How active was the student body?

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Extracurricular Activities:

CAMPUS:  ☆☆☆☆☆

Things to Consider:

Did it feel too small? Too big? Just right? Did you like the style of architecture? Why or why not? What transportation services are available? Did the campus feel safe? Are classes within a major located in a specific area?

Your Notes/Thoughts About the Campus:

After you write down your thoughts, take a few minutes to email the faculty and staff to whom you’ve spoken. Then, when you return home, it’s a good idea to send them a handwritten thank you note and include specific things you spoke about or topics from the class that you found interesting. In addition, do not judge an entire college on the tour guide alone. Oftentimes, students will not like a college because they don’t like the tour guide. Remember the tour guide is one person out of hundreds to thousands on the campus. Instead of focusing on that person, use the time on campus to evaluate all aspects of the college.  

Finally, once you have been accepted into college, it’s a great idea to visit the ones you are considering attending to have a final look before deciding. In fact, some colleges have programs specifically designed for prospective students to attend once they have been admitted.

During these final visits, be as detailed and thorough in your evaluation of the schools as possible. Since you have already visited each of them, reread your notes and think about what you would like to see again or learn more about while on your last visit before making a decision.

Now, you are in the driver’s seat and have the control. Take this opportunity to make the best decision for you!

This article was originally published on February 9, 2018. It was updated on May 15, 2024 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.