50 Questions to Ask on a College Visit

College visits can be overwhelming. You may step foot on your first-ever tour with no idea how to get the most out of it, what you should pay attention to, or what questions to ask.

We don’t want you to feel that way, because college visits should be fun! All you need is a little prep. To that end, we’ve put together a collection of 50 questions to ask on a college visit to aid you on your journey.

Campus Overview

You may wonder what it’s actually like to be a student living on a particular college campus day to day. The easiest way to find out is to collect opinions from the students who go there, whether that be your tour guide or others you have the opportunity to talk to while on campus.

1. What are the students like? If you had to describe a “typical student,” what would you say?
2. How big is your student body? How diverse is it?
3. What’s a typical day in the life like for a student here?
4. How hard is it to balance classes, extracurriculars, etc. within your schedule?
5. Do most people live in the residence halls? How many living options do I have, and how different are they? Are there single rooms? Apartments?
6. What’s the weather like?
7. How big is campus? If I end up with classes that are in different buildings or far apart, how long does it take to get from one side of the campus to another?
8. What’s available to me off campus? If I have a car with me (can I have a car?), where can I go within a 15-minute radius?

Involvement

When we begin our new lives in college, we want to be a part of something. Some of us want to find like-minded individuals, while others want to experience new things. And sometimes we just want to find people to kick back with! It’s important to know all of your options.

9. What’s the best way to get involved on this campus?
10. How can I meet people through my residence hall? Are there activities there?
11. What kinds of clubs are there?
12. What about academic organizations?
13. How can I volunteer on campus?
14. What types of leadership opportunities are available to me?
15. What kinds of religious or spiritual outlets do I have access to?
16. How many fraternities and sororities are on campus?

Academics

What does everyone go to college for? An education! So it’s important to know just what, exactly, you’ll be getting out of that academic experience.

17. How large are classes?
18. How accessible are professors? Do they have office hours?
19. How many majors are offered? How many minors?
20. How flexible are the academic programs? Can I double major if I want to?
21. Do I have time to think about my major? Is there a general program I can be a part of until I’ve made a decision?
22. What’s the best way to sign up for classes? Is it a competitive process?
23. How much homework does the average student complete weekly?
24. What research opportunities are available? Do undergraduates typically do research?
25. Do you offer study abroad programs?
26. What do I do if I’m struggling academically?
27. How successful are your graduates? What’s the job placement rate for new graduates?

Student Life

It’s helpful to know if you’re the kind of person who likes to head out or stay in, and it’s just as helpful to know how others at that college or university spend their free time.

28. What do people do for fun, on campus or off?
29. What do people like to do on the weekends? How often does the average student go home?
30. Where do most people hang out? What’s that place like?
31. What kinds of events are held, and what do they entail?
32. What’s the food like? Where’s your favorite place to eat?
33. What’s the athletic scene like?
34. What kinds of cultural experiences do you offer?
35. What kinds of activities are fun to do with family or other visitors?
36. How did you meet your friends? How can I make friends?

Resources

It can be comforting to know that, should you need a resource, it’s available to you. Knowing the resources a campus provides can play a crucial role in adjusting to and making the most out of your college experience.

37. What kinds of scholarships are offered? What do the financial aid options look like?
38. What kinds of meal plans are available? Are there vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/allergy-free options on campus?
39. How safe is campus? What’s the surrounding area like?
40. How accessible are the medical facilities?
41. What kinds of counseling and mental health services do you offer?
42. What resources exist to support students of color?
43. What academic resources are available to me?
44. How do you help students get internships? What about jobs after graduation?

Reflection

These questions dig a little deeper. They speak to personal experience and might just reveal the intangibles you need to make your college decision.

45. What are the most important things for a new student to know at this school?
46. What’s been your favorite college moment or memory so far?
47. If you had to describe this school in one word, what would that word be and why?
48. What makes this school special?
49. What’s one thing about this school you wish you could change?
50. Why did you choose this school?

When it comes to campus tours, there’s no such thing as a silly question. If there’s anything you’re unsure about or anything you want to know, don’t ever be afraid to ask about it. “If my roommate snores at night but I’m not there to hear it, do they make a sound?”

All jokes aside, your tour guide is there to answer anything and everything (well, almost everything) and to help you have the best experience possible on your visit.

Good luck and have fun!