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College visit · Campus research · Decision-making
A college visit is the best information you can get about whether a school is right for you — but only if you go in with a plan. This guide covers what to do before you arrive, the questions most students forget to ask, and what to notice that no brochure will tell you.
Demonstrated interest matters — at some schools. Private colleges and smaller liberal arts schools often track campus visits, portal logins, and email opens as signals of genuine interest. ASU, UA, and NAU do not factor demonstrated interest into admission decisions. Know which schools you're visiting and whether interest matters.
Before you arrive — 5 things to do
Register for the official tour (do this weeks in advance)
Official tours book up. Register at least 2–3 weeks ahead, especially for spring visit weekends at selective schools. Unregistered walkarounds give you the campus; the official tour gives you access to buildings, financial aid staff, and a real student guide.
Request a financial aid appointment during your visit
Most financial aid offices take same-day or scheduled appointments. Bring your financial picture (rough EFC/SAI, parent income range) and ask specific questions about merit scholarships, the average gap between aid and cost, and how appeals work.
Research the academic program before you arrive
Know the name of the department, 2–3 faculty researchers whose work interests you, and the advising structure for your intended major. Informed questions signal genuine interest — which matters for demonstrated interest schools — and lead to better answers.
Find one class you could attend (many schools allow visit students)
A real class tells you more about the academic culture than any tour. Email the department or check the visit program's guest student policy. A 50-minute class is worth more than a 90-minute info session.
Plan to eat on campus
One meal at the dining hall (not the fancy showcase one — find the everyday one students use) will tell you more about campus life than any brochure.
The best questions to ask — by category
Academic questions
›What is the average class size for intro courses in this major?
›Who teaches intro courses — professors or graduate students/instructors?
›How easy or hard is it to switch majors if you change your mind freshman year?
›What do most graduates from this major do in the first 3 years after graduation?
›Are there undergraduate research opportunities, and how competitive are they to get?
Financial questions
›What is the average financial aid award for students with my profile (you can describe it generally)?
›Is financial aid renewable, and what GPA do I need to keep it?
›Does the school meet 100% of demonstrated need, and is that "met" with grants or loans?
›If my family circumstances change, how do I appeal my award?
›Are there additional merit scholarships I should apply for separately from the general application?
Student life questions
›What do students do on the weekends — is there a real social scene on campus?
›What's the biggest complaint students have about this school?
›How hard is it to find housing after freshman year?
›Is this a commuter campus or do most students live near campus?
›What is the culture like around mental health and asking for help?
What to notice — things no brochure will tell you
Do students make eye contact and say hi?
Friendliness of student culture. Sullen or avoidant behavior on a campus tour day (when schools are on their best behavior) is a real signal.
How are the bathrooms in the main academic buildings?
Institutional care. Schools that neglect the spaces students interact with daily often neglect student services too.
Is there a diverse range of people visible on the main quad?
Actual student body composition vs. the brochure. Your future peers are who you'll be learning with for 4 years.
How crowded is the library on a Wednesday afternoon?
Academic culture. Is it the kind of place where students actually study, or is it mostly for show?
What does the off-campus neighborhood look like?
Affordable housing, safety, and the options for life outside campus. Most students live off-campus by junior year.
How does the financial aid office treat you when you walk in?
How they treat you as a prospective student is better than how they'll treat you when you have a problem. Coldness now = coldness later.
After your visit
Write down your impressions immediately — don't rely on memory
After 3–4 visits, they blur together. Within 24 hours of each visit, note: How did the campus feel? Did students seem happy? What stood out? What concerned you? Was the financial aid conversation useful?
Send a brief thank-you note to anyone who was especially helpful
A one-paragraph email to an admissions rep or financial aid officer who gave you specific help is uncommon enough that it stands out. It's not a bribe — it's professionalism, and it's the right thing to do.
Update your college list based on what you learned
A visit that leaves you cold is useful — it moves a school down or off the list. A visit that surprises you positively is valuable too. Let actual impressions override the ranking. This is the whole point of visiting.
Register a portal account if the school has one (demonstrates interest)
Many schools track who opens emails, visits their campus, and logs into their portal. At schools that use demonstrated interest in admission decisions, a portal login after a visit is worth doing.
If you can't visit in person — what actually helps
If you can't visit in person, register for a virtual info session (recorded sessions don't count for demonstrated interest; live ones often do)
Connect with a current student through the school's student ambassador program — most schools facilitate this
Join any virtual Q&A sessions hosted by the financial aid or admissions office
Look for video tours on YouTube created by actual students, not the school (they show the real campus)
Email an admissions counselor for your region and ask two specific, researched questions — a generic "tell me about your school" email doesn't help you or them