Are Campus Visits Worth It?
Trekking up hills under the scorching sun. Walking across campus through the pouring rain. Visiting college after college until you’re bleeding their school colors. Are countless hours of campus visits really worth it? You can find anything and everything you need to know about any college or university with the click of a mouse… so why visit at all?
Photo by Marquette University
“Why did you pick the University of Rhode Island?” That’s a question I received from every person I came across after choosing URI. My answer was simple: “The campus tour.” I had never been to Rhode Island and couldn’t even tell you where it was located on a map before my parents and I took the trip up north to check out the campus. Within seconds, I knew where the next 4 years of my life would be spent. The images of other colleges I visited slowly disappeared as I envisioned myself walking across the Quad to get to class or eating at their dining halls. A 3-hour trip to the smallest state in the US was all it took to decide my future.
Maybe I’m a bit biased because I’m a campus tour guide, but I absolutely think campus visits are worth the extra time and cash to figure out where you want to go to college. I have 3 older siblings so by the time it was my turn to visit schools, I had already seen every college and university along the east coast. Still, I took the time to travel to see the schools that interested me the most. You really won’t know how you feel about a school until you get there.
Campus visits are also very informative! When I give a tour to visiting students, here’s some of the basics I go over:
- Location of campus and transportation methods
- Campus size and number of students
- Available activities and clubs on campus
- Dorm life and Greek life
- Dining halls and meal plans
- Tuition fees/financial aid/scholarships
- Possible majors
- Health and safety
- Athletics
- Social scene
- A typical day in the life of a college kid
By experiencing the campus atmosphere, you will gain a better understanding of your prospective school. No online resource will tell you personal stories like a tour guide will. You can’t ask questions to a website and expect it to answer. Just seeing students walk pass you on their way to class will help you feel out the school and ultimately make your decision much easier! Don’t feel like going with good ol’ Mom and Dad? Take the trip with a friend. No matter what you choose to do, make sure your college of choice fits you!
February 21st, 2009 at 3:23 am
A helpful hint when travel budgets are limited, especially in this economic climate…
We advise our students to tour a wide range of local colleges/universities first, essentially as a litmus test. Even if they are not interested in those specific institutions, the exercise allows us to superimpose preferences on a larger geographic scale. This can help them hone a list of prospective school visits based on feedback on the local level, which can save time and money in the end.
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Great article Kate! I know that for myself, a campus visit not only sealed the deal but relieved some of the stress that I was facing with an out of state move. I kind of equate to it to moving into a new house - you can look at 100 different places but the second you find the right one you know within 5 seconds. It was like that for my college too, and I never would have recieved an answer in such absolute terms had I not done a campus visit.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Yes, yes, yes!! Everyone should visit their campus before starting school!!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I agree. I came to my current university on an overnight visit and when I left I cried, and simply hated the school. I decided that I should go anyway, and honestly, it was the worst decision I’ve ever made. Visiting a prospective school is a good idea, but most importantly pay attention to your reaction to the school, even if they offer an amazing financial aid package that’s hard to turn down.
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
One must agree! Just incredible! Your writing style is charming and the way you managed the topic with grace is laudable.Since i am intrigued, I make bold you are an expert on this matter. I am subscribing to your updates from now on.