| What
should I do on a college visit? |
There
is no better way to learn about a college, its students,
faculty, facilities, academic and social climate,
and physical environment than to visit the school.
It is your best resource, and just being on a college
campus for a few hours will tell you much about both
you and the college. While it’s true that the
best time to visit a college is when classes are in
full session, many families use their summer vacations
to explore college choices. You can meet with some
students and tour the campus, but keep in mind, there
just will not be as much activity during the summer.
If possible, students should try to revisit their
top choices in the fall of senior year or after they’ve
been admitted. Regardless of when you visit, general
guidelines always apply.
Things
to Do During A Campus Visit
•
Take a tour.
•
Eat in a dining hall.
•
Visit one or more classes.
•
Ask about the academic and social life on campus.
•
Stay overnight in a residence hall.
|
•
Talk to as many students as possible.
•
Read the bulletin boards and the college newspaper.
•
Visit the library.
•
Observe students as you walk around and see
if you can picture yourself as a member of the
student body.
•
Ask questions! |
| How
do I schedule a college visit? |
1.
Call the admission office at least two weeks in advance.
When calling, you should request a tour, interview
with a staff member (if possible), class visit, directions
to campus and the admission office, and local hotel/motel
information. This is also the time for special requests:
that is, meeting with a coach, faculty member, financial
aid officer, or staying overnight in a residence hall.
If you have a special need, don’t be afraid
to ask.
2.
Become familiar with the college before you visit.
3.
Make a list of questions to ask during your visit.
4.
Be prepared to share information about yourself such
as GPA, current classes, and extracurricular involvement.
Request an unofficial copy of your transcript from
the registrar and take it with you on your visits.
5.
Two visits per day, or possibly three, could be scheduled
if the schools are fairly close to each other. At
the end of each visit jot down notes while the impressions
are still clear in your mind.
6.
Don’t judge a college by one student, one faculty
member, or one tour guide. Remember that a single
person cannot represent the entire school.
7.
After the visit, write a short thank you note to any
staff, faculty, or student who gave their time to
you.
| What
are some good tips of things to look for on a
college visit? |
| •
General neatness of the campus (i.e. maintenance,
vandalism, windows, the sidewalks, painting
and the landscaping).
•
Student attire (neat, sloppy, casual, or high
style).
•
Friendliness (eye contact, offers to help, hellos).
•
Security (too many pass keys and locks may indicate
problems or may mean the college is concerned
with your safety).
•
Athletic facilities. |
•
Library (not only number of volumes, but your
access to them).
•
Labs (not only the sophistication of the equipment,
but who has access to it).
•
Computers (same as labs).
•
Theater and performing arts facilities.
•
Music and art studios (space to practice and
work when you wish).
•
Residence halls (singles, doubles, suites, co-ed,
cleanliness). Be sure to see the residence halls
for freshmen, not just the ones for
upperclassmen. |
| How
do I contact a college representative? |
Meeting
with college representatives is an important part
of the college search. You can find them in a variety
of venues including college fairs, high school visits,
and college admission offices. College reps are the
face of the college and bring with them a vast knowledge
of what the college has to offer. Reps are also the
first step in the application process as they are
often the first to read a student’s application.
They are your official guides through the application
process for that school.
College
reps, as well as college students, admissions counselors,
and faculty, genuinely enjoy talking to high school
students. They like to share their ideas about their
college, and they all appreciate students who have
thought about the college and want to know more than
is in the course catalog, in the viewbook, or on the
website. They like thoughtful questions, and their
answers can help you make a good college match.
| What
questions should I ask? |
Do
you need some ideas of what to ask? Check out the
following list of topics and questions:
Student
Body
•
What are their outlooks and personal styles?
• From what economic background are the majority
of students?
• What kinds of clubs and activities do students
take part in?
• What do students like most about the college?
Like least?
• What contributions has the student government
made to the school, and what is it’s role?
• What are some recent campus issues (political,
social, academic, etc.)?
• Do people talk about their courses outside
of class? What do they talk about?
• Do students feel safe on campus? Is alcohol
use an issue?
• Ask to see a student newspaper, and read
it! It tells a lot about the students because it
is produced by the students.
• How would you characterize the academic
pressure and workload? How diverse is the student
body?
• Where do the majority of students come from?
• What percentage of the students hold jobs?
What jobs are available on campus?
• What is your freshman retention rate?
• What percentage of students graduate in
four years?
Social
Life and Campus Activities
• What do students do for fun?
• What is the role of fraternities and sororities?
How many students are in them?
• Are there any dominant social groups on
campus?
• What division are your athletic teams in,
and what is a typical football or basketball weekend
like?
• If I don’t make the school’s
team, what options do I have? Are there intramurals?
• Is there a good balance of academics, social
life, and extracurricular activities?
• What were the social or cultural highlights
last year?
• What is there to do in town? How would I
get there?
• What about studying abroad?
Housing,
Dining, and Campus Facilities
•
Who is required to live on campus?
• What are the types of food plans? (If you
have a particular preference or need, ask!)
• What types of floors are available, i.e.
academic interest, coed, same gender, honors, etc.?
• Are there services offered in the residence
halls? What are they?
• What are the pros and cons to living on
campus?
• How can I find out about off-campus housing?
• How can you become a Resident Assistant
(R.A.)?
• Ask about technology (computer labs, internet
connections, wireless hotspots, etc.).
• What is the student center used for?
• Where are some popular student hangouts?
• Ask to see the particular facilities that
you are interested in.
• Is there a student recreation center or
athletic facility?
• Is there a doctor, nurse, psychologist,
or career counselor on campus? What are their normal
hours?
• Are there emergency medical services available?
• Is there an office for students with special
needs? What services do they provide?
• How good is the security on campus?
Library
• What are the hours of operation?
• How many volumes does the library have access
to?
• Is there an interlibrary loan system in
place?
• Is the library well equipped with computers,
copy machines, and other technology?
Academics
and Faculty
• What is distinctive about education here?
What is the educational philosophy of the college?
• Does your college have an honor code? Is
it working?
• What are the most popular majors on campus?
Why? Are there research possibilities with the faculty?
In what areas?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of
the advising system?
• What is the quality of student and faculty
relationships?
• Are curriculum changes in the works? How
will that affect my college years?
• Are any departments being cut back or discontinued?
If so, why?
• Are any new programs scheduled for the next
four years?
• What are your strongest academic programs?
• Is there an honors program?
• What percentage of your classes is taught
by Ph.D.’s?
• What is your student to faculty ratio? Average
class size?
Professional
Development
•
Are career services available? What are they?
• To what extent does your university offer
internships and cooperative education opportunities?
• What is the job placement rate among graduates?
• What percentage of graduates work in a field
that they went to college for?
| Are
there websites that sponsor virtual college tours? |
CampusTours
CampusView
Also,
college websites often have their own virtual tours.
| Is
there a map of Illinois Colleges? |
Yes.
You can search by region.
Map
of Illinois Colleges
|
