What to Ask When Visiting Colleges

I remember my first college tour. It was over school vacation in the spring of junior year, and my dad and I joined a group of other students and family members to tour the school. As the tour began and students started asking questions, I felt like the least prepared person there. Was I supposed to come with a list of questions? What was a “good” student-to-faculty ratio?  Was I supposed to know the different possible majors before I showed up? As we walked along, I tried to keep track of all the statistics and facts—I assumed that these would be the most important things to remember when I was making my decision. However, at the end of the day, I couldn’t tell you a single one of those statistics. Yet I still remember my tour guide’s anecdote about the cheese club and the Disney movie nights she had with her friends. While the statistics are certainly an important factor when making a college decision, it’s the anecdotes that flesh out your perception of a school.

Rather than spending time asking about statistics like student-to-faculty ratio and average accepted SAT scores which you can find on the school’s admissions website, take advantage of the fact that you have a real live college student and ask about their own experiences. There is only a limited amount of time to ask questions, whether it’s via email or on an admissions tour. Make sure you get something out of it!

In addition to my own college search process, I’ve talked to many prospective Harvard students through email, via phone calls, on tours, and during Visitas (our accepted students weekend). Based on my experiences, here are a few of the best questions to ask when talking to a college student about their school:

1. What’s been one of your favorite classes?

Specific questions lead to specific answers. Rather than, “How has your experience at __ school been so far?”, you can often get a much more interesting answer if you ask about a specific class or activity. I know that I get excited to talk about my favorite professor and memories from the class, and hearing about others’ favorite classes can give you a sense of what academics are like at that school.

Above: Not every class uses an infrared camera.

 

2. How did you decide what you wanted to study?

I was completely unsure about what I wanted to study in college, so it was very helpful for me to learn about the systems in place to help students find their passions at the school. Even if the student did know what they wanted to study coming in, they might be able to tell you about how the department met or exceeded their expectations.

 

3. Did anyone specifically help you adjust to college life?

This is a great way to find out about the support system at the school. Was it the advisers, the other students, or the professors that played a large role in helping new students acclimate to the school? Was it an easy transition?

 

4. How did you get involved in ___ group/extracurricular activity?

Coming into college, I was nervous about how difficult it would be to try new things. Having participated in similar activities for most of my life, I was hoping to branch out in college, but I didn’t know how to begin. Hearing others’ experiences helped me feel more comfortable about trying new things.

 

5. What type of student do you think is happiest here?

I got this question on a tour I gave a few months ago, and it’s been my favorite question so far. A school that is perfect for one person might not be perfect for someone else—and that’s okay. I wanted to go to a school where not only would I learn and grow, but also where I would enjoy my experience.

Above: Here's a picture of my friend and I at the Holi celebration last weekend! We're both pretty happy here :)

 

In the end, the most important thing is to find out information that will help you. You don’t have to ask every question on this list—think about what you are curious or worried about, and don’t be afraid to get a student’s perspective on it. Whether you are on a tour, sending an email, or chatting with your host at Visitas, capitalize on the chance to get a snapshot of a student’s life. No matter where you are in your college search process, we’re here to help you! :)