campus visits
Campus visits can make it easier to choose a college. Colleges welcome visitors, and a visit is the best way to find out what a school is really like. Vermont is fortunate to have a great number of colleges, universities, and professional schools located within the state.
Link to Vermont schools' web sites through our list of Vermont colleges and universities.
- It’s the best way to get a feel for the college atmosphere.
- It provides first-hand information about programs, students, facilities, financing, etc.
- A visit allows an opportunity for a personal interview with admissions and financial aid personnel.
- Call the Admissions Office to make arrangements for a tour and a personal interview. Ask if they will provide a meal or overnight accommodations and/or permit you to visit classes.
- Call the Financial Aid Office and set up an appointment to ask questions.
- Develop a list of questions to ask both offices.
What to do while you’re on campus
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Places to visit (hang out for a while and get a feel for the atmosphere at these places)
- Residence halls — How are they set up? Is there co-ed housing? Are single occupancy rooms available? What are the bathrooms like?
- Student center — What is offered?
- Library — How big is it? Do students study there? Are online resources/databases available?
- Classrooms — How are they set up? Are individual rooms easy to find?
- Computer lab — How many computers are available? How up-to-date are the computers? Are there lab techs available for troubleshooting?
- Science lab — What equipment do students use?
- Campus bookstore — What can you get here? How expensive is it?
- Sports or other extracurricular facilities — How state-of-the-art are the facilities? When are they open?
- Cafeterias — How many are there? What kinds of food are offered? When is the cafeteria open?
- Health center/medical office — How close is it to the dorms? How long is the typical wait for treatment?
- Career planning office — Is there one? What resources are available? Do they have job placement data for graduates?
- Talk to students and faculty members. Find out how they feel about the college. What do they like and dislike? What makes the college unique for them?
- Read bulletin boards and the campus newspaper. Note what activities are available on weekends.
- Check into the availability of tutoring and other support services.
- Meet with admissions staff, faculty, and financial aid advisors.
- Take a student-led tour. Ask anything you want (but remember, you are hearing the opinions of only one student).
- Sit in on some classes (get permission first!). How do students act in class? How do teachers conduct class?
- Check out the studios and galleries. What kind of art is displayed?
- Look at the buildings. How close are they to each other? To the dorms? Do you like how the campus is set up? Do you like the architecture?
- Walk around by yourself to get a feel for the place. Check out the nooks and crannies. Can you picture yourself here?
- Where are the closest grocery stores, department stores, coffee houses, or malls?
- Walk around the nearest town. Look at the transportation, parks, recreational facilities, movies, theaters, restaurants, etc.
- Check out the off-campus housing. Ask about rents, leases, etc.
- If you are interested in sororities or fraternities, visit one. Talk to the students and get a feel for the social life there.
- How much parking is available? How close is the parking to the dorms? Classes? Cafeterias?
Questions to ask admissions officers, campus tour guides, or students
- What are the smallest and largest class sizes?
- Are first-year students permitted to have cars on campus? What other types of transportation are available?
- What employment and work-study options are available?
- How effective is campus security?
- What day trips or weekend excursions do the students make? Are there activities offered on campus on the weekends?
- What makes this college unique?
- What clubs/student groups exist?
- Where are the nearest coffee houses?
- How are student housing decisions made? Are students required to live on campus? Is housing guaranteed?
- How competitive is the school academically? In sports?
- How many classes are taught by a teacher’s assistant (TA)? By a professor?
- How does the academic advisor process work?
- Does the college have internship programs? How do they work? How successful are they?
- What percentage of graduates gets a job within six months of graduation?
