How to Make the Most of a College Tour

College is a huge investment, measured by the amount of time and money required to earn a degree. It stands to reason that you wouldn't enroll in any school without first making the effort to tour it first. This means more than driving around campus, and there are many ways to make the most of your college tour.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Schedule an appointment. To get the most out of the tour, it's best not to take the admissions office by surprise. By calling in advance and setting up a specific date and time, you can get one-on-one time with a campus tour guide, an interview with the department head in the discipline you plan to major in and a Q&A with an admissions officer.
2. Plan your visit early in your high school career. It's a great idea to start touring as early as your freshman or sophomore year, taking your time to look at schools that interest you. Then when it's time to apply in your junior and senior years, you'll have a better idea which schools seriously interest you. After you get some acceptances, you can go back for another visit to start the elimination process.
3. Try to schedule tours on weekdays. Although weekends are the most popular and convenient days to tour colleges, it really is better to go during the week when classes are going on so that you can see how some of them are run. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students at random, especially those who share the same major as you.
4. Act like a reporter. Go to each tour with a notepad and camera. There's no way you can remember all the information later on, and the schools will all start to seem the same. Take notes during interviews and take pictures of the campus. Keep them in a file for future reference.
5. Find out what extras are available. As you move through your college career, there may be times when you need some supplemental help. Ask if the school offers tutoring, counseling and career services to students.
6. Go where the action happens. When you take your tour, ask your guide to show you the dining halls and have a meal there, if possible. Visit a couple of dorms, both single-sex and coed. In addition, ask your tour guide to take you to the campus union building. By checking out these places while you're on your tour, you get a real feel for the campus social life.
7. Remember the less obvious. When touring, don't limit yourself to dorms, dining halls and union buildings. Be sure to tour the health center, the athletic facilities, the library and the school store where you'll most likely be purchasing your textbooks. After all, this will be your home away from home for nine months out of the year.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're planning to interview on the same day as your tour, you should schedule the interview for a time after your tour is finished. This will provide you with more information about the college, and you'll be able to ask more detailed questions.
• Remember to say your thank-yous when you get home. Make sure you take down the correct name spelling of everyone you meet with so that you can mail them a thank-you letter for their time.

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