Evaluating Your Campus Visit

When you visit a campus, it is important that you ask the right types of questions:

Look at Equipment and School Facilities

• Are the facilities and equipment up-to-date and operating?
• Is the equipment similar to what you will be using on the job?
• Is the library good for studying and research?
• How large or small are the dorm rooms? What types of furniture are provided/allowed?
• Are the dorms quiet enough for studying?
• What is the cafeteria like?
• Are there plenty of computer labs?
• Do students get free e-mail and Internet access?

Sit In on a Class or Two

• Do the instructors seem knowledgeable?
• Are the students participating in classroom activities?
• What kinds of work are the students doing?
• How large or small are the classes?

Talk with Current Students in the Program

• How long have they been in school?
• Are they learning what they need to know to get a job?
• What is their opinion of the instructors? Are instructors available outside of class?
• Do the instructors spend time with the students to be sure they understand the material?
• How much time is needed for studying and other work outside class?
• Have they had any problems with the school, the instructors or the classes?
• What do they like most/least about the school or program?
• How do they spend their free time?
• What are the other students like?

Talk with Instructors in the Program

• What are the academic requirements in the program?
• What kinds of courses are offered? How often are they offered?
• How many students are in the program? How many are accepted into the program each year?
• How long does it take most students to complete the program?
• How long have they taught at the school? Do they teach full time or part time?
• What background do they have in the field? How does it relate to the courses they teach?
• What types of activities are they involved in that relate to the field of study?

Talk with an Admissions Counselor

• Has the institution and its programs been accredited by a recognized accrediting association?
• What are the admissions requirements for college or for a specific program?
• How do you apply and what forms do you fill out?
• When are the important deadlines for admissions?
• Will your family's ability to pay for college be a factor in the admissions process?
• What are the housing requirements and parking rules?
• What types of extracurricular activities are available?
• Can credits be earned online or transferred from other colleges?
• What percentage of first-year students return the following year?
• What percentage of graduates are employed within one year?

Talk with a Financial Aid Counselor

• How much does it cost to attend this college (including tuition, room and board, fees, etc.)?
• What financial aid options are available?
• Does the school participate in federal and state aid programs? (Not all schools are eligible.)
• What percentage of undergraduates receive aid? How much do they receive on average?
• Which financial aid forms do you need to fill out and what are the deadlines?
• Does the college offer any financial aid of its own? If so, how do you apply?
• Will private/non-government scholarships reduce the amount of need-based aid you receive?
• How is financial aid paid out? When will you receive it??