Before reading this article, be sure you’ve read 10 Things to See and Do on a College Visit (Part I) and if you’re still not sure about which schools you want to check out and apply to, be sure to try out the CampusCompare College Search!

5.  Health Center
If you’re lucky, you won’t spend much time in the Health Center at your college.  However, should you get sick or injured and are in need of anything from emergency care to DayQuil, it’s always reassuring to know you have access to top-quality medical care and technology.

4.  Gym / On-Campus Athletic Facilities
The college I attended built a brand new Fitness Center on campus that opened the first week of my senior year.  I spent more time in the gym that year than during my first three years of college combined.  Point being, a nice gym makes you want to work out.  So if you’re interested in getting into or staying in shape, make sure your college has a state-of-the-art gym.  If you’re into college athletics, the school’s on-campus facilities are also something you should check out.  The games on campus can be a pretty big draw, and even if you’re not a huge sports fan they double as a popular social event.

3.  Chair of the Department of Your Potential Major(s)
If you have any inkling whatsoever about what your major in college might be, you should certainly make an appointment to meet briefly with the Department Chair during your college visit.  They’ll be thrilled to meet a potential major, because more students equals more money for their department, and you’ll get some valuable insight into the courses you’d take, professors you’d study under, and academic opportunities that your school and potential major will offer.  Don’t hesitate to schedule several of these meetings, especially if you’re unsure about your potential major.

2.  Bookstore
If you are the first child in your family to attend college, you should prepare to dissociate yourself from your parents upon entering the bookstore.  As soon as mom or dad spies a price tag on a textbook, they may react with surprise, anger, disbelief, tears, or any combination of the above.   After they’ve calmed down, reassure them that you already set up accounts on Amazon and Half.com, and convince them that your prudence and frugality should earn you one of those nice college hoodies from the bookstore.  Just don’t show them the receipt.

1.  Talk to Students
This is the most important part of a college visit, and an opportunity that too many college-bound students do not take advantage of.  If you visit colleges while school is in session, you should make it a point to approach a few students - at the cafeteria, the library, or just while walking around campus - and ask them any questions you have or even just about their general experience at the school.  You’ll get much more honest answers than you will from tour guides, and most students will be more than happy to stop and chat for a few minutes.

POSTED BY Joe Campus IN Articles, Student Views

07.25.08

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