College Visits
Why Visit Colleges?
A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, brochure, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the college, you need to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms. If possible, visit every college that you are strongly considering. During your visit, talk to students, faculty, financial aid staff, and admissions officers.
Gather Information.
• Take part in a group information session at the admissions office.
• Interview with an admission officer.
• Get information about financial aid options and deadlines .
• Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms are like.
• Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you.
• Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors.
• Get the names of the people you meet and their business cards so you can contact them later if you have questions.
Explore the Campus.
• Take a campus tour.
• Talk to current students about life on campus and the college.
• Check out the first-year residence halls. Stay overnight in a residence hall , if possible.
• Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities.
• Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play.
• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.
Sample Questions to Ask During Your Visit:
• What are the best reasons to go to this college?
• What do you do in your free time? On the weekends?
• What do you love about this college?
• What do you wish you could change about this college?
• What does the college do to promote student involvement in campus groups, extracurricular activities, or volunteerism?
• How many students do research or other kinds of projects for a semester or more?
• What’s the campus meal plan like? How is the food? What are the options?
• What’s the social scene like? What kinds of activities are available?
• Is there plenty of dorm space or a housing crunch?
• How many students are commuters? How many are campus residents?
• Is there a health center? What mental health resources are available?
• What career development resources are available? What student employment opportunities are available?
College Interview
A few colleges require interviews as part of their application process, although many colleges encourage students to interview with an admissions representative or alumnus.
Most large public universities don’t offer interviews because there are simply too many applicants. Check a college’s website or contact its admissions office to determine whether interviews are offered and how to schedule one. Interviews can be on-campus, usually with an admissions representative, or off-campus near where you live, usually with an alumnus of the college.
Why Is a College Interview Important?
• An interview is a chance for you to meet with someone representing the college. It’s an opportunity to express interest in the college, start a relationship with people there, and show what you’re all about. Come prepared with some thoughtful questions and make a good impression.
• The interview gives the college a chance to learn more about you, your interests, and how you’ll be able to contribute to the school.
The college wants to know:
• Why is the student applying – why it might be a good fit.
• What are the student’s intellectual qualities – intellectual contribution to the college.
• How has the student demonstrated commitment and personal motivation outside the classroom.
• How does the student exhibit character and personal qualities – initiative, responsibility, resilience, and maturity.
• What are the student’s intellectual qualities – intellectual contribution to the college.
• How has the student demonstrated commitment and personal motivation outside the classroom.
• How does the student exhibit character and personal qualities – initiative, responsibility, resilience, and maturity.
Common College Interview Questions:
• Why do you want to attend our college?
• What can you contribute to our college campus?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What three adjectives best describe you?
• What activities do you find most rewarding?
• What’s your favorite book?
• Whom do you most admire?
• What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in class?
• What are three interesting things about you that I wouldn’t know from your application?
• What’s an example of an obstacle, a failure, or a mistake that you learned from?
• What’s your favorite subject in high school?
• What do you want to study in college?
• What do you want to do after graduating from college?
• What do you expect to be doing 10 years from now?
• What can you contribute to our college campus?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What three adjectives best describe you?
• What activities do you find most rewarding?
• What’s your favorite book?
• Whom do you most admire?
• What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in class?
• What are three interesting things about you that I wouldn’t know from your application?
• What’s an example of an obstacle, a failure, or a mistake that you learned from?
• What’s your favorite subject in high school?
• What do you want to study in college?
• What do you want to do after graduating from college?
• What do you expect to be doing 10 years from now?
More Tips for College Interview:
• Have a conversation. Don’t appear as if you’ve rehearsed excessively. Don’t try to memorize a script.
• Get familiar with information about college on website.
• Ask questions. Express your interest in the college. Create your own list of questions to ask a college interviewer while you have their attention. Most interviewers are alumni/ae. They can share what their experience was like.
• Be yourself. Don’t try to answer questions based on what you think the interviewer wants to hear.
• Prepare. Practice interviews with friends or family. Take turns asking questions.
• Get familiar with information about college on website.
• Ask questions. Express your interest in the college. Create your own list of questions to ask a college interviewer while you have their attention. Most interviewers are alumni/ae. They can share what their experience was like.
• Be yourself. Don’t try to answer questions based on what you think the interviewer wants to hear.
• Prepare. Practice interviews with friends or family. Take turns asking questions.
