CAMPUS VISITS Campus Visits & Interviews Overview Before the campus visit Scheduling your campus visits and interviews Scheduling other on-campus activities Typical itinerary for campus visits Preparing for your visit What to bring on your campus visit Campus guided tour What to see and do during free time on your campus visit Campus facilities not to miss After your campus visits - What to do when you get home

What to See and Do During Free Time on Your Campus Visit

• Review the Campus Visit Checklist for things to do and see.
• Attend any informational sessions offered.  Informational sessions may include special instructions for financial aid applications, entrance requirements, etc.  Attend and take notes.
• If you have the time, sit in on a class of a subject that is of interest to you.  This will give you a brief glimpse of the academic environment.  How is the size of the classroom, number of students, professor’s attitude, and level of student competition?  Check with a professor to see if you can sit in on a class.
• Wander around campus by yourself.  Eavesdrop on students to hear what they’re talking about.  Ask students questions, they won’t lie.  Are they happy?  Stressed out?  Bored?  Enthusiastic?  Stand in front of the library and ask, “Where’s the library?”  Investigate the spirit of the student body – are they pleasant and helpful or cold and uncaring?  Additionally, when you walk around campus ask directions frequently.  Talk with students and hang out at the student center building.  Look at the way students are dressed and the cars they drive to get an idea of the type of students at each campus – are they people you are compatible with?
• Wander the hallways where professors have their offices.  Are their doors open?  Are students nearby or talking with professors?  Are office hours posted?
• Speak with students who are members in clubs you want to join or who participate in activities you’re interested in.  Find out about Greek life – are there sororities and fraternities at the college?
• Have lunch on campus.  Observe students and check out the quality of the food.  The admissions office usually gives visiting high school students and their parents free lunch passes.
• Look at notices posted on the bulletin boards around campus.  Read the bulletin board in the student center to see what’s happening on a daily basis – guest lectures, plays, parties, weekend events, etc.
• Listen to the college radio station.
• Drive around the area surrounding the campus.  Does it appeal to you? Notice the businesses, restaurants, available public transportation, entertainment spots, shopping centers, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. in the area surrounding the campus.
• Read the local community newspaper to see what’s happening in the city or town outside the college campus. 
• Read the campus newspaper to find out what the day-to-day student life is like on campus.  Read letters to the editor in the college newspaper; this is where you’ll find out about the real issues on campus.  What topics are the columnists concerned with?  How are the movie and music reviews?  Do they match your likes and dislikes?  Read the ads.  Try to find other student publications, such as department newsletters, “underground” newspapers, etc.
• Talk with a student or counselor in the career center.
• Talk with coaches of sports in which you may participate.