College tours
provide a great opportunity for you to visit campus and learn more about what a college has to offer. However, tour guides are told to stick with talking
points and established routes to pass through the nicest parts of campus. To
become an astute prospective student, you’re going to have to investigate off
the beaten path. Here are some tips to do after the college tour.
Look at the ugly
buildings
If you’re a fan of
architecture, then this might depress you, but usually the ugliest buildings
are the dorms. Also, keep in mind where your classes are held. If your
biotechnology major requires cutting-edge technology and equipment, but the
science building still has Windows 95 and slide rules (ask your parents), then
you might have to look elsewhere.
Get off Campus
You may live and
study on campus, but you’ll be going in town during the weekend. Campuses can
islands in the middle of depressed neighborhoods, like Yale and New Haven, where crime can
be a problem. Also, it’s best to find out how to get around town, especially if
the college is in a city.
Talk to Students
Your tour guide is
one student, but they can be hard to crack with the admissions office breathing
down their neck. After the tour, scout out some students to talk to. If you
visit a class as part of your tour, buddy up with a student who you can talk to
about their major, what they think of the school, and classes.
Snoop Around
Open every
unlocked door you find. Look around the student union more closely, drop by the
theatre, history, or German literature departments. If this is your dream
school, or you’re already admitted, it’s never to early to get some
information.
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