Ten Ways to “TEST DRIVE” a University Campus

    1. Do your research BEFORE you decide to visit. Most students have limited time and visiting 2 dozen campuses will be expensive. Pare down your list by eliminating universities which do not fit the criteria you have in mind in terms of program offerings, size, location, proximity to home or to specific facilities, art museums for example or internship opportunities, etc.
    2. Evaluate the environment surrounding campus by checking the location and immediate surroundings on Google Earth. Upon arrival on campus, allow enough time to drive through the neighborhoods surrounding campus to get a feel for the location.
    3. Book an official tour and information session ahead of time- months ahead of time if you plan to travel during spring break which is the best time to visit campuses if they are in session. Keep in mind that universities close down during the winter break and often do not offer tours during exam times. During summers, it is often high school students or graduate school students who will be seen on campus.
    4. Check out the campus on your own in addition to the tour. The tours are designed by the admissions office to show parts of campus which would be most relevant to the average visitor. You might have your own priorities. For example, you might want to visit a computer lab, the athletic facilities, the theatre or fine arts department or meet with special services if you have learning differences that need to be accommodated for – so be sure to allow extra time for this.
    5. Arrange to meet a department head or professor for the subject area that interests you for the couple of universities that top your list. Go in with some questions (must do some research for this). Do this after touring campus so you can make some comments about your visit.
    6. Arrange to sit in on a class, if possible. Universities sometimes offer this opportunity to prospective students who are in grade 11 or 12. There will be a list of classes open for visits with the days and times they meet. You will likely have to email the professor and ask for permission so you don’t visit on a day when the students are sitting down for a test rather than on a day when there is teaching or discussion going on.
    7. Check out the student center, bookstore, and library. Talk to students and ask them about their personal experiences, pros and cons of the university, why they chose it and so on.
    8. Eat in the cafeteria, see what type of food they serve, how diverse the student body is, and watch how students interact – including students of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds.
    9. If this is a road trip, make sure to wake up in a hotel close to the college being visited, even if it means a late night drive the evening before.  Ask about parking ahead of time and allow plenty of time as finding parking near campuses is often a challenge.
    10. Be sure to take some notes during the tour and information session and jot down your impressions or dictate them into your cell phone after the visit. Rate each campus from 1-5.
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