Things to Ask on a College Tour

Things to Ask About Academics

Do not stop at the list of majors. Ask how easy it is to get into required classes, change majors, work with professors, and receive help when a course is difficult.

If you already know your likely major, visit the department rather than relying only on the general admissions tour.

1. How large are first-year classes in the subjects I am likely to take?
2. Who teaches introductory courses?
3. How often are classes taught by graduate students?
4. How difficult is it to enroll in required classes?
5. How often do students get shut out of classes they need?
6. How easy is it to change majors?
7. Are any majors capacity-limited or separately admitted?
8. How available are professors outside class?
9. What tutoring or academic support is available?
10. How are students advised when they are undecided?
11. What happens if a student fails or needs to repeat a course?

Things to Ask About Your Intended Major

A university can be excellent overall and still be a poor fit for one department. Ask about curriculum, facilities, internships, research, accreditation where relevant, and what graduates actually do next.

If possible, speak with students currently in the major.

1. What courses are required for this major?
2. How much flexibility is there for electives?
3. Are internships built into the program?
4. How do students find internships?
5. Are research opportunities available to undergraduates?
6. How soon can students participate?
7. What facilities or labs do students actually use?
8. Are there additional fees for this major?
9. Is the program accredited where that matters professionally?
10. What do graduates commonly do after finishing?
11. What employers recruit from this program?

Things to Ask About Advising

Advising can affect whether students graduate on time, choose appropriate courses, and understand requirements. Ask how the system works in practice.

A student may have different advisers for general education, a major, honors, athletics, pre-health, or other programs.

1. Who advises first-year students?
2. How often do students meet advisers?
3. How long does it take to get an appointment?
4. Does the adviser remain the same over time?
5. How are major requirements tracked?
6. What happens if a student changes majors late?
7. How does advising work for pre-med, pre-law, or other professional paths?
8. Who helps students who are academically struggling?
9. How do students make sure they are on track to graduate?

Things to Ask About Housing

The model dorm room may not represent the building you actually receive. Ask about required housing, cost, availability, room types, bathrooms, laundry, air conditioning, internet, roommate matching, and what happens after the first year.

Housing can become a major source of stress at campuses with limited supply.

1. Are first-year students required to live on campus?
2. Is housing guaranteed?
3. For how many years?
4. What percentage of students live on campus after freshman year?
5. How are roommates matched?
6. Can students request a roommate?
7. Which dorms have air conditioning?
8. How are bathrooms arranged?
9. How is laundry paid for?
10. How reliable is campus internet in residence halls?
11. What happens during holiday breaks?
12. How difficult is off-campus housing to find?

Things to Ask About Food

Meal plans can be expensive enough to deserve serious questions. Ask what students actually eat, not only how many dining locations exist.

Food allergies, dietary restrictions, work schedules, and late-night access can change the experience.

1. What meal plans are available?
2. Are first-year students required to buy one?
3. How many meals or credits go unused?
4. Can meal-plan balances roll over?
5. How are food allergies handled?
6. What vegetarian or other dietary options are available?
7. How late are dining locations open?
8. What is open on weekends?
9. Can students take food to go?
10. What do students complain about most regarding dining?

Things to Ask About Cost and Financial Aid

Published tuition is only part of college cost. Include housing, food, fees, books, travel, health insurance, supplies, parking, and program-specific expenses.

Ask financial-aid questions of the financial-aid office rather than relying only on the tour guide.

1. What is the estimated total cost of attendance?
2. What fees are not obvious from tuition?
3. How much do housing and meal plans typically increase each year?
4. What percentage of aid is grants versus loans?
5. Are merit scholarships renewable?
6. What requirements must students meet to keep them?
7. How does aid change if family finances change?
8. How does aid change after the first year?
9. Are there extra costs for my likely major?
10. What is the average debt of graduates where available?
11. How common are campus jobs?
12. What do they typically pay?

Things to Ask About Campus Life

A school can have hundreds of clubs and still feel lonely to a particular student. Ask how people actually meet, what weekends look like, and whether most students stay on campus.

If you care about arts, sports, outdoor recreation, religion, cultural organizations, gaming, volunteering, or another activity, investigate that specifically.

1. What do students do on a normal weekend?
2. Do most students stay on campus?
3. How easy is it to join clubs?
4. Which events get strong attendance?
5. How do first-year students meet people?
6. Is Greek life a major part of campus culture?
7. How important are varsity sports to campus life?
8. What activities are popular that visitors may not hear about?
9. What do students complain there is not enough of?
10. How much does the surrounding town or city matter to student life?

Things to Ask About Transportation

Transportation affects internships, jobs, groceries, airports, medical appointments, and whether students feel trapped on campus.

Ask what life is like without a car if you do not plan to bring one.

1. Are first-year students allowed to have cars?
2. What does parking cost?
3. How difficult is parking to find?
4. Is campus walkable?
5. Is there a campus bus system?
6. How late does it run?
7. How do students reach grocery stores?
8. How do students get to airports or train stations?
9. How easy is it to reach off-campus internships?
10. Is biking practical and safe?

Things to Ask About Safety and Support

No campus can promise complete safety. Ask about access, transportation, emergency communication, counseling, health services, and how students get help.

Use official crime and safety information where available rather than relying only on a general statement that the campus feels safe.

1. How do students get help late at night?
2. Is there a campus escort or transportation service?
3. How are students notified of emergencies?
4. What health services are available on campus?
5. What does counseling availability look like?
6. How long is the normal wait for a counseling appointment?
7. What support exists for students in crisis?
8. How are residence halls secured?
9. How do students report harassment or safety concerns?
10. Where can I review official campus safety information?

Things to Ask About Careers and Internships

Career outcomes depend on the student and field, but the school should be able to explain career services, internship support, recruiting, alumni networks, and available outcome data.

Ask how early students use career services rather than treating it as something for senior year.

1. When can students start using career services?
2. How are internships found?
3. Which employers recruit on campus?
4. Are career fairs useful for my likely major?
5. How strong is the alumni network?
6. Can students connect directly with alumni?
7. What employment or graduate-school outcome data is available?
8. How are unpaid internships handled for students who cannot afford them?
9. Are internships available near campus?
10. What career support is available after graduation?

Things to Ask Current Students

Current students can answer questions admissions staff may answer differently. Be respectful and do not corner someone who is clearly busy.

The best question is often what surprised them after enrolling.

1. What surprised you most after you started here?
2. What do you wish you knew before enrolling?
3. What is better than you expected?
4. What is worse than you expected?
5. How hard is it to get the classes you need?
6. What do students complain about most?
7. What do you do on weekends?
8. How helpful is advising really?
9. How easy was it to make friends?
10. If you were choosing again, would you still come here?
11. Who do you think is not a good fit for this school?

Things to Notice Without Asking Anyone

A tour guide cannot tell you everything about campus. Watch whether common areas are actually used, how crowded dining spaces are, how far residence halls are from classes, whether students seem rushed, and how long it takes to walk between likely destinations.

Look at bulletin boards, event calendars, student newspapers, campus transportation maps, and the surrounding neighborhood. These small details can reveal what everyday life is like.

If possible, visit when classes are in session rather than only during a special admissions event.

1. How long is the walk between likely classes?
2. Are students using common spaces?
3. What events are advertised this week?
4. How crowded are dining areas?
5. What does the campus feel like after the tour route ends?
6. Would I be comfortable navigating this place alone?

How to Use These Questions

Choose the questions that would genuinely change your understanding or decision rather than trying to complete the page in order.

When an answer matters, ask for an example, what changed, what the person means by a particular word, or what would make the answer different. Specific follow-ups are usually more useful than another prepared question.

1. Can you give me an example?
2. What part matters most?
3. What changed your mind?
4. What would make your answer different?
5. What important question have we not asked yet?