Going on a College Tour? Helpful Prep Tips + College Evaluation Form

Juniors and seniors...are college visits on your mind? Not sure how to prepare or what to expect?

In this article, we answer the top questions we hear from students about college visits! 

• When should I go on college visits?
• Which colleges should I visit?
• What is demonstrated interest, and how can it benefit me?
• What should I do to prepare for my college tour?
• What should I do while on campus?
• What should I do after the tour?

More of an auditory learner? Listen to our podcast episode on college visits!

When should I go on college visits?

Spring through summer is college visit season!

The summer after your junior year is a great time to visit colleges since you'll likely have more flexibility with your schedule. Plus, it can be a great excuse for a summer trip or vaca.

If you're reading this in the winter or spring, know that spring break is a great time to plan visits to colleges you might be interested in attending. If you plan on taking a trip during your high school’s spring break, it’s best to go to the colleges’ websites and register for a campus tour sooner rather than later because these dates often fill up quickly. Since college spring breaks are usually different than high school spring breaks, most campuses will be bustling with activity. This can be a great way to experience a typical day on campus while the college students are there, and is generally the best way to experience the campus.

However, you don’t have to wait until spring break to visit college campuses. In fact, if you live within an hour or two of colleges, feel free to start exploring locally in January and February. Also, it's better to visit the campus when students aren't there than not to visit at all.

Which colleges should I visit?

If you are fortunate enough to be within driving distance or a train ride from different types of campuses, then take advantage of what is close to determine which type of college campus feels right for you.

If possible, try to visit a campus in a city, one in the suburbs, and one in a rural community. In addition, it’s worthwhile to experience campuses with different-sized student bodies: a smaller college with under 5,000 students, a medium-sized college with 5,000-15,000 students, and a large campus with over 15,000 students. We also recommend exploring both private and public colleges!

While you may not want to attend a college just down the street, these local schools can help you figure out what you like and dislike in a college. Then, you can start to narrow down your college list. As a result, when you decide to take longer trips to visit colleges, you can make the most of these opportunities.

What is demonstrated interest, and how can it benefit me?

As mentioned, it’s highly recommended that you sign up for the official campus tour not only because you will get a more comprehensive idea of the college but also because it shows demonstrated interest in the college (aka, you're actually interested in attending!). By showing a demonstrated interest in a college, they might feel better about admitting you.

However, if you cannot visit for financial reasons, you should contact the colleges to which you are applying to let them know about your situation. They may have opportunities to either help offset the cost or completely cover all expenses for your visit. In addition, some colleges offer special programs over specific weekends.

It’s important to note that you must apply to most of these programs as early as the summer before senior year. Therefore, it’s a great idea to start researching them now.

What should I do to prepare for my college tour?

After you have scheduled an official tour, it’s a good idea to start investigating your options. 

• Watch a Virtual Tour: Take a virtual tour, if available on the college’s website, to get a good feel for the campus and what you might like to visit
• Go to a Class and/or Meet a Professor: Contact admissions to see if you can sit in on a class and/or meet with a professor. If they allow prospective students to do so, then research a professor and request to sit in on a specific class that interests you. Prepare questions that you would like to ask the professor. Some colleges have a link on their admissions website to sign up to attend a class
• Explore Majors and Programs: If you have a specific major or program you are interested in, ensure it's offered at the schools you are touring. If they do offer that program, then take the time to read about it and find the major or program's building on a map so that you can easily locate it once on campus
• Research Services and Resources: Research the types of services that the college offers. Our College Search Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders will provide you with information to consider before and during your time on campus. Most of these services, such as the writing center and peer tutoring, are available to all students
• Learn About Overnight Opportunities: Some colleges offer prospective students the opportunity to stay with a current student either overnight or for a weekend to have a deeper understanding of the college culture. For some of these colleges, this opportunity may only be available to high school seniors who have already been accepted
• Schedule an Interview with Admissions: Reach out to the admissions office to see if there is an opportunity to interview while on campus. If given the opportunity, prepare ahead of time! Spend the time to thoroughly research the college, including the program of studies, majors, professors, and extracurricular activities
• Research Campus Events:  Research what campus events might take place on the day you are visiting. It could be something small, such as a visiting author, to something large, such as a sports game

What should I do while on campus?

Either before or after the official tour, take some time to explore on your own. Below are some suggestions of things to do while on campus to get a good feel for the environment.

• Find the building that houses your major or program of choice and walk through it
• Eat in one of the dining halls
• If given the opportunity, ask a few students how they feel about the college, maybe something as simple as “What are your favorite and least favorite things about this school?”
• Attend an event on campus. If you haven’t researched before coming, ask the admissions office if they know of any events happening on campus
• If there is a downtown area, go out to dinner locally to get a sense of the surrounding community
• Pick up the campus newspaper to read it on your car ride home
• Collect the names and email addresses of any staff or faculty member who took the time to talk with you
• Be sure to take pictures while on the tour. They will be super helpful when thinking back and comparing schools later!
• Find out if there is public safety on campus
• Determine if tutoring is part of tuition
• Ask about programs to support your needs (Is the campus accessible? Are there support programs for neurodivergent students? Is there therapy that's provided on campus? etc.)
  
• Ask: how does the college support their alumni and help students land jobs after college?

What should I do after the tour?

When you get back into your car, take a few minutes to debrief. You can print out this college evaluation form to take notes, use the notes app on your phone, or write in a journal. Whatever method you use, it's important to spend 15-30 minutes evaluating your impressions after touring a campus. If not, all of the tours will eventually blend together, and you may have a hard time remembering the specifics of what you liked and disliked about each college. 

Additionally, do not judge an entire college solely on the tour guide's presentation. Often, students will not like a college because they dislike the tour guide. Remember, the tour guide is one person out of hundreds to thousands on the campus. Instead of focusing on that person, use the time on campus to evaluate all aspects of the college.  

Whether or not you use the college evaluation form we've put together, we'd recommend considering the following factors of a college campus:

1. Dorms
2. Food
3. Student body
4. Classes and professors
5. Extracurricular activities
6. Campus

After you write down your thoughts, take a few minutes to email the faculty and staff to whom you’ve spoken. Then, when you return home, it’s a good idea to send them a handwritten thank-you note and include specific things you spoke about or topics from the class that you found interesting. 

Finally, once you have been accepted into college, it’s a great idea to visit the ones you are considering attending to have a final look before deciding. In fact, some colleges have events specifically designed for prospective students to attend once they have been admitted, often called accepted or admitted student days!

During these final visits, be as detailed and thorough in your evaluation of the schools as possible. Since you have already visited each of them, reread your notes and think about what you would like to see again or learn more about while on your last visit before making a decision.

Now, you are in the driver’s seat and have the control. Take this opportunity to make the best decision for you!

This article was originally published on February 9, 2018. It was updated on May 27, 2025 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.