Whether you go on a guided tour or on your own, here are some places to visit to get a sense for what a campus is like:
• College bookstore
• Student center
• Student hang-outs such as coffee houses, snack bars and dining halls
• Residence halls
• Gym or work-out facilities
• The college library, especially the study areas
• Athletic playing fields
• The college “quad” or central gathering place
3. Sit in on a class
One way of getting a picture of student-professor relationships at a college is to sit in on a class. The college admissions office often arranges this. Also, if you know a student at a college, ask her/him to take you to a class.
If possible, attend a freshman survey class and/or a class in your major field of interest.
If you attend a class, consider going up to the professor before or after class and introducing yourself. Give your name and say that you are a student from X high school visiting the campus. You might tell the professor that you enjoyed the class, and ask a question or two. Get a business card before you leave the classroom and when you get home, send him/her a thank you email.
