College visit. Yes, it’s that time of year when high school seniors and juniors are planning college visits during spring break.
You can learn a lot during a college visit so you need to make the most of the opportunity. During a campus visit, here are 31 questions that you should ask:
College Graduation Track Record
- What is your four-year graduation rate.
- What is your five-year graduation rate?
- What does it take to graduate in four years at this school?
- What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?
Academics
- What is the average class size of introductory classes?
- How widely used are teaching assistants on your campus?
- What is the average class size of upper-division courses?
- Will a professor act as my advisor?
- How much time do students typically spend on homework?
- How much writing and reading are expected?
Academic Perks
- What opportunities are there for undergraduate research?
- How many students participate in undergraduate research?
- Is there a culminating senior year experience?
- Do you have an honors college?
- Do you have a learning community or other freshman experience?
Financial Aid
- What is your average financial aid package?
- What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?
- What is the average merit award?
- What percentage of students receive college grants?
- What is the average college debt that students leave with?
- What work-study opportunities are there?
Academic Support
- How do you provide academic advice to students?
- Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?
- What kind of learning disability resources do you have?
- What type of tutoring services do you have?
Student Life
- What kind of dorm choices are there?
- How many students live on campus?
- What percentage of the study body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?
Outside Opportunities
- How many students at the college get internships?
- What percentage of students study abroad?
- What type of career services do you have?
Lynn O’Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution and she also writes a college blog for CBSMoneyWatch. Follow her on Twitter.