Make the most of your college visits

In the fall, families and their students plan college tours. Given the time it takes to schedule and navigate such visits, careful planning is imperative. After deciding on where to visit, call for appointments with an admissions staff member and ask for an interview, to meet a faculty member, sit in on a class, visit a residence hall room and eat in the dining hall.

Many colleges offer virtual information sessions and interactive tours. These and admissions open houses offer opportunities to hear from campus leaders as well as students and decide on where to visit.

In preparing for visits, families should consider the characteristics they’re looking for. How far from home is acceptable? Will the student be most comfortable in a city, a suburban setting or a rural area? Will the student live on campus or at home?

How large a campus is acceptable? How does the large university create smaller communities on campus?

Is the admissions selectivity of the college such that the student would be an average, above average or “stretch” candidate because of the competition?

Families and students should use research sources such as the federal College Scorecard to decide on a list of colleges to examine in detail. School counselor should be helpful with information about past students who have gone to particular colleges and a library of college catalogs. Visit a nearby campus to practice your college visit strategies.

The College Scorecard as research tool. The Scorecard can be useful in examining data about colleges and comparing them. A publication such as the “Fiske Guide to Colleges” can give a better picture of a campus. The Scorecard includes obvious elements such as size, fields of study available, acceptance rate, and SAT and ACT score ranges.

Other information, however, is important to consider:
• Graduation rates. Rates below 60 percent can suggest a poor fit between those admitted and the campus environment.
• Average annual cost, the published cost minus the average amount for grants and scholarships for federal aid recipients. When comparing colleges, whether public or private, calculate the net price. A private college will often charge a lower net price than a public one with a lower published tuition rate.
• Financial aid and median student debt. These are important indicators of affordability.
• Characteristics of the student body, including the number of undergraduates, the percentage enrolled full-time, the percentage receiving Pell grants (a surrogate for the socio-economic status of students), and racial and ethnic diversity.
• Additional information can be gleaned from campus publications and in the campus interview. The goal is to find a good fit, a campus that is both challenging academically and caring about student success. Consider:
• Feel: Were the students, faculty and staff you met on campus friendly? A college has a narrative, a “story” based on who is there now and who came before.
• Admissions: Does the admissions staff give added weight to applicants who visit the campus? How important are test scores and an essay? Athletic prowess, or alumni connections?
• Academics: Are students assigned a faculty adviser? How easy is it to change majors? Can students participate in faculty-sponsored research? Does the campus foster a competitive academic atmosphere? Does the library provide easy access to resources and quiet places to study?
• Enrollment: What percentage of total enrollment consists of undergraduates? Do graduate students receive preference in faculty time?
• Financial aid: How does the college structure its financial aid packages in terms of grants, loans and jobs? Does it offer merit as well as need-based awards? Will financial aid be adjusted upward for any tuition increases if the family’s contribution remains the same or lower?
• Health and safety: In addition to protocols put in place for Covid-19, are people on campus physically safe, and can they get physical and mental health services when they need them? What is the crime rate on and around campus? Does the Public Safety force carry guns? If so, why? Can students walk safely to shopping areas? Does the college provide transportation?
• Housing and food service: Does the campus have sufficient residential hall space to house all undergraduates, or must students live in fraternity and sorority houses or off campus? Does the dining service offer a variety of foods?
• Social life: Does the college sponsor a rich cultural life and support many clubs and organizations, or do fraternities and sororities dominate the social scene? Will a student feel left out if he or she doesn’t join one? Do students have to be varsity athletes to use the fitness center and recreational facilities?
• Career placement: Does the career office provide access to jobs on campus and in the summer? Does it offer information about internships? Can students earn academic credit through internships?

Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and author of “How University Boards Work,” Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018, Eric Hoffer Awardee, 2019.