��Vlog: Campus Visits Blog

Why You Should Visit as Many Colleges as Possible

2026-04-24T19:22:04.356865-04:00

College: it’s something a lot of us have dreamed about, planned for, and looked up to for years. Determining which college to commit to is a big decision. With an increasing amount of factors such as cost, location, majors, and extracurriculars to consider, the process of picking the perfect school for you is more complicated than ever. A university’s campus can be another great indicator of whether or not you can see yourself calling a school home for the next four years. Though campus visits are extremely important to the college search process, many prospective students limit their visits to just a few of their top-choice schools. But campus visits are a great way to get a feel for college in general. That’s why it’s important to visit more than the top three schools you started aiming for as a high school freshman. Now that more campuses are opening back up for in-person tours, here are some reasons why you should visit more college campuses than you think.

Your perspectives might change

A common reason why students want to attend a certain college is because of the way they’ve always perceived it. Do you want to go to Harvard? Why? “It just seems so academically challenging and rewarding!”—“seems” being the operative word here. When pushed into the labyrinth of the college search process as freshmen, a student’s college list is more often than not based on notions of prestige and academic excellence that, though sometimes true, are not a valid indication of whether a school is a good fit for them. Even when buying a chair, you should sit on and test out as many as possible before deciding which one fits your budget, comfort, etc. If a piece of furniture calls for this much consideration, what about college? It’s the next big step in your academic career, and for that simple reason, it’s important that you go and see different schools for yourself instead of banking on opinions from a friend, blog, or YouTube video. Your decision, your perception.

You could find a better network elsewhere

A big perk of visiting colleges is interacting with faculty members, students, and department specialists. Often students fall in love with a school due to the connections they make with the people there. Speaking to people on campus can provide a sense of the general mentality and personality of the college’s student body. Therefore, you can determine whether you could see yourself making friends and fitting in. In addition to better understanding the social scene at a college, visiting campus and speaking to professors and alumni can provide an idea of how the academic structure and environment are and if they suit your educational interests and needs. Students often go through college thinking it’s an “individual” experience, which, to a certain extent, it is. However, your undergraduate journey, both personally and academically, is greatly impacted by the people you spend it with. So it’s a great idea to visit campuses and meet people from colleges that aren’t necessarily your top choice because, who knows—you may fall in love with the connections you make there.

You may not get accepted to your top-choice school

Even after all this deliberation, the most important part of the college scouting process is acceptance. In order to attend college, you obviously need to be accepted first. Despite the years of hard work some students put toward their dream schools, the harsh reality is that college admission is getting more and more selective each year as an increasing number of students actually pursue higher education. With this intense competition, prospective students are unfortunately most likely to not even be accepted to their top-choice, typically selective schools. Facing this truth, it’s important to mentally expand your possible university experience by visiting your target and safety schools as well. These institutions may be more than eager to have you be part of their student body.

As we all know, college is a huge chapter in a student’s life, and it’s preferred that you make no haste or mistakes in choosing the right school for you. Though aiming for your dream college is an amazing way to chase your age-old academic dreams, considering things such as student body, networking, and your personal acceptances are just a few reasons why visiting campuses beyond your top choice can help you in the long run. Often when you visit a campus, you get a gut feeling telling you whether it’s the place for you or not. That instinct isn’t something you can get from fawning over Instagram pictures, poring over magazines, or watching Rory Gilmore go to Yale. So get out there and see what other schools offer, even if they’re at the bottom of your list. You may end up finding your new dream school.

Wondering what other college options are out there? Find great schools you’ve probably never heard of with our lists of “hidden gem” colleges in each state!

Five Helpful Things to Look for on a Virtual Campus Tour

2026-04-24T19:22:04.353266-04:00

Virtual campus tours are undoubtedly a unique experience for prospective college students. They offer a great opportunity to learn more about a school if you can’t physically visit, but unfortunately, beautiful, sensorial moments—like the smell of lemon poppyseed muffins wafting from the cafeteria, the sight of academic buildings soaring into the sky, or the sound of laughter as students walk across campus—can’t be experienced through a computer screen. With this new way of learning about colleges, it’s important to understand what to look for when evaluating whether a college is the right fit for you. Here are a few things to look for and questions to prepare for your next virtual campus experience or information session.

1. A feel for the campus environment

A campus’s environment is one of the most important factors in deciding whether to attend a particular college. If you don’t see yourself fitting in on the campus that the virtual tour is presenting to the public, that may be a sign that this college does not meet your needs. But how can you decide whether you see yourself there if you can only see the grounds on a screen? It’s important to place yourself in the shoes of a student already attending that college. As the virtual tour takes you around campus, do you see the surroundings as a welcoming environment? As the student ambassadors speak about their school, do they sound genuine? What are some specific things they enjoy about this college? Every college is different, and the students on the virtual tour should relay the feel of the school since you can’t experience it for yourself at the moment.

There are many different aspects of campus life—like sororities and fraternities, special-interest clubs, and other student organizations—that add to a school’s environment. If you’re able to have a question-and-answer session with a real student, ask them how they get involved at this school: What weekend activities are there? What campus events do students participate in? What’s the school spirit like? Dive deep into these meaningful questions, because they allow you to get a broader perspective of the campus environment and everything that makes up the community.

2. Classes and academic life

Although every adult says that college is for the experience—to meet new people, join clubs, make new friends, and just have fun—most importantly, you’re there to receive a good education. When evaluating a college’s academics, you should look at everything from class size to unique programs and internships available at a school. In terms of class size, do you want a more one-on-one learning setting that gives you increased attention? Or do you see yourself at a big university with hundreds of people in each class? In addition to class size, you should also ask student representatives about professor availability. Are the professors easily accessible at the college after class or during office hours? Lastly, in terms of the course load, ask yourself what type of challenge you’re looking to receive academically. What are the most rigorous courses like when you enroll in them, and is the coursework manageable? A student, professor, or department head may be available to connect with to answer these questions, so be sure to inquire as you explore a college’s website.

3. Campus services and resources

Pay attention to the facilities highlighted by each student ambassador on your virtual tour. There are many different questions you can ask that won’t have obvious answers on a school’s website. In terms of academics, are there writing and math centers to help you with essays and homework? Are there nice, quiet study spots? Beyond academics, what other services does the school offer? Does the school have counselors if you need one? What are the health facilities like to those injured or sick on campus? You’ll be living at this college for four or more years, so it’s important to check off all these boxes, even if it may seem like an insignificant factor in your final decision.

4. Location and climate

Outside of the actual campus, it’s vital to consider the location of the college itself. There may be a myriad of opportunities offered on campus, but beyond these, you want to look at what there is off campus as well. Researching the local area can help you narrow down whether you want to attend that school. Take into consideration whether there are nearby cities or towns, or if the school is located in a more rural area. Do you want a quiet place that’s more remote, or do you want to be smack-dab in the middle of a bustling city with new sights and sounds around every corner? Ask students where they like to go off campus to help place yourself in their shoes and see if this is an environment that interests you.

The weather is a component as well: if you’re from sunny SoCal looking at East Coast schools, you want to consider the vastly different climates. Do you like the snow? Rain? Sunshine? Consider each season and ask students what they really experience. The virtual tour may show a beautiful campus green and fall foliage, but the campus might be covered in two feet of snow for most of the year!

5. Above everything else: Food!

I’m partly kidding when I say this, but food is a big factor when considering a college. Although you may not be able to physically taste those lemon poppyseed muffins on a virtual tour, Brown University students will make it known that they have the best muffins there are to offer. In addition, some campuses may be located further from cities with endless restaurant options, so the on-campus food may be your only choice. It’s worth asking what dining is like during your virtual tour—inquire about cafeteria options, campus specialties, dietary accommodations, and more.

While virtual campus visits are certainly helpful, they can’t outline the entire experience at a college. These questions and considerations will help you get a broader sense of a school, but it’s important to not base your opinion solely on these tours. Use them to learn more about your options and narrow down your college list, and hopefully, you’ll be able to visit before you make your final college decision. Good luck!

Looking for more questions and advice to help you navigate your virtual or in-person college tours? Explore our Campus Visits section!

How to Have a Successful Self-Guided Campus Visit

2026-04-24T19:22:04.349616-04:00

Life has shifted in ways that make it harder for many people to slip back into familiar routines, and activities that once felt simple have been reshaped or limited to match the current pace of society; for students, the college search process can feel especially challenging when virtual tours and online opportunities don’t always provide a full sense of what a campus is really like, but as more schools expand their visit options, self‑guided tours have become a cost‑effective, accessible, and comfortable way to explore at your own pace, offering a more personal connection to a college without the pressure of a large group setting, ultimately giving you the freedom to shape your experience and deepen your understanding of each campus you visit while discovering what matters most in your search.

Tailor your own experience

Self-guided tours are a great way for students to experience aspects on campus directly that may be removed or glossed over on an official tour led by a student representative. Walking through campus alone with no set schedule for exploration allows for a fuller understanding of the college environment and ambiance. It allows visitors to experience classroom settings, walkability, and a focused major environment at their own pace. Oftentimes on a guided visit or in a virtual setting, the tour encompasses all the big aspects of campus—but a singular tour led by yourself allows you to see exactly what it is that interests you. It also allows you to see more schools in a cost-effective way and interact with as many people as you want.

Interact on a deeper level

Another great aspect of self-guided college tours is the flexibility and lack of constraints. If the school has campus-led or volunteer activities going on that day, you can join them and have a more informal experience while on your own personal tour alone with no guidance. This can be especially helpful later in the process when you’re trying to make your final college decision. At the beginning of the college process, it’s valuable and almost necessary to attend the school-led information sessions, but as you progress and understand what suits your interests and needs, it’s best to interact with the college at a more personal level.

Tour according to your lifestyle

Whether you have time to leisurely walk around campus or only have enough time to drive through, a self-guided tour is accommodating and insightful for both situations. The college process can be costly, timely, and demand a lot of attention, which can be difficult to manage for a lot of people, seeming almost incomprehensible. Adding self-guided tours to your college search process can allow you to see more universities and plan an easy and adaptable encounter.

Final tips for self-guided college tours

While self-guided tours prioritize being able to experience a school in an individualized manner, there are lots of ways to prepare and engage with campus opportunities. Try going into classrooms to experience a class firsthand or visit an academic and admission office to ask questions. To best prepare, be sure to research the campus before visiting, and choose a time that will allow you to experience the whole campus environment. Printing out a campus map beforehand will ensure you know exactly where to go; maps can also found in the admission office if you want to make that your first stop. Finally, visiting the student center is a great way to see active clubs and visualize student participation and interaction outside of academic hours. This is your tour, so take the time to plan and customize it to your interests!

The pandemic stopped many facets of our lives, but the college visit experience doesn’t have to be negatively affected anymore. And remember: whether on campus or online, school-organized or self-guided, any type of college tour is a great way to understand what type of school will fit you best.

Find a lot more questions to ask and advice to take with you on your next college tour in our Campus Visits section.

Finding a Diverse College Community in 3 Easy Steps

2026-04-24T19:22:04.346219-04:00

If you’re a high school junior or senior, you may already know that choosing the right college is a pretty big deal. Your new beginning at the college or university of your choice focuses not only on academics but also the community you’ll be surrounded by. Therefore, it’s important to choose an environment that you’ll be comfortable in, a school that reflects your values, and a campus that supports all its students. Here are three steps to help you in your search for a diverse, accepting, and open college community.

1. Research campuses and cities

The first obvious step in beginning your college search is to do your own research. The #1 source to use when starting this process are the websites of your colleges and universities of interest. There, you’ll find important information that describes the school’s environment, including diversity rates, student groups, and partnerships with cultural and professional organizations. Pay attention not only to on-campus events and clubs but also what organizations the college is teaming up with to engage students and promote diversity (such as international organizations, cultural events, etc.).

You can also look outside and focus on events and associations in the school’s area or neighboring areas, which may be of interest to you and could even apply to the field you’re planning to go into. While visiting college websites, be sure to take note of what that specific college has to offer you. After you’ve visited multiple websites, take time to compare information between colleges. Draft a list that ranks the universities that are most and least interesting to you based on what you find out about them community- and diversity-wise.

2. Network with your circle and at schools

The next step is to do your part to reach out to others. Communicate with staff at your high school, people in your church, or relatives who have experience with certain colleges you’re interested in. Additionally, you can also reach out to college alumni or admission counselors; most colleges post contact information or directories for this reason. Ask them about their experiences at the school, such as how diverse their student population is, what sociocultural opportunities are provided, and what opportunities there are to engage in outside of campus. If you can make contact with culturally or socially diverse external organizations, have a chat with someone about their background and their work or volunteer opportunities with the school. By interacting with these different groups, you’ll gain valuable information and varied perspectives on the schools you’re interested in. These outlooks may influence your decision when looking for a diverse college.

3. Visit campuses

To be more deeply involved in your college search, get firsthand experience of what on- and off-campus opportunities have to offer by visiting schools and their surrounding areas. Schedule an official campus visit, and if you have the chance, ask about the school’s involvement with the community as well as ways they’re engaging with their diverse student population as a whole. Try to research the college’s involvement ahead of time, as mentioned earlier, so you’re only asking questions you couldn’t find the answers to elsewhere. When visiting off-campus communities, look for those close to campus or those that are partnering or have partnered with the college. After applying later down the line, plan a secondary trip to the schools that are diversely rich and have deeply interested you before deciding where you should ultimately enroll.

When deciding between colleges, make sure to consider diversity and use these pointers to assist you in your search. Finding diverse communities is an important aspect of personal growth, as it provides you with social and professional skills in dealing with people of various backgrounds. You may even end up considering the people you meet along the way close friends or family in the future.

To start your college search, check out our featured diverse college lists that spotlight schools in the Northeast, East, Midwest, and West.

10 Questions to Ask to Get the Most Out of a Virtual College Tour

2026-04-24T19:22:04.342325-04:00

You’ve heard about saving for college, but what about saving for college tours? According to IST Campus Tours, an independent student travel tour service, families with college-bound students can spend up to $3,500 just for a campus visit. With the cost of air travel, meals, and accommodations adding up, virtual tours are a good option for those who can’t swing in-person visits. However, since you won’t be able to wander around campus or ask random students about their experiences, preparing creative and nuanced questions is essential.

If you’re unable to visit a prospective college but have the opportunity to speak with a representative over video chat, avoid asking questions that you can easily find the answers to online. For example, asking “How many students go here?” can easily be found in the college’s pamphlets and guidebooks. Instead, try these questions to get a deeper understanding of whether the campus is a good fit for you.

1. What student facilities does the school offer and what’s their condition?

Chances are you’ve seen photos, curated videos, and virtual tours of the most attractive parts of the colleges and universities that interest you, like new state-of-the-art athletic fields. This question goes a step further by asking for a rundown of the academic and student life facilities your tuition will pay for: the student gym, library, career center, computer labs, and more—and how they’re maintained, which gives you an idea of the school’s priorities.

2. What types of student organizations are popular?

Whether you’re interested in intramural sports, academic organizations, or social groups, knowing which organizations and clubs that students flock to can help you make new connections and develop a fulfilling life on campus. If you’re curious about participating in a fraternity or sorority, for instance, this question can help you understand how prominent these organizations are at a school. If a college doesn’t offer a certain extracurricular you’re interested in or doesn’t allow students to create their own groups, you might want to consider ones that do.

3. Are classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?

Although you’ll receive credit for successfully completing a course regardless of whether a professor or a TA leads the curriculum, you may prefer one over the other. For example, if you decide to attend a particular school because of its stellar Creative Writing program and it just hired a best-selling author to teach classes, you’ll want to make sure you don’t end up in a class taught by a TA instead.

4. How accessible are the school’s faculty and staff?

As a college student, you’re bound to need additional help outside of the classroom. You might have follow-up questions after a lecture or need guidance on paying tuition, especially if you’ve taken on a lot of debt to pay for school. Knowing when and where staff will be available can help you understand whether getting the help and resources you need is straightforward or a pain to schedule.

5. What’s the on-campus freshman experience like?

No matter where you enroll, there will be a notable transition from high school to college life. Asking about what life on campus is like for first-year students can point you toward unknown resources, school-sponsored events, and special activities exclusively for entering freshmen. These are all great ways to make friends in college, which will also make the transition easier.

6. What’s the surrounding community like?

Although you can choose to spend your time exclusively on campus during the academic year, most students venture beyond school boundaries at some point. Learn about the overall community vibe and the different activities students partake in off campus. Is the school within a reasonable walking distance to a public beach? Is the area an established college town with affordable restaurants, cafés, and shops? And even better, do these places offer student discounts?

7. Does the school offer valuable health services?

Aside from maintaining good academic standing, you’ll need to ensure you stay healthy at any college. Health-related costs can put a dent in your budget, but many campuses have an on-site health services office. Ask about the type of services students can access (e.g., mental health counseling, annual physical examinations, etc.). You’ll also want to know about the process required to get support—from making an appointment to what you can expect the day of and the quality of follow-up communication.

8. What’s the class registration experience like?

Registering for classes is a critical part of the college experience. However, securing your ideal class schedule isn’t always guaranteed, particularly if you work part-time and have a less flexible schedule. This process can also be challenging if you’re eager to get into a high-demand class, register with a high-rated professor, or if a school simply doesn’t offer enough seats for a required class. Digging into current students’ class registration experiences—from logistics to competitiveness—can help you understand how likely you are to get the academic experience you want.

9. What on-campus safety measures are in place?

Aside from ensuring the college checks out academically and socially, you’ll want to know about on-campus safety practices and how school administrators respond to problems. For example, does campus police offer an after-hours escort service? This could offer peace of mind if you pull late study hours at the library and would like a guard to walk you to your dorm. Similarly, you can learn about how frequently patrols are conducted and where 911 call boxes are located. Beyond safety measures, how do staff respond to simple or serious issues? Asking this question will help you examine current students’ concerns, from campus sexual assault allegations to on-campus student wage protests. The answers you receive will shed light on how a college’s faculty and staff address these issues and whether students’ voices are heard in a meaningful way.

10. What’s something unexpected you had to adjust to here?

This type of open-ended question gives the responder a chance to share their personal experiences with the college. The answers may identify dealbreakers you didn’t know you had, like no free campus transportation, or offer insight into clubs or activities that make the school even more appealing. Real stories about life at a school can beat any number on a page when it comes to making your final college decision.

You can get just as much out of virtual college tours as you can visiting in person, but only if you ask the right questions. Engage in every online event and take advantage of every resource possible to really get to know your colleges of interest. You’ll make your final decision with confidence knowing that you found a great school to attend.

Whether you’re visiting in person or online, check out all Our Best Advice for College Tours and Campus Visits to be fully prepared for either experience.

7 Unexpected but Important Tips for College Visits

2026-04-24T19:22:04.338016-04:00

One of the best things you can do to prepare for college is to tour schools you are interested in—and even those you aren’t! Touring colleges you don’t have a particular interest in can show you exactly what you do and don’t like in a school. Sometimes, it’s easier to make a list of deal breakers for colleges and work by the process of elimination than to seek out the perfect fit. Not to mention, you may be surprised and end up liking a college a lot more than you thought after you visit! Below are seven other unexpected but important tips and tricks to keep in mind when visiting and touring colleges.

1. Take a practice tour

If you’re like me, you may feel intimidated by touring a college that means a lot to you. With the competitiveness of the admission process, almost everything feels like a test, or at the very least an opportunity to prove you belong. You may feel nervous you could slip up or say the wrong thing, impacting your chances of “getting in.” If this sounds familiar, try touring a local campus first to get a feel for how a college tour will work. This will also give you something to compare your future tours with. Tours are free, so try to take as many as possible, even if it’s a school you’re not especially interested in. Who knows—you may end up liking the college more than you think.

2. Look presentable

Wearing something nice on your campus visit shows the school you’re touring that you want to be there. Instead of wearing pajamas, sweatpants, or athletic wear, try a button-down shirt and pants, a sun dress, or a blouse and skirt or jeans. Do keep in mind that you will be walking a lot, so sneakers are the best shoe choice. Also be sure to get a good amount of sleep the night before your visit to ensure you don’t look exhausted when you arrive on campus.

3. Ask everyone questions

Take advantage of being on campus by asking questions to as many people as possible. The faculty, your tour guide, and other students are all good candidates who are usually happy to help. If someone from your high school or a family member is currently attending the college, reach out to them as well! Some questions to ask include:

What type of student would thrive at this college?
What’s one thing you wish you knew about the university before you came here?
How do you feel about the surrounding town/city?
How do you feel about the dorms/food?
What clubs/groups are there on campus?
What academic support does the school offer?

4. Take notes about everything

While you’re learning about a college, jot down important information your tour guide mentions as well as your own thoughts on the school. Details are easily forgettable, and it’s important to take in and remember as much as possible from your touring experience. The most important thing to remember aren’t the facts about the college; these can be looked up later. The important thing to note is how you feel about the college.

Once you’ve toured more than three colleges, everything blurs together. You’ll also want to use your notes to make decisions about what your top college is or even which one you want to attend. It’s easy to forget important details that may decide your future, especially if you tour colleges before senior year, so don’t forget to write it all down.

5. Set aside some extra time to explore

After your official tour, give yourself some extra time to explore the campus by yourself. Check out the student center or eat at the cafeteria. If possible, explore the town(s) the college is in or near as well, since you’ll likely spend a lot of time there if you enroll.

6. Make a list of every tour you take

After your college tours, put together a list including all the schools you’ve visited and rate your experience and other factors, such as tuition, acceptance rate, distance from home, size, location, student-faculty ratio, etc. An Excel spreadsheet is easy to assemble and keep up with. You can even use your notes from each tour to fill it in.

7. Go virtual

As someone who's interested in a lot of colleges that are a plane ride away, I know traveling to all of them is simply not possible. Schools at the top of your list should be a priority to visit in person, but for ones lower on your list, it’s okay to take a virtual tour instead. You can also do both! Traveling is very difficult, time consuming, and expensive these days, so don’t feel bad about not being able to visit all your schools of interest.

Even if you haven't toured any colleges yet, don’t stress. Tours are for your benefit—not the college’s. Though campus visits are a great opportunity to show demonstrated interest, the important thing is to find the right fit for you. Make the most of any college tour you go on, and don’t forget to have fun!

Wondering what schools offer online visit options? Start with our big list of ��Vlog Featured Colleges With Virtual Tours.

How to Use Technology to Make Your College Campus Visits Even Better

2026-04-24T19:22:04.334870-04:00

As a high school student navigating the challenges during the early days of the pandemic, I was at the forefront of a new frontier in the college admission process: remote campus visits. When college campuses closed across the country during the outbreak of COVID-19, schools amped up their online visit offerings with virtual tours, 3D maps, webinars, and more.

While current options are probably not quite as…distanced…as mine were, I discovered a lot of ways technology can be used for campus visits that I want to share with you (yes—it’s okay to use your phones in my little masterclass!). Here are my top tips on utilizing technology to enhance your college tour experiences.

Online tours

Before visiting a college in person, it can be helpful to explore the campus virtually through video, photo, or other online tours (typically offered through the college’s website). These options are great for getting a preliminary feel for the campus layout, facilities, aesthetics, and more. They’re also a low-stakes way to help you decide if you’re up for taking an in-person tour.

ChatGPT

Despite the controversy surrounding artificial intelligence, ChatGPT can be a powerful tool in a variety of ways for campus visits. Not only can it tell you about a school’s campus, its culture, statistics, and other basic info, but you can even ask it to generate an itinerary for your visit. If you’re traveling several hours from home for a college visit or just want to check out the area surrounding the campus, this can be a great help—just be sure to double-check its recommendations so you know they’re not outdated.

Virtual campus maps

If you’re not a fan of traditional paper maps, you’re in luck: Many colleges offer interactive virtual maps on their websites or mobile apps. These are ripe with information and can provide great insight into things like which residence hall you might want to see or what buildings your classes may be in. If you’re touring without a guide, lean on those virtual maps to help you along your visit!

Campus apps and social media

In recent years, more colleges have hopped onto the idea of maintaining their own mobile apps, which are stuffed with information like cafeteria menus, important phone numbers, upcoming events on campus, and more. If a prospective college has one, I recommend downloading it and snooping around to see what’s up on campus. Social media is another powerful tool for keeping track of what’s going on before and during your visit. Be sure to follow the college’s channels to stay informed leading up to your tour.

Live chats with admission, alumni, and student networks

Many colleges now offer the chance to live chat with admission staff through their website. This is a great way to get real-time answers to your questions if you’re visiting a campus without a guide! In addition to chatting with college reps, some institutions also have student- or alumni-run groups on platforms like Facebook and ZeeMee. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with current students or graduates and get their thoughts about the school, favorite spots, hot tips, and more. If they’re current or local, they might even be willing to grab a quick bite with you while you’re on campus and spill all the details.

QR codes

Like many businesses and restaurants these days, some colleges have QR codes placed around the campus. These typically offer additional information about the college’s programs, upcoming events, clubs, history, and a wealth of other topics. Grab your phone and scan the codes with your camera to see what you can learn!

Note-taking apps

While note apps are widely used, it can be easy to sleep on them when you’re excited on a campus tour. But this is a great way to jot down your impressions of the campus, its students, and study areas as well as any questions you want to ask after the tour. I promise, these notes will prove invaluable later when you’re looking back on your visits to make a final decision!

By harnessing the power of technology and using it to your advantage, you can maximize your college campus visit experiences, stay informed, and make well-informed decisions about your future school. Good luck and have fun!

Jump-start your college search right now by exploring our list of Featured Colleges That Offer Virtual Campus Tours!

10 Type-A Tips to Plan the Perfect College Tour Road Trip

2026-04-24T19:22:04.331294-04:00

Visiting prospective colleges is a crucial step in choosing where to further your education. You can make the most of your tours by turning your visits into a fun road trip! However, a smooth and productive road trip requires a lot of planning and intention. You need to visit the right colleges, have reliable transportation, make time to explore each city, and plan everything else to a T for the most fulfilling and affordable experience. Here’s exactly what you should do to ensure your college tour road trip is an unforgettable, enlightening experience for you and your family.

1. Research your colleges thoroughly

You should visit schools that are good fits for you rather than just because. Thoroughly do your research in advance, starting with the colleges that interest you most. After that, list schools that aren’t at the top but you’d be happy to visit. Consider a balance of different types of schools, such as public and private institutions, when deciding which colleges to see in person. Once you’ve got your list, detail why you’re drawn to them and what you want to visit most on these campuses.

2. Don’t wait until the last minute

You probably won’t get a spot on an admission tour if you’re calling colleges the day you’re due to arrive on campus. You’ll also have a hard time finding lodging and getting the city experience you want if you wait until the last minute. Plan your visits and the rest of your road trip well in advance: Call your colleges, book your hotels, plan your route, and research your must-see tourist spots!

3. Make a list of questions for each school

This is your opportunity to learn things about campus life that can’t be answered in a Google search—so take advantage of it! Here are some ideas for questions to ask during campus visits:

Do financial aid packages change a lot after the first year?
What’s the work-study program like?
Does my major of interest have a good program here?
How often do students meet with academic advisors?
How does the college commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
What are the most popular campus hangout spots?

Compile as many questions as you need to ensure you’re making an informed decision about which college to attend.

4. Establish a budget for the trip

Establishing a budget for your trip is essential for a seamless experience. Start saving up for your trip well in advance to ensure you have the money you need to enjoy the experience fully.

The last thing you want to do is overspend and worry about the consequences when you get back home. Setting a concrete budget and saving goal ensures this won’t happen, so consider the following:

How long is your road trip?
What activities are you doing?
How much do you need for gas?
How much do you need for food, lodging, and other essentials?
How much can you set aside for emergencies?

5. Ready your vehicle for the trip

Your vehicle needs to be just as ready as you are for a road trip. Take your car to your local garage or check the following vehicle maintenance components yourself if you’re comfortable:

Battery and lights
Brakes
Tires, including pressure, tread, and traction
Levels of all fluids: brakes, coolant, engine oil, power steering, transmission, and windshield wiper

6. Pack light and efficiently

What you need on a road trip depends on how long you’ll be gone and where you’re going. Look up the weather where you’re visiting and think of the activities you’ll be doing to help you determine what to bring as well, like comfortable shoes for walking or portable chargers for long days on the move.

7. Create an itinerary for each day

You only get a short amount of time to visit each college, so it’s important to pack your days with activities that will help you make an informed decision about where to go to school. Check out the dorms, the bookstore, health and career centers, and the admission office. Eat at the dining hall, meet your financial aid officer, introduce yourself to professors, and visit coaches if you’re an athlete. A well-organized itinerary doesn’t have to account for every hour of the day, but a generally detailed plan with specific activities and time estimates can help keep you on track.

8. Be intentional about your road trip diet

Food can be one of the biggest expenses on a road trip if you default to eating out for every meal. Not only that, but what you eat impacts your mental health and mood. If you eat sugary snacks (as many people do on the road), you’re at risk for blood sugar crashes that cause mood swings. And you don’t want that on a long college tour! Choosing healthy foods to eat on the go can keep you energized and in high spirits every day of your trip. Pack your cooler with healthy snacks to save some money and nurture your holistic health. And if you do eat out, opt for nutritious meals that will fill you up and give you energy.

9. Leave time to explore each city

You’ll spend a lot of time in the cities your chosen colleges are in, so make sure you leave time during each visit to explore them. Visit popular tourist attractions. Go to a good restaurant that jumps out to you. Explore parks and nearby neighborhoods. Get a feel for what life will be like in the city and how you might spend your time there as a college student.

10. Be engaged on each tour

The whole point of this road trip is to visit potential colleges. Make sure you’re getting everything you can out of the tours you take of each campus. Ask your questions. Meet and chat with the students and faculty who are there. Participate in all the activities your tour guide has planned to make the most of the time you set aside to be on campus. And if there’s time after the tour, explore and observe on your own to get a real feel for the campus environment.

College tours are so influential in helping you decide where to go to college, and a road trip is a classic travel experience. If you plan it thoroughly, it’s sure to be the meaningful, productive experience you want.

Make your road trip even more fun by turning your visits into scavenger hunts. Happy campus searching!

5 Important Things to Explore Off Campus During a College Visit

2026-04-24T19:22:04.328034-04:00

Most college visits are primarily about what’s on campus: the classrooms, dormitories, student centers, and numerous other facilities the school might offer. It can be easy to travel, do a campus tour, and just go home without exploring anything off campus. But what you find outside the basic tour is often what sets certain schools apart. When you commit to a college, you aren’t just committing to their academics or activities but to their town or city as well. If you’re going to be living there while you’re at college, you should find a place you’ll love to live. But how do you know if you’re going to enjoy a place before moving there? By exploring more than just the school’s campus during your visit! There’s plenty to look for, and you can decide what you want to see depending on your priorities, but here are five important areas to get you started.

1. Food and health care

While an official campus tour will probably cover your dining options, you might find yourself wanting a specific type of food you can’t find on campus, some snacks in your dorm room for those long study sessions, or a fun spot to go with friends. That’s why it’s good to know what grocery stores and restaurants are near the school. Some exploring can give you an idea of where they are, what kind of food they stock, and what their prices are like. And like how there might be things your dining hall doesn’t have, there may also be services your campus health center can’t provide. If you need a specific treatment plan or doctor, you’ll want to know where the nearest medical facilities are. Is there a pharmacy near you in case you need to fill any prescriptions? Walking around the area off campus can help you figure out where these things are in proximity to you and your college should you ever need them.

2. Community and culture

Something as simple as walking around your school’s neighborhood can also indicate what the community is like. Is the college located in a rural, suburban, or urban area? Is the nearby neighborhood made up of homes or businesses? If people do live there, what do they think of the college? You can learn a lot about life on campus based on how the community and the college interact. And while there will probably be plenty of activities and events on campus, it’s also worth checking out what the city has to offer. Depending on your hobbies and interests, you can look for different things: If you enjoy outdoor activities, see if there are any parks near you. If you’re more interested in indoor activities, look for libraries or museums. This can give you an idea of what your life outside of class will look like.

3. Transportation

When you find interesting things to do in the city, you’ll have to find a way to get there. That’s why it’s important to look at your transportation options. Is there public transportation near your campus? If so, is it safe? How much does it cost? If you don’t want to use public transportation, you’ll need another option. While walking around the neighborhood, see if the area is pedestrian or bike friendly. Are there things within walking or biking distance? If you’re thinking of having a car on campus, are there enough parking spots at your school? How much does it cost to keep a car there? While often not included in the cost of your school’s tuition, housing, or other fees, transportation costs can greatly impact how affordable a certain school is. If it’s far away from your home, are you going to be driving or flying there? How much will that cost? And what about school breaks—will you stay on campus or travel back home? These expenses can add up, making transportation necessary for determining both your quality of life and the overall cost of your college choice.

4. Employment opportunities and off-campus housing

While some students can participate in work-study to help cover their college costs, many can’t. That’s why you should also look at employment options near your college while you’re in school and after you graduate. If you choose to work off campus, are there jobs that you can get to easily? It’s a good idea to check what the cost of living in the area is to make sure your income can help cover your school fees or housing costs. Additionally, looking at off-campus housing while visiting the area can help you figure out if that’s an option for you, even if you’re planning to live on campus for the first year or so. Are there enough housing options near your school? How much do they cost? The degree you’re pursuing will ideally help you land a job after you graduate, which will help with these costs. But this is much easier to do in an area with plenty of job opportunities in your desired field. If you’re planning to stay in the same city post-graduation, you should also check what companies, jobs, and internships are available to you there.

5. Safety and potential hazards

The final thing to look at off campus is the safety of the college town or city. While they’ll probably tell you on the tour what safety measures they have on campus, it’s important to know how safe it is off campus as well. If you don’t get a feel for this just by exploring the area, you can look at crime statistics for the location. But your safety isn’t just tied to crime; it’s important to check if the location of the school is prone to natural disasters as well. If so, what does the school and city do to protect students? If you need to evacuate, would you be able to do so easily? Outside of natural disasters, it’s always nice to get a feel for what the weather is like at the college too. Do you want to live somewhere cold or warm? Dry or humid? Sunny or snowy? Even something as simple as the weather should factor into your final college decision.

These are just a few of the many things you can explore and research off campus during your college visit. While your campus tour will probably clue you in on whether you like the school itself, taking some extra time to explore the local area will clue you in on whether you like the city the school is in. This is where you’ll be living the whole time you’re pursuing your education, so it should be a place that makes you feel at home.

Looking for great schools by the beach? In the mountains? Near a lake? Check out all kinds of options with our featured college lists by landscape!

Top 3 Online Resources to Enhance Your Campus Visits

2026-04-24T19:22:04.325127-04:00

Planning a college visit takes more effort than just showing up on campus. With today’s digital resources, you can (and should!) maximize your in-person experience by coming prepared and armed with information you found online beforehand. Here’s how to leverage online tools to enhance your campus visits.

1. Online information sessions and events

One of the simplest ways to prepare for an official in-person visit is to just go on a college or university’s website! Schools usually offer detailed virtual information sessions that can serve as a fantastic and enlightening precursor to on-campus tours and information sessions. These online events typically feature admission officers presenting key information about academics, campus culture, the application process, and more.

As you go through the meeting, you might find it helpful to write down questions you can ask during the interactive Q&A portion of the meeting. Any questions left unanswered are good to ask during the in-person tour when you get some face-to-face time with a guide!

2. Virtual campus tours

With all the online tools at your disposal, virtual campus tours are a great resource to get a sense of what a college looks like before you get there. And all you have to do is open your computer! Many universities offer sophisticated 360-degree campus tours, detailed video walkthroughs, and interactive maps that let you explore academic buildings, residence halls, and recreational facilities right from the comfort of your home.

These virtual experiences will help you familiarize yourself with the campus layout and could potentially help you identify specific areas that you might want to visit in person while you’re there. With this information, you can maximize your campus tour experience to make it as efficient and focused as possible.

3. Social media platforms

Ever find yourself doom-scrolling on Instagram Reels? (Who hasn’t!) While you’re there, try searching for any colleges or universities that you’re interested in touring. School and student social media accounts offer authentic glimpses into daily life and popular events on campus that you might not get a sense of during a formal tour. Here’s what to look for on each platform:

Follow a school’s Instagram accounts for current student activities.
Check out their YouTube channels for in-depth videos about campus life and academics.
Follow them on Twitter for real-time updates.
Join their Facebook pages and groups for community events and discussions.

Remember that the more college tour preparation you do in advance, the more meaningful your in-person campus visits will be. These digital tools and resources will help you be more prepared, ask informed questions, and make the most of your time on campus. Good luck in your college search, and don’t forget to have fun with it!

Start exploring colleges virtually right here on ��Vlog! We’ve conveniently compiled 250+ online tours for you on our list of Featured Colleges With Virtual Campus Tours.

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