College Visit: 31 Questions You Need to Ask

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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.

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