Many of you have attended or plan to attend a university’s Open House, which in my opinion is not the best time to visit a campus. You see the glossy view, the best of the best that the university has to offer. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you want to get a more ‘real’ perspective. I have a similar view of the virtual tours you’ll see online. Nice, but not as objective as you may want it to be. You may also have an opportunity to speak to a university representative who is visiting your area, but again this cannot replace your personal view of a campus.
Practically all universities offer individual tours but try to get more information on what’s included in the tours. I have participated in tours that were very comprehensive and showed practically all areas of the campus while others turned out to be just a tour of the various residences.
You can’t do much about the official tour, but my recommendation is to try to customize your visit as best you can (especially if you’re not likely to be able to visit again during your research or selection phase). Campuses are normally open to the general public and you can also visit the faculty, department or program office you’re interested in before or after the official tour (campus maps are often available online).
Some of the best information about your intended program may come from a faculty member or program administrator so try to book an appointment to meet with someone during your visit. Furthermore, ask to be connected to a current student or recent alumni to get their view on the program, university, faculty, etc.
If possible, have lunch on campus. Not only to get a sense of campus food services, but it’s a great opportunity to speak to real students and ask about their experience and other things that are important to you. It's a good time to assess the campus vibe and see how comfortable you might be there. Can you fit in?
Don’t forget to take photographs (yes, you’ll look like a tourist) but I found that reviewing pictures after the visit to be helpful. Also, months later when you’re comparing universities and perhaps ready to accept one offer over another, the photographs will be invaluable. They jogged my memory and showed details that I forgot.
I know you’ll be less inclined to visit campuses that are some distance from your home, but the time and cost invested in a campus visit far outweighs the information you’ll receive. The visit will be a crucial deciding factor when selecting a university that’s right for you.
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