Visiting Campuses Can Give the Inside Story

You can’t tell a book by its cover, or a college or university by its catalogue alone. So if you’re trying to make a decision about school, you’ll want to visit the campus to see what it’s really like.

Starting in the fall, many colleges invite high school students to spend a few days on campus. It’s one of the best ways to get the inside scoop on a school.

Classroom visits can tell a lot about teaching and the learning process. Choose courses dealing with the subjects you like. Look at classes you might have to take as a freshman, as well as more advanced electives.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Who are the favorite professors on campus and why? Ask students if they get help from professors when they need it, and if tutoring is available.

See if the classes are small enough to regularly permit student participation. Are class discussions relaxed and lively? Do students seem comfortable expressing their views, or do they seem to be saying what the professor wants to hear?

Does the professor seem to know the students on an individual basis? Does he or she take a genuine interest in what students have to say? You should get the feeling that students, their work and their ideas count!

If you sit in on a large lecture class, watch the students around you. They should be listening intently and taking notes. Do students look bored? They probably are. Professors who are truly excited about what they’re teaching are lively and animated, even passionate.

See if students approach the professor after class is over. That’s a sign that students are interested in what they’re learning--and that professors are involved with their classes. Professors should also be accessible during office hours.

How closely do students and professors work together? At some colleges, students and faculty cooperate on research projects or papers.

Students, too, should work together. They may work on group projects, study together for exams or help one another after class.

Learning should also extend outside the classroom. Students who are really engaged in learning will talk about classes in the cafeteria and the dorms.

While you’re on campus, pick up as many school publications as you can. The student newspaper and student-produced magazines give a good sense of who the students are and what’s important to them.

If you ask enough questions, it won’t be hard to discover how students really feel about their school. You’re exactly where they were a year or two ago, and they’ll want to help.