Contributed by Keyanna Metts | Johnson & Wales University
If you’re in college-search mode, booking a campus tour and seeing where you might spend four years of your life can be exciting. However, as the tour approaches, you might realize that you don’t know what questions to ask.
I am a current student at Johnson & Wales, and when exploring colleges, I got the chance to tour the university twice! My first experience was with my older sister, a college graduate. It was nice that she was there because she had been through the process before. My second experience was when I officially committed to the school and went to Orientation. That’s when I got a full experience of the school and saw the city of Providence, Rhode Island. It’s cool to look back on because I got to see all the places where I am now making memories with my beautiful friends.
No matter where you tour and who you tour with, I want to make sure you make the best of it. So you won’t get stuck on what questions to ask, I have a few for you to keep in mind when you go on your college tours.
10 Top College Tour Questions
1. What is the professor-to-student ratio?
This is important because it can be the difference between learning in a lecture hall versus a small classroom where your professors can remember your name and face. Every school is different. At JWU, we have a 14:1 ratio. Classes are not how you see them in the movies. The professors love to engage and help their students whenever they need.
2. What are your study abroad opportunities like?
College is about expanding your horizons. No matter your major, you will likely have the chance to fit in a study abroad experience if that’s important to you. Some schools have partnerships with other institutions. JWU has study abroad opportunities worldwide so that you can go to many different beautiful places. Many majors build in electives so you can customize your courses to study in another country.
3. Are there scholarship opportunities?
This is a great question to ask to help with the cost of tuition and books. Paying for college adds up, so make sure you know where to go to find out how to apply for scholarships that could lower your total cost. And you might be surprised: JWU has a scholarship for visiting campus before December of your senior year … and it’s renewable, too!
4. Are tutoring services available?
Knowing if your school has tutoring services available just in case you need them for a class is always good. JWU has tutoring services at the Academic Success Center that are included in tuition and are offered by professional and peer tutors.
5. How easy is it to switch majors?
It’s common to switch majors because sometimes you grow out of places and things. So, it’s good to know if the school you’re touring has a process and what steps you should take.
6. How many clubs are offered?
Always fun to know about clubs you can join and how to get involved around campus. Getting involved is a good way to make friends while at school. JWU has 150+ clubs that you can join—and you can always start your own too!
7. Are there many on-campus jobs? If so, how would I go about finding one?
It can be hard to find a job off-campus because it can conflict with your class schedule. This is a good question because a campus job can revolve around your class schedule, so you won’t have the stress of missing your class. JWU has a work-study program for students who qualify for it. They also have on-campus jobs for students that don’t qualify. You can look for on-campus jobs at our Student Employment.
8. What are the transportation options for students who don’t have a car on campus?
Every school and campus is different. Some buildings on campus might be farther than others, so it’s always good to ensure you have transportation figured out. JWU has a bus schedule for students who don’t have a car on campus that goes to both campus and residence halls.
9. How many varsity teams are there?
If you are an athlete and have a sport you love and are committed to, it’s always good to know if the school you plan on attending has the sport you are passionate about. Even if you don’t play, you may love to have the option to cheer on your school’s team! There are 16 varsity teams competing in Division III at JWU.
10. What are the different meal plan options?
It’s good to see if any school you are applying to has different meal plan options to see what plan is best for you. There are a few different meal plan options at JWU with Flex dollars that you can use at our campus Starbucks or our campus stores.
Those ten questions will give you a good start, but we have a list of 23 ideas you can read too. Visiting a college campus is one of the best ways to decide if a school is right for you. Make sure to write down what’s most important to you, and now that you’re ready, book your tour today!
