I have a soon to be 16 yo son. We're doing the visit college campuses tours now. So far we have visited 3. I seem to ask the same questions...

1..What is the smoking policy in dorms ?

2. what sort of clubs does the school have ?

3. what things do the kids do in their free time ? Does the school have any freshman programs ?

4. How is the food ?

of course they already go over classroom size, styles, and dorms.

what questions do you ask ?

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I think the questions to ask can vary from student to student but, these are some we asked we when were doing our visits. I am sure we asked more but this is all I can think of right now.

What academic elements are considered in the admissions process, for example:
courses, grades, test scores, rank, essays, How important are each of these factors?

What size are the classes you could have as a freshman or sophomore? How
many large classes can you expect?

Who teaches the freshman classes? Teaching Assistants? Graduate Assistants?

Can freshmen have cars on campus? What is the fee for having a car on campus?

Is it easy to get around campus? Can you walk to and from classes?

How many hours a day do typical students study?

What are the most popular majors?

What help is available for tutoring, personal, and career counseling?

What are the computer facilities on campus and in the residence halls?

I would find out about admission requirements.
Find out about what high school courses they want incoming freshman/students to have taken?
Cost of tution, room and board?
Opportunties for schlorships, grants and work study?
Do they require freshman, sophmores to live on campus?
If they plan on having a car at college, are they able to park close to the dorms, class etc? Cost of parking?
If your son knows what he wants to major in, see if you can see the degree plan (courses he will need to take in college)
Is there a wait to get into that major? Some majors are so popular, the colleges have limited seating, they may have to wait in order to get into that major.
Question about school safety.
Question about dorm safety.
What is enrollment?
Describe college life there?
How big is the town the school is located in?
How far is food shopping, restaurants, etc?
Is shopping accessible by car, school shuttle bus, etc?

I would see if you could get an official tour that would include going in buildings, classroom, lecture halls, student center and various types of dorms.

Once you decide or narrow down the collges, I would visit during the school year to observe college life and if the college would be a good fit for your son.

Good Luck!

Well some colleges do not allow freshman to have a car on campus so I would check that. Also, if they do allow it, how much is the parking for the year. How safe is campus during the day and at night? It's been about 7 years since I've lived on camps. I went to BGSU in Ohio.

Ask what security measures they have.
How many parking spaces vs how many permits they give out.
How many students graduate in 4 years, or 5 years.
If your student has a special diet, do they accomodate?
Do they allow hot plates?
Room assignments and poor room mate match ups, cost for switching
Alchohol policy in dorms, is it enforced.
Average class size
Awards for the field of study your child is interested in
Do they have overnight visits available?
do they have a first year seminar type class. Getting use to school types stuff
On campus clinic?

Chances are you will be overwhelmed so make sure you jot down some notes to compare schools later. Let your child ask some questions.

When I went to school in the city we had our own campus police blotter with the number of assaults, break ins, robberies, etc. I would ask if what sort of campus security there is and the amount of reported incidents. There would probably be less in a more rural area, but in any case they are required to provide that information.

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The questions we have asked depend on the sort of session that we are attending i.e. admissions, campus tour, interview, etc. The one thing that drives me nuts that other parents ask is very specific questions about their child and his/her situation in a group setting. Drags the whole thing down a rat hole. Grrr....

Anyways, most of our questions deal with the academics.....we pick up the lifestyle and "fit" stuff from the tours and observing the students going about their daily business....are they smiling?

Admission criteria - what are they looking for? Deadlines and such
Curriculum requirements - language, core coursework, ability to take electives
AP credit
Class size, out of class help, who is teaching the classes (profs or TAs)
How easy/hard is it to switch majors?
Retention rate for freshman
How many graduate in 4 years? 5 years?
Research projects going on and ability for undergrads to participate
Co-op and/or intern program availability
Job placement rates for graduating seniors
Tuition, fees, (rate of increase also), availability of scholarships and how to apply

cj/

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