What To Look For On A College Campus Tour
So! You've delved into the academics of a college, the majors they offer, whether they are on a quarter or semester system, and even looked at some clubs. But what do you look for when you're visiting the school itself?
The summer of my junior year, I went on a road trip with my family to colleges in California. We visited a number of well-known colleges, signed up for tours for some, and just walked through the campus for others. It was interesting to compare and contrast each school, but at the same time, I wasn't sure what to expect or what to look for. Grasping the vibe of the school was also not easy; with most people away from campus in the summer, the energy of each college I was visiting was not at its usual levels, making it difficult to gauge how I'd manage in that school's environment. But here are a few pieces of advice that I would have liked to know more about each school as I visited their campuses!
Study the Campus Map
This requires a bit of pre-visit homework, but it's essential to a better understanding of the campus and how a student navigates the campus. Signing up for a tour is a great way to know a bit about each major building on campus, but if you want to do some work on your own, here are some suggestions of things to look for!
- Where are the dorms?
You can often find dorms, their names, and their floor plans on the university website. Depending on the school, most first-year students (at least) will live on campus, meaning that their location (and set-ups) are vital. How far they are from important buildings on campus could determine how long most students end up walking every day. It's great to see these buildings in person, too, rather than fading into the background.
Dartmouth's floor plans can be found here. Dartmouth's dorms are distributed throughout the campus, meaning that the location of where students stay varies pretty significantly, and each location has its pros and cons. It adds a unique part to the Dartmouth campus and experience.
- Where is the library?
The library (or libraries) is the place where most students will do their studying. Some libraries may be closed to the public, but many allow people to walk through and use their facilities! And they're not small buildings; Baker-Berry Library alone has more than twelve unique spaces (that I can think of off the top of my head). Getting to explore the libraries on the campus and the places where students study can give a great insight into what life is like as a student of that college.
- Where are the food options located?
Where do students eat? Some colleges have several dining halls throughout the campus; others (like Dartmouth) have one major dining hall. As these places are where most students will go to eat every day, knowing its location (especially in relation to dormitories) is helpful in also painting a picture of life on campus.
Dartmouth even shares its dining hall menus on the internet, so you can see what I'll be eating for dinner (if you want)! If you end up visiting, Dartmouth allows the public to pay and eat in the Class of 1953 Commons, if you want the true "FoCo" experience.
- Where's the gym?
Last but not least, knowing where the athletic facilities are will offer another clue as to what life is like at the college. Are they far from the dorms? What do they consist of? As a tennis player, my glance goes directly to the tennis courts. Are there facilities for your exercise of choice?
Other things you can look for are:
- The buildings associated with your study of interest
- Parking lot distance (if you plan on bringing a car)
- Parks/outdoor study spaces
Stairs/Accessibility
As you walk around the campus, the ground that the school is built on is also something to note. Is the campus on a slope, so that you're hiking up or down the campus? Is it flat? Is it bike-able? Is the campus accessible for people with crutches or wheelchairs?
Being able to get to classes without hassle can eliminate a small but important stressor that students can face. But a slope can also offer some extra exercise for the mid-day walk!
Grocery/Shopping Access
The closest Walmart, CVS, or other drugstores often ends up being a lifeline for last-minute emergencies and necessities, and knowing where access to such a kind of store is some good info to know while you're there.
Dartmouth has a CVS Pharmacy down the street, barely a ten-minute walk away, and it's my go-to place for tissues, soap, and dorm snacks!
A picture of my latest CVS haul…
But It's Summer…
Of course, visiting a school during a break means that you may not get the complete college energy. It may be a little difficult to imagine, but by keeping the number of students in mind, as well as the general size of the whole campus, you can envision what a usual school day looks like!
Asking a student on campus what a typical college population looks like on campus can also give a good picture. Ask your tour guide, or a friendly student (if they don't look busy)!
What would I say about Dartmouth? Dartmouth can get moderately full! I find that it's hard to find a seat in the library during finals season when the library gets packed with students, and that food halls at peak hours can get crowded and lead to long lines. However, I've always found the volume of students pretty manageable—the campus is wide enough to find space for myself when I need it.
The old golf course on the north side of campus always offers a quiet place to think.
I hope these tips help! By paying close attention to the campus, who knows? You might find something that you love so much that you want to write about it in an essay for your application!
