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BigFuture is a free and personalized set of comprehensive digital resources that help students take a productive next step after high school. Students can use BigFuture tools and resources to plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers. Parents can visit the BigFuture Parent Resources Center for even more resources.

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You can only tell so much from colleges' websites and brochures. By spending time on campus, you can speak in person with an admissions officer as well as students and get a good idea of what academic and social life are like there. When it's time to choose a college to attend, you'll be better prepared to make an informed decision.

Arrange a Campus Visit

All colleges have admissions offices that can help you plan your visit. Your high school may organize group tours of nearby colleges. And you can plan your own informal visit to a college campus. Take these important steps first:

• Visit the college's admissions website to get details about arranging for an in-person visit.
• Check with your school counselor to see if any campus tours are scheduled.
• Set aside time to be on your own. Walk around the public area.

What to Expect When You Get on Campus

Campus visits can range from a quick hour to an overnight stay and from a casual guided tour to a formal presentation. Be sure to ask how long the whole visit will take so that you can be prepared.

Most campus visits will include the following:

• An information session, during which an admissions representative talks to you or your group about the college before the campus tour.
• A campus tour: These are usually led by college students. You'll see the main parts of the campus and have a chance to ask questions.

At many colleges, you can also arrange to:

• Attend a class.
• Meet with a professor.
• Meet with an admissions officer.
• Meet with a financial aid officer.
• Attend a club meeting or sports practice session.
• Eat in a dining hall.
• Spend the night in a dorm to experience student life.

Get Ready for Your Campus Tour

Before your visit, you need to prepare. It's a good idea to do these things:

• Explore the college's official website, and review any materials the college has sent you. This will help you come up with questions specific to that college.
• Make a list of questions to ask both staff and students. You can use our Campus Visit Checklist as a starting point.
• Explore the map of the college campus and make a note of where the admissions office is so you’ll know where you’re going. This will help ensure that you're on time for your visit.

When you're ready to go, remember to:

• Take notes in your phone or notebook so that you don’t forget the details of your collegiate trips.
• Take pictures so that you can remember what the campus looks like.
• Compare the colleges that you visit by using the Campus Visit Score Card.

What to Do if You Can't Make an In-Person Campus Visit

All is not lost if you can't visit in person. You can still:

• Check the admissions website to see if they have virtual campus tours or events.
• Talk to students who currently attend the college.
• Go online to see if the college has a newspaper you can read.
• View Campus Reel videos on BigFuture.

Explore majors, find scholarship opportunities, and find more planning for college resources at BigFuture.Collegeboard.org or find resources for parents here.