Revisit campuses

Overview

Admitted Student Days and campus revisits in early-to-mid April are your best chance to experience the college as a real prospective student. This is when your gut feeling matters.

Why Revisit

• First visits happened 1-2 years ago; you've changed
• Admitted student events have different energy than tours
• You'll meet classmates, experience campus culture
• Many schools offer overnight stays with current students
• Mental "visualize myself here" test

Common Offerings at Admitted Student Events

• Student panel discussions
• Faculty meet-and-greets
• Department visits
• Class sit-ins
• Residence hall tours
• Financial aid sessions
• Campus tours
• Overnight with current students
• Meals in dining halls
• Activity fairs

What to Pay Attention To

Students You Meet

• Are they people you'd want as classmates?
• Is the vibe collaborative or competitive?
• Do they seem happy?

Faculty

• Accessible and engaged?
• Receptive to undergrad research?
• Knowledgeable about your intended major?

Campus Life

• Food quality in dining halls
• Dorm conditions
• Library and study space
• Recreation facilities

Academic Rigor

• What's the typical course load?
• What do students do outside class?
• What's the workload like?

Questions to Ask Current Students

• "What's been your best class?"
• "What would you change about this school?"
• "What's the social scene like?"
• "How accessible are professors?"
• "How easy is it to find research opportunities?"
• "Do you regret anything about this school?"

Questions to Ask Admissions / Faculty

• "What support is available for undergraduates?"
• "What's the typical internship placement?"
• "What's the retention rate for first-year students?"
• "What advising is provided?"

Red Flags

• Students who seem stressed or unhappy
• Unresponsive or dismissive staff
• Unfinished or neglected facilities
• Lack of diversity in programs and people
• Heavy drinking or party culture if that's not you
• Religious or political environment that conflicts with yours

Green Flags

• Enthusiastic, engaged students
• Professors who know their students by name
• Evidence of mentorship and community
• Diverse student body
• Strong career services
• Mental health resources well-integrated

Virtual Admitted Student Events

If in-person isn't feasible:

• Attend multiple virtual panels
• Join social media groups for admitted students
• Request virtual coffee chats with current students
• Watch YouTube tours and day-in-the-life videos

Travel Logistics

• Book early (hotels near campus fill quickly)
• Fly in the night before, back the day after
• Attend multi-day events if offered
• Bring a parent for support but give yourself independent time

Note-Taking

Immediately after each visit:

• Overall impression (1-10)
• Best aspect
• Worst aspect
• Did it feel like "home"?
• Compared to other admitted schools: where does it rank?

Trust Your Gut

If a school feels wrong when you visit, trust that signal. If a school feels right, trust that too. Your intuition matters alongside analytical comparison.

Parents' Role

• Provide transportation and logistics
• Let the student lead conversations
• Share observations afterward, don't push opinions
• Respect the student's ultimate decision