By Kelly Herrington, Director of College Counseling and Student Services

Have you ever wondered how college counselors approach college tours? Do they ask the same questions high school students ask? Or do they quietly judge the architecture and mentally count how many Starbucks are within a half mile of campus? How is their approach different from the standard prospective student visit? 

In short, just as students visit campuses imagining their futures, college counselors visit imagining their students’ futures as well. And we take this job seriously, even if we stop for a latte or two, purchase a few books, or go for a jog along the way. Our goals are the same, although our interactions on campus might be a little different.

Before we share what UPrep college counselors do during their college visits, here’s a tip from me. Students, if you pull up to a campus, take one look around from the passenger seat, and begin judging the institution, stop, get out of the car, go on the tour, and engage with people. You owe yourself this effort. This is your chance to imagine new possibilities, soak in the energy of campus life, and have fun discovering a place that could become your next home. 

Britten Nelson, Associate Director of College Counseling

Walk and Watch

College tours involve a lot of walking, so I always make sure I’ve got my walking shoes on. There will be stairs, too, and there will be a lot of them! As I walk around, I’m observing how people are moving across campus: Are they chatting in groups or are they walking quickly with air pods in? Do they hold the door open for you? Is the campus so big that they need bikes or scooters? Are students commuting from off campus or is it predominantly residential? If the weather is nice, are students taking advantage of open and green spaces? 

Cast a Wide Net

I try to talk to as many different people as I can—students, faculty, staff—to get a sense of the variety of people who live and work on a college campus. This means eating in the cafeteria and chatting with the students standing in line at the salad bar, talking to the cashier, and the information desk person. You will receive different thoughts and opinions, and it is fun to talk to a variety of folks to find out common themes. As a former tour guide and college admission counselor, I love to talk to those folks, too, but I also try to talk to people who are not paid employees from the admissions office, as their responses tend to be more candid.

Chat with Students

I always try to meet up with any Pumas who are on campus (the Puma College Connections Program is a great resource). If I cannot find any UPrep alumni, though, I will chat with any students I can find. My favorite question to ask is about weekend plans. How much time is spent studying, socializing, sleeping, and engaging in extracurricular activities? Themes will start to emerge from campus to campus.

Find More than Books

I love to visit the campus bookstore. They have so much more than books. And I always like to pick up a new novel to read.  

Venture Off Campus

It is fun to see what is in the surrounding area. I’ll ask for recommendations for favorite restaurants or cafes near campus and figure out how students navigate to those off-campus spaces. Is it a quick walk? Do you need a car? How often are students leaving campus? 

Kelly Herrington, Director of College Counseling and Student Services

Lace up Those Shoes

I start my day when I visit a college on a run in the neighborhood and around campus. This allows me to get a sense of the general environment and how easy it is to access both the campus and the surrounding area. If you are not a runner, take a walk instead. 

Be an Anthropologist 

With so many resources, including virtual college tours, that provide information about a college, I structure my visits around what is not available on the web. For example, I ask people not on the official tour—librarians, cafeteria employees, campus safety officers, and academic advisors—questions about the campus climate. These questions include: How do students treat each other? What is a growth opportunity for the institution? And what is your hidden nugget of awesomeness about the college that most people don’t know? I also pay close attention to students. Are there students sitting alone in the cafeteria? Does the community appear segregated? Are students helping to care for the general upkeep of campus? 

Use Your Resources

Everyone in our office loves to connect with our alumni attending the college we are visiting. We use our Puma College Connection Program, which lists the contact information for more than 80 alumni attending more than 70 different colleges to set up coffee dates with our former Pumas. We also use our UPrep-created resources, like the college visit checklist form, from our College Counseling Handbook (pages 7–9), which we use to take notes. 

Cris Monroy, Associate Director of College Counseling 

Take Pictures

Take a picture of the school’s name before you take any pictures of the campus! This is particularly important if you are visiting more than one school on the same day. 

Don’t Forget to Ask

Ask admission officers: How is your school different from other similar peer schools? Also, ask about the food and accommodations they can make for students with food allergies. Ask students about college traditions, which will give you a good sense of the campus community. Inquire about popular activities to do during a student’s free time, along with campus programming that is available on the evenings and weekends. In addition, ask how often students get off campus and/or to the nearest town/city. 

Talk to Random Staff and Students

UPrep alums have asked random staff/students questions and have gathered important insights about school culture and student life from these individuals who don’t work for the school’s admission office.

Uncover Underused Resources

Ask those you meet to name a resource that is underused but has had an impact on their time in college. UPrep alums have told me that the college’s writing center, tutoring services, and the career center are underused resources that they are using during their time as college students. 

See Yourself There

Identify places where you know you can see yourself hanging out and/or doing work. You’ll be spending lots of time on campus! 

See the matriculation list for 2021–2025 UPrep graduates.