I blinked, and my daughter graduated high school and is making all-important college decisions. No one prepares you for the triumph of watching your kids pursue their dreams or for the corresponding weight of their pivotal decisions. As a parent, leaving no stone unturned is better so you and your family can make decisions you feel confident about.
When it comes to college, we’ve explored everything from state colleges and private universities to internships, which all have unique outcomes and benefits. College tours are particularly eye-opening–they allow you to ask as many questions as you need to prepare for the years ahead.
After trial and error, we discovered that asking specific questions is essential to get an accurate look at campus life. For example, a tour guide might give a basic yes-or-no response if you ask if the campus is safe. But, if you ask, “What’s been the biggest safety issue on campus, and how did the college handle it?” chances are you’ll get a thorough answer.
For all our college visits, we come prepared with tailored, specific questions to paint a complete picture of campus life. From guides to faculty to current students, we recommend seeking various perspectives to give your students all the information they need to make their final decision.
These are some of our favorite questions we use on every college tour:
- What are the processes for selecting and changing majors?
- What campus safety initiatives are in place?
- What types of financial aid and scholarships are offered?
- What’s the average class size, and how easy is it to interact with professors?
- What tutoring and academic support systems are available to students?
- How long does it take to get around campus on foot?
- How does the roommate selection process work, and how simple is it to change roommates if necessary?
- Which majors are the most popular here?
- What are the most popular extracurricular clubs and sports?
- How would an average first-year student spend their day on campus?
Another great resource for gathering first-hand information on college tours is chatting with current students on campus and asking about their experiences. Here are five questions to ask students to get an inside look:
- What’s something you wish you had known before coming here?
- How has this college set you up for success?
- What would you say is this school’s strength?
- In your opinion, what’s one area where this school could improve?
- How does this college prioritize student safety?
Most college tours also have faculty to answer more precise questions. If something specific comes up on your tour, you can always ask to follow up with someone in the correct department for further information. Whether you learn about academic support from an advisor or safety from the head of security, many faculty members are willing to answer questions and clarify concerns.
As you explore your options, asking your child what’s important to them throughout the college search is equally essential. Ultimately, your list of tour questions should reflect their needs. They might struggle to narrow down where they want to go or what they want to do–and that’s normal! I recommend asking the following questions to help get a sense of their expectations:
- What are the top three most important things about a college to you?
- How do you picture your college experience?
- What excites you about college?
- What scares you about college?
By identifying how they envision their college experience, you can help shape their ideas and guide them toward the right decision for their future.
Once they enroll, there will be plenty of pivots and decisions to make–I changed my major five times! The best thing we can do for our kids is to give them all the information they need to help usher them into this new chapter confidently. Launching our children into the world is exciting, bittersweet, and a bit scary, but the right questions will lead us to the knowledge we need–and, ultimately, the right path for our child.
