Did You Spot Any “Red Flags” on Your College Campus Visit?

Whether you’re a high school student who is still researching various universities and colleges or you’ve already received multiple offers of admission, one of the most clarifying experiences you can have is the on-campus visit.

While virtual tours have become very common thanks to COVID, it’s always advisable for students to actually visit a school in person, when they can. That’s the best way to get a real sense of the campus atmosphere.

By now, you’ve already researched the school’s reputation, faculty, majors and other big issues that may play into your decision, so it’s time to answer the next big question: Is this someplace you fit in?

Here’s how to spot the major “red flags” that a school can’t meet your needs:

1. The Campus Tour Emphasizes All the Wrong Things

Generally speaking, campus tours are designed to highlight what the school sees as its best features. Pay close attention to the underlying messages you’re getting about where the priorities lie to see if those match up with your expectations.

For example, if your tour guide spends 90% of their time highlighting the sports facilities, the gymnasiums and the athletic programs and 10% on the classrooms, that tells you the school values athletes more than academics.

Similarly, it’s great if the school has state-of-the-art classrooms, but you’ll spend more time in your dorm room than anywhere. You won’t have a comfortable experience if the dorms are falling apart, full of mold or inadequately wired for modern technology.

2. You Keep Getting Steered Away From Real Campus Experiences

The catered lunch you get served on your visit and the high-gloss pamphlets you’re handed will definitely put the school in its best light – but if you want to know how actual students feel about the place you need to experience a regular cafeteria and peek at the student newspaper.

Check out the quality of the food that students are regularly offered to see if there is some variety and plenty of healthy options. Then, pick up a student newspaper and see what the “hot topics” are on campus to learn if there are concerns about crime, drugs, drinking, academic or administrative quality.

If your tour guide tries to actively discourage you from checking out these things, the odds are high that there’s something in there they don’t want you to see.

3. You Simply Cannot See Yourself Reflected in the Student Body

If you spend enough of your time just “people watching” as you walk around the campus (and the surrounding town or city), you’ll probably get a pretty good sense of the student body’s diversity – and whether you fall into place.

It probably won’t take long for you to figure out if you’re part of an under-represented minority or your values don’t seem to align with the general campus body. Trust those instincts: You don’t want to feel like you’re an aberration or an oddity for the next four or five years.

It’s always important to have in mind what you hope to see on your campus visit – but understanding what you don’t want to see can be equally valuable when you’re making this all-important decision about your future.