ADVICE: Make the Most of Your College Tours

We get it. College tours are a big deal.

You’re getting a feel for campus – deciding if it can be “home” for the next four years.

Heather Chipley, director of admission visitor services at the College of Charleston shares this list of “DO’s” and “DON’Ts” to make sure that you get the most out of your college visits.

DO

Your research before you take the tour. This includes knowing where to park and what time you should arrive for the tour.

Allow 2 ½ to 3 hours for an information session and campus tour but ideally, extra time should be allowed to explore the city and surrounding area, which is so much a part of the student experience.

Ask questions that give a true sense of what the student experience will be like. These are the things not easily found or answered in guidebooks or online.

Registering in advance is important so that the college admissions office can be prepared to accommodate the visitors. Knowing who will be in attendance (high school juniors or seniors, in-state or out-of-state, prospect applicant or accepted) allows the admissions team to fine-tune the presentation, to have enough seats in the auditorium, to have enough guides on hand and to know who best to present the information session

Clyde the Cougar says hi to visitors during a campus tour

DON’T

Don’t talk or text on your phones during the tours.

Don’t allow your parents to ask your questions. Speak up for yourself.

Avoid taking “selfies” until after the tour is complete.

Don’t get into side conversations that could distract others during the tour.

Don’t rely on just a tour to discover the school. Talk to professors, current students and others to find out more about the college.

WATCH: Take a video tour of the College of Charleston.