Helping your student apply to college and decide where to go to college can involve complicated choices and high stakes. Our Parents Guide blog series is here to help you guide your student to make the right decisions throughout the college application and decision processes.
The college search is becoming real for you and your family. Your student has made a list of their top schools to visit, and you’re ready to schedule campus tours and information sessions. How can you support your student during these visits and make the most of your time visiting colleges? Read on for our top tips for touring college campuses.
Prospective students and their families taking a guided tour of UNH
Let your student take the lead
We get it. You have lots of questions to ask and concerns about where your student will live and what they’ll eat. However, this tour is the beginning of your student’s independence in college. Feel free to ask your own questions, but let your student take the lead in exploring the areas of campus they are most interested in and interacting with the tour guide and other prospective students.
Exploring the UNH campus
Prioritize what you see
College tours can be overwhelming and it’s unlikely you’ll see the entire campus during your visit, so beforehand, sit down with your student and compile a list of the places they most want to see on campus. Then, plan your visit accordingly. For example, if they are most interested in learning more about their prospective major and are interested to see where they will eat, see if you can schedule an academic information session and plan to eat at the dining hall after your tour.
UNH students studying in Dimond Library
Plan your questions
You’ll spend the day absorbing a lot, so it may be helpful to write out a list of questions ahead of time. Sit down with your student and think about what you want to ask. If a current student will lead your tour, ask your student to think of questions they have about future college life or advice they would like for transitioning to college.
UNH students in downtown Durham
Keep exploring after the tour
If you have time after the tour, ask the admissions office what else they recommend you see or pick up a campus map. You may want to head to the campus bookstore to grab some swag, try a meal in the dining hall or explore the shops and restaurants in the college downtown. This will help you and your student get an authentic feel for what the campus is like.
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How to Visit Campus
Are you ready to plan your UNH campus visit and tour our campus? Prospective students have told us they love visiting UNH over the summer. You can grab an ice cream at the Campus Creamery, enjoy the beautiful weather and—the best part—see everything UNH has to offer with your own eyes. visit our campus
