As a high-school student interested in education abroad, you must have heard from your college counselors  or high-school counselors about the daunting admissions process. It’s a long, often frustrating process with one of the most difficult questions you have probably ever asked yourself—how do you know which college is the right fit for you?

Some of the best abroad education consultants will tell you that college tours are one way to show your interest in a college before or during the admissions process, alongside discovering the answer to this question. It’s also a foolproof way to get real information about resources, facilities, and college atmosphere, and a chance to talk to someone who is already there. More often than not, these tours are led by a student, who can directly respond to your questions about student life.

Here are some things you MUST check on a campus tour to make the most out of it:

● Academics:

• How popular is here on campus?
• How accessible are the faculty on campus for office hours?
• How big are classes? Are classes lecture-based or discussion-based?
• How satisfied are you with academic advising?
• Are professors available for research with students?
• What are the attendance policies like?
• Do students use any on-campus tutoring programs or writing centers?
• What kind of labs and research centers are available and accessible to undergraduate students?

● Campus Life:

• What is it like to be a first-year on campus?
• What kind of support is available to international students?
• What do you do when you’re not in class?
• What kinds of things are there to do in the school's hometown?
• Which clubs and organizations are popular? Is there a club on campus?
• How’s the food ?
• Is it easy to get around campus? Is it disability-accessible?
• Do most students live on campus? How are the dorms?
• How safe is the campus? What measures are in place to protect students and staff?
• What resources are available for students to access in case of safety emergencies?

● Student Body?

• What makes the student body unique?
• Do students of different races and classes interact easily? Are the cliquish?
• How do student politics work here?

● Career Services:

• Are internships available? How do you find them?
• Is Career Services helpful?
• Does the school have a co-op program ?
• Are there opportunities to build leadership skills on campus?
• What options exist for service learning in the community?
• Do employers recruit students on campus?
• How easy is it to find summer jobs and other kinds of work through the school?

However, please do some basic research about the school before you go on a campus visit; do not depend on the guide for ALL the information. Carry some water and snacks with you; tours can get slightly overwhelming. Don’t hesitate to take pictures, as long as you take permission from the tour guide. While your excitement is valid, please don’t interrupt the tour guide while they’re speaking, and wait for the right moment to ask questions. Usually, there is time allotted at regular time intervals during the tour, or at the end, to ask questions. Follow-up the tour with an email, thanking the university and the guide for their hospitality!

Don’t forget to have fun, and Bon Voyage!