10 Top Questions to Ask on Your College Tour

If you’re in college-search mode, it can be exciting to book a campus tour and see where you will be spending four years of your life. As the tour approaches, though, you might start to realize that you don’t know what questions to ask.

I am a current student at Johnson & Wales and when I was exploring colleges, I got the chance to tour the university twice! My first experience was with my older sister, who is a college graduate. It was nice that she was there because she had been through the process before. My second experience was when I officially committed to the school and went to Orientation. That’s when I got a full experience of the school and got to see the city of Providence, Rhode Island. It’s very cool to look back on because I got to see all the places where I am now making memories with my beautiful friends.

No matter where you tour and who you tour with, I want to make sure you make the best of it. So you won’t get stuck on what questions to ask, I have a few for you to keep in mind when you go on your college tours.

1. What is the professor-to-student ratio?

This is important because it can be the difference between learning in a lecture hall versus a small classroom where your professors can remember your name and face. Every school is different.

At JWU, we have a 14:1 ratio. Classes are not how you see them in the movies. The professors love to engage and help their students whenever they need.

2. What are your study abroad opportunities like?

College is about expanding your horizons. No matter your major, you will likely have the chance to fit in a study abroad experience, if that’s important to you. Some schools have partnerships with other institutions.

JWU has study abroad opportunities around the world so that you can go to a lot of different beautiful places. Many majors build in electives so that you can customize your courses to study in another country.

_{THE JWU STUDY ABROAD FAIR IS A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.}

3. Are there a lot of scholarship opportunities?

This is a great question to ask because scholarships can help with the cost of tuition and books. Paying for college adds up, so make sure you know where to go to find out how to apply for scholarships that could lower your total cost. And you might be surprised: JWU has a scholarship for visiting campus… and it’s renewable, too!

4. Are tutoring services available?

It's always good to know if your school has tutoring services available just in case you need them for a class. JWU has tutoring services at the Academic Success Center that are included in tuition and are offered by professional and peer tutors.

5. How easy is it to switch majors?

It’s common to switch majors because sometimes you grow out of places and things. So, it’s good to know if the school you’re touring has a process and what steps you should take.

6. How many clubs are offered?

It's always fun to know about clubs that you can join and see how to get involved around campus, and this is a good way to make friends. Universitywide, JWU has 150+ clubs and organizations that you can join — and you can always start your own, too!

_{THE BLACK STUDENT ALLIANCE HOLDS EVENTS LIKE THE BSA FASHION SHOW AS PART OF THEIR MISSION TO SHOWCASE AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE.}

7. Are there many on-campus jobs? If so, how would I go about finding one?

It can be hard to find a job off-campus because it can conflict with your class schedule, so this is a good question to ask. A campus job can revolve around your class schedule, so you won’t have the stress about missing your class.

JWU has a work-study program for students who qualify for it. They also have on-campus jobs for students that don’t qualify for work-study. You can look for on-campus jobs at our Student Employment office.

8. What are the transportation options for students who don’t have a car on campus?

Every school and campus is different. Some buildings on campus might be farther than others, so it’s always good to make sure you have transportation figured out. JWU Providence offers Wildcat Wheels, a free shuttle service to get students back and forth between our two campus areas and to residence halls. JWU Charlotte students can utilize the free CityLynx streetcar provided by the city to get to the Uptown area and back quickly.

9. How many varsity teams are there?

If you are an athlete and have a sport that you love and are committed to, it’s always good to know if the school you are planning on attending has the sport that you are passionate about. Even if you don’t play, you may love to have the option to cheer on your school’s team!

Universitywide, there are 16 varsity teams competing in Division III at JWU.

10. What are the different meal plan options?

It’s good to see if any school that you are applying to has different meal plan options so you can see what plan is best for you. There are a few different meal plan options at JWU with Flex dollars that you can use at our campus Starbucks or our campus stores.

Those 10 questions will give you a good start, but we have a list of 23 ideas you can read too. Visiting a college campus is one of the best ways to decide if a school is right for you. Make sure to write down what’s most important to you, and now that you’re ready, book your tour today!

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