Tips for Touring Schools (to Make Writing Essays Easier)

In-person college tours can be fun, inspiring, and overwhelming. You may feel an instant connection with a school, or know pretty immediately that a place doesn’t feel right. But after visiting several different campuses, in perhaps as many days, they may start to blend together … all those tiny dorm rooms, all those squirrel watchers clubs. 

So do yourself a favor and bring a little notebook with you when you tour, or have the Notes app on your phone ready. Pay attention to what the admissions rep shares, notice the posters in the student union, listen to the tour guide talk about the traditions or activities they love – and jot it all down. Because these details will help you months from now when you may have to write a short essay explaining why you want to attend that university.

A few examples of things to pay attention to:

• Specific classes that sound really interesting

• Internship or research opportunities, and how the university supports students in getting them

• Campus-wide activities or traditions

• Resources available to particular groups of students, or particular majors

• The type of relationship the student body has with professors or administration

• What different academic programs value, or how they structure their degree requirements

• The level of advisory support

• The flexibility in creating a pathway for learning that meets your particular needs or interests

• What new programs or departments the school may be investing in

The list goes on, but hopefully you get the idea. Bottom line is that when you sit down, months from now, to write an essay about why you want to attend that school, you’ll want to note the thing(s) that stood out … and share why that was important to you.

Also, wear comfortable shoes. :-)