Twenty Questions (And Then Some) With Your Dream School List
So, how is that school list coming? If you’re applying this summer, you need to be filling—and then narrowing—your list of potential schools so you know what essays you need to start writing in late June or early July.
For those of you heading out on school visits next week, I hope you have a list of questions prepared. If you don’t learn more about the school than how pretty it is, you might as well not have visited at all.
If you don’t have a list of questions yet … don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Dream School Questionnaire
1) If you know what you want to study …
- What is the quality and reputation of the program you want to be in? Of other related programs?
- What is the availability of research opportunities for undergraduates?
- What kind of mentoring is available, both peer and professor?
2) If you don’t know what you want to study …
- What is the breadth of coursework and programs available?
- What is the likelihood of getting into courses if you aren’t in a particular program (to try it out)?
- How easy is it to transfer within the university (from one undergraduate college to another)?
3) What kind of resources does the school have?
- How many libraries are there, and how easily accessible? (Are they in the heart of campus or widespread? Are they open late?)
- What about the gym or gyms? How big is the student center and what does it offer?
4) What kind of off-campus opportunities are there?
- Is the campus isolated, integrated in a suburb, an island in a busy city?
- Are there internships, grocery stores, movie theaters, political volunteering opportunities?
5) What kind of academic help is available?
- Peer tutoring, library writing centers?
- Dedicated department for students with IEPs or other specialized learning needs?
6) How easy is it to get around campus?
- Is it easily walkable or better to have a car?
- How many students have cars?
- What is parking like? Are there parking lotteries for on campus?
- Is there public transportation within and beyond campus?
- How easy is it to get to campus (plane, train, driving)?
7) How much student housing is available?
- Will you have a good selection of dorms as a freshman?
- Is on-campus living required or recommended?
- What amenities and social offerings do dorms have?
- Are there off-campus areas where students live?
- If you live off-campus will you still feel part of the school (whether that’s as a commuter or nearby off-campus housing)?
- Are there a lot of commuter students?
8) What is there to eat around here?
- Are meal plans required if you live in a dorm?
- Do they have nut-free/gluten-free/vegetarian/vegan/Kosher options?
- What does the student union have for food?
- What restaurants are there, and how late are they open?
- Is there a grocery store near enough to campus?
- Is there a great ice cream store near campus? (At least, that’s what I checked. For you it might be a Krispy Kreme, Olive Garden, or Panera.)
9) What is the social scene like?
- What kind of freshmen orientation activities are there, including optional extra activities?
- How many student organizations are there?
- How many students take part in clubs or intramural sports?
- Is there a club or team for your favorite sport or activity?
- What activities are particularly popular at this school?
- Is Greek life popular (that’s fraternities and sororities)? How many students are involved?
- What opportunities are there for me to … [what activities will you want to take part in]? How easy are they to become involved in? (Is it highly competitive? Are there auditions/try-outs/applications? Or is it something they’re always looking for someone new to join?)
10) What do you like about your school?
If you take a tour or meet any students, this is the question you need answered. First of all, you want to know if what they like about the school is what you’re going to like about the school! But also, if this is one of the numerous schools that will ask on your application, “Why do you want to go here?” You need an answer! And an answer that includes something like, “When my tour guide told me X, I knew this was the school for me,” is a great thing to be able to say.
Take copious notes! And go over your notes right after the tour, or you’re going to forget what you meant by “2:10” (is that the time the next tour started, the student-teacher ratio, or the student-dorm cafeteria ratio?). If you have a tablet, you can take notes directly into your Trello cards at each school so you don’t misplace them. If you prefer paper and pen, think about scanning your notes and attaching them to the Trello cards later so you don’t lose them. A dedicated binder also works! Hole-punch those notes and keep them in order. Whatever system works for you is the right one. Just remember to work your system!
(Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash)
