Top 10 Questions to Ask on a College Tour

Visiting a college campus is one of the most valuable steps you can take in the college search process. It’s your chance to move beyond brochures and websites to get a real feel for the community, culture, and day-to-day life. But walking around campus and snapping photos won’t tell you everything—you need to ask the right questions.

Here are the Top 10 Questions to Ask on a College Tour to help you get honest, helpful answers—and determine if the school is truly the right fit for you.

1. What do students do on weekends?

This tells you a lot about student life. Is it a commuter campus? Do students stay on campus or go home? Are there events, sports, clubs, or local hangouts that keep students engaged?

2. What support is available for students academically and personally?

Ask about tutoring centers, mental health services, academic advising, and mentoring programs. Strong support systems can make all the difference, especially during the transition to college life.

3. How easy is it to get into the classes you need—especially as a first-year student?

This question gives insight into class availability, registration challenges, and how student-friendly the academic structure really is.

4. What internship, research, or hands-on learning opportunities are available?

Colleges love to talk about outcomes, but ask specifically how students are gaining real-world experience—starting as early as freshman year.

5. What are the most popular majors and why?

This gives you a sense of the academic strengths of the college and what fields are most supported or emphasized on campus.

6. How would you describe the campus culture?

Listen carefully to the answer. Is it competitive or collaborative? Socially active or laid-back? Is the community diverse and inclusive? Ask your tour guide to share personal experiences, too.

7. What are the housing options, and what is the freshman living experience like?

Ask about dorm life, meal plans, roommate selection, and whether housing is guaranteed after freshman year. Housing quality and community make a big impact on your first-year experience.

8. What makes this college different from other schools you considered?

Tour guides are often current students. Asking this question gets them to reflect on their personal decision and what they’ve come to appreciate most about their choice.

9. What do students wish they knew before coming here?

This often leads to honest, thoughtful answers that go beyond the talking points. You’ll hear about challenges, surprises, and what current students think incoming freshmen should know.

10. How involved are professors outside of class?

You’ll get insight into class sizes, faculty accessibility, office hours, and how invested professors are in mentoring students.

Pro Tip:

Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions or talk to students who aren’t on the official tour. Grab lunch in the dining hall, peek into academic buildings, and observe bulletin boards and common spaces—you’ll learn a lot from the little things.

🎯 Want a College Visit Tracker?

Download our free Top Ten Questions Template to keep notes, impressions, and answers to all these questions in one place.

👉 [Download Here] and make every visit count!