As a transfer student, it is important to know a school before you decide to go through the admission process—again. Even though you’ve visited campuses before, you’ll still want to visit the new colleges or universities on your list. What you see is not always what you get, and a campus visit is a chance to get below the surface of the pretty green lawns and impressive academic buildings.
To start, make sure you visit while school is in session! Although visiting on holiday breaks or during the summer may seem easier, you will not get the full experience on an empty campus. When you are able to visit, begin by calling the admission office to verify times for guided tours and find out if interviews are available with admission represen-tatives. Make arrangements to sit in on classes or shadow a student for a day.
Take advantage and ask questions outside of a formal setting. You can receive more honest answers when officials are not listening. Attend transfer visit days or weekends with other prospective students on campus. Prepare questions you
want to ask different officials. If you go into any visit without a set of questions, you will not come out with any answers. Ask multiple people the same question: a dean, a tour guide, and a professor will give you different answers! Even if your question seems trivial, ask—it may be the little things that help you make the decision about where to attend college.
There are six major areas you should have questions about: aca-demics, athletics, activities, dorms and facilities, surroundings, and specialties.
Academics
First, look into articulation agreements that your current school has with four-year colleges and universities. Do any of the schools on your list collaborate with your current college? Ask specific questions about these programs and how they might work for you.
Find out what the rules are for studying different disciplines. Can you double-major across colleges? Can you take art classes if you are not a major? How late can you change your major or add a mi-nor? Are minors required?
Before you visit, ask if someone will be able to take a look at your transcript and answer credit transfer questions. Remember, these evaluations are almost always unofficial and won’t be set in stone until you are accepted to the college, though they can be very helpful when deter-mining where you want to apply and eventually enroll.
Also, keep in mind that many schools encourage, or even require, internships for course credit. Others offer cooperative education. Internships and co-ops are great ways to get real-world experience before you graduate: does the school have opportunities in these areas? Will they accept credit for ones already completed?
Athletics
Hoping to continue your varsity days or try your hand at something new? If you are a serious athlete, contact the appropriate recruiter for your sport before you check out any school, as recruitment and scholarship rules vary, especially if you’ve played a varsity sport at your current school. For specific information about regulations regarding collegiate sports, check out www.ncaa.org. If you’re just looking to play for fun or want to learn a new sport, check out the school’s intramural and club sports. You may also want to take a tour of the wellness or recreation facilities, if it is important to you.
Activities
Student government, a capella, Model United Nations, cultural groups: campuses are home to dozens of student organizations. If you are involved in something specific at your current school, ask if the club exists on this new campus. If it does not, ask how difficult it is to start a club! Find out how big sororities and fraternities are on the campus, as they can be very influential at many schools or nonexistent at others.
Dorms and facilities
Ask about transfer student housing. Some schools require that transfer students live in dorms during their first year, while others don’t even offer on-campus housing, and some schools have dorms or floors specifically set aside for transfer students only. Think about which situation works best for you and inquire whether this option is available. You should also ask how easy it is to find a roommate, housing off campus, etc. What services does the school provide to help you with the transition?
Or are you craving a great gym? Want prac-tice space to jam with the band you’re hoping to start? Desperate for a pottery wheel? Make sure you check out all of the available facilities for your favorite activities.
Surroundings
It’s important to know the setting of the college. Is it urban or rural? How can you get around the city or town? Check into programs like ZipCar and transportation options like subways, airports, walking paths, etc. If you have a car, ask if parking is available to transfer students, or even at all! How close are grocery stores, movie theaters, museums, and parks?
It’s also important to check out the safety of the surrounding area. Is there a lot of crime on campus or in the bordering area? What does the school do to keep its students safe?
Specialties
Find out what makes each school different. A unique major, the championship basketball team, a stellar cooperative education program, horseback riding on campus, or proximity to a major city: it’s the defining characteristics, no matter how small, that will draw you to a specific campus.
Finally, don’t forget to take notes. If you are visiting more than one school in the same trip or even on the same day, you’ll have a tough time remembering everything you learned. Write down answers, pick up lots of informational handouts, and get contact information for anyone who has been particularly helpful on your visit. If you had a visit with an official or admission representative, send a thank you e-mail or letter no more than a few days after your meeting.