Making the Most of Your Campus Visit

Whether Scripps College is the first campus you visit or the twentieth, we want you to enjoy yourself and make the most of the experience. If you are a first-timer, you might be nervous for your interview or you might wonder how to meet students to get real answers to your pressing questions. If you’ve already done grand tours of east coast and Midwest campuses, you might be burned out on college tours and glossy brochures. Either way, let me offer you some free advice on how to approach the college visit.

Be yourself. The “be yourself” advice might sound clichéd, but, really, who else are you going to be? If you’re a T-shirt and jeans kind of person, squeezing yourself into a suit and heels will be physically and mentally uncomfortable, and that will show. What you wear shouldn’t be overly distracting, but it’s important that you feel like yourself. And wear comfortable shoes! Campus tours do involve walking.

Ask questions. Whether it’s your interviewer, the official tour guide, or a random professor or student in the dining hall, these are your sources of information. Asking questions shows that you are interested, and most people love to play expert. Spend a little time before your visit (or, in the car on the way to campus), imagining what you’d like to know about being a student at Scripps. What is important to you academically (small classes? strong course offerings in a particular department?) and socially (clubs or sports? off-campus life?)? It’s perfectly appropriate to write your questions down and refer to them. Also, don’t hesitate to approach a student on campus with a question. They are usually more than happy to chat with you. And if your parents embarrass you by asking a dumb question, you might actually thank them later (or not).

Take notes or photos. Although Scripps is completely unique, college tours do have a way of blending together. Take a few photos on campus that will remind you of special places. Jot down a few notes during or immediately after your visit so that you will remember your impressions.

We love having prospective students on campus because we think it’s the best way to evaluate if this is the place where you want to live and learn for the next four years. Welcome to campus!

Tina, Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator