The focus and purpose of a family’s campus visit have changed dramatically over the past decade.
With internet based research, the campus tour has become less about seeing the physical plant and more about learning the school’s culture and ethos.
Families now arrive on campus having a reasonable understanding of the physical plant making the tour more about people, practices and philosophy.
Establishing a ‘fit’ between school and student is now the primary focus of the campus visit and tour. Sure it’ll be nice to see the facilities. But, the tour offers the chance to get to the real heart of the matter.
You will be taken on a campus tour led by a student tour guide. Usually, the tour is conducted on a one tour guide to one family ratio. Sometimes, one tour guide might lead two families at once. The tour is your chance to ask questions about academics, student life, relationships, perspectives, and activities.
Here’s our recommended list of starting topics. You should think about some that pertain directly to your interests and candidacy at the school. You don’t have to use our suggestions as punch list to check-off as you visit a campus. Some will arise naturally in conversation; some will merge into a single questions. You get the idea; these are topics to cover so that you get a good feeling about a school and its students on your campus visit.
From the general to the specific:
- Is everyone- faculty and students- engaged?
- Ask about school culture. What’s important? Does everyone- again, faculty and students- work together and toward common goals?
- How do students feel and think about their school?
- Observe how the faculty and students interact and go about their work. Is it a healthy respectful interaction?
- How are the academics, extracurriculars, and athletics?
- What’s a regular day like?
- How are classes?
- Ask to see people and facilities important you.
- Speak with faculty and students beyond your tour guide.
- Be suspect of the spotless.
- What’s living in the dorm like?
- How’s the food?
- What happens during the weekend?
- What do students love about their school?
- What would they like to see improved?
Student tour guides can be great references. They love their schools. That’s why they’re working with prospective families. Ask your questions.
My thanks to Craig Trednick of The Linsly School as this post is a combination of our writings over the years and some fresh thinking about the boarding school campus visit that he shared during our video interview with him
