Campus Visit Questions You Should Actually Ask (And the Ones to Skip)

Questions Worth Asking (That Most Students Don't)

To Current Students:

• "What's one thing about this school that surprised you — positive or negative — after you enrolled?"
• "If you could change one thing about this campus, what would it be?"
• "What do you actually do on a typical Thursday night?"
• "How hard is it to get into classes you want, especially in your major?"

To Admissions Officers:

• "What's the student body like — politically, socially, in terms of who thrives here?"
• "How many students transfer out after freshman year, and why?"
• "What does academic support look like when a student is struggling?"

To Financial Aid:

• "Is this aid package renewable? What GPA or enrollment requirements apply?"
• "How does aid change if my family's financial situation changes?"

Questions to Skip

• "What's the acceptance rate?" — You already know this.
• "What majors do you offer?" — The website answers this.
• "What sets your school apart?" — You'll get a rehearsed marketing answer.

How to Get Real Answers

Talk to students informally — at the dining hall, the student union, or anywhere they're not being observed by admissions staff. The best intelligence comes from unscripted conversations, not panel sessions.