Beyond the Tour: How to Get to Know Campus and Current Students

Whatever season you plan a visit, you won’t have to wonder why Richmond’s campus consistently ranks among the most beautiful in the country. The gothic architecture, serene lake, and green spaces add up to a picturesque setting. But visiting campus is about more than just sightseeing. You are trying to determine if it is going to be a good academic and personal fit—a place where you can have a transformational experience. So how can you glean that from an hour and a half tour? Chances are you can’t. Most colleges offer many ways to engage on-campus and virtually, both before and after your visit. Here are some tips to get to know a campus beyond the tour.

Know before you go.

Colleges now offer plenty of ways to engage virtually with admission counselors, current students, and alumni. Take advantage of some of these options ahead of time. When you arrive on campus, you’ll already have a sense of place and can come prepared with deeper, more specific questions.

Ask good questions.

While it’s true there are no bad questions, there are definitely better ways to ask them. If you can easily find it on our website—do that research ahead of time. The tour is short, and we want you to maximize your time with us. Instead of asking, “What’s the average class size?” ask the tour guide about their biggest or smallest class. Or instead of asking about student-to-faculty ratio, ask about their favorite professor or a time that a faculty member went above or beyond to help them. These types of questions help you get below the surface and get more meaningful answers.

Fill your shopping cart.

Many colleges will offer additional ways to experience campus life aside from just campus tours. You might be able to have lunch with a current student, sit in on a class, or attend an academic information session. When you decide which day you can visit, check for all these add-on experiences. They will give you the opportunity to dive deep into the day-in-the-life of a current student.

Park it.

Before or after your scheduled visit, leave some time to explore on your own. Find a bench or head to the dining hall, sit down, and do some quality people-watching. It’s one of the best ways to get a feel for who the students are and how they interact. Let’s face it, most colleges and universities offer many of the same things. Taking some time to process the intangible elements—the vibes if you will—can help you see what feels right.

Manage your inbox.

Before and after your tour, you will receive a lot of emails (and maybe even goodies in the mail). I know this can feel overwhelming but reading through what colleges send gives you insight into what they think makes their community distinct. If you are no longer interested, opt out. You won’t hurt our feelings (promise), and you’ll save yourself—and us—a little bit of time and sanity.

Be present.

The most important thing to remember: be present (and wear comfortable shoes). The college search can be a stressful but remember why you’re visiting these campuses in the first place. Enjoy this special time with family, take it all in, and have fun. We can’t wait to see you here at Richmond, ready to greet you with smiles, and of course, coffee!