College Tour Tips from St. Agnes Academy Seniors

Natalie Farrell at the University of Alabama. Roll tide!

Summer has ended and classes have started so you know what that means seniors . . . college application time! Over summer break, St. Agnes seniors traveled all over the country to visit colleges and get a better idea of what schools that they want to apply to this year. Whether you are a sophomore just starting to look at college or a senior, here are some tips to have the best college tour experience.  

Be open minded.
I have been on tours before where people have looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. Having a negative attitude really ruins your tour experience. You should stay open minded because you don’t know if you could end up going to school there and loving it. Rachel Powell said, “You might go in thinking you know exactly where you want to go to school, and come out thinking something totally different!”

Olivia Tobin on the football field at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Always dress accordingly. 
Most college tours have lots of walking so make sure to wear comfortable shoes, preferably tennis shoes. “It’s important to be comfortable but also look presentable,” said Olivia Tobin. Bring sunglasses because you are usually outside a lot during a campus tour. It is frustrating when the sun is shining in your face and you are trying to listen to the tour guide. If there is any chance of rain, make sure to bring rain boots and an umbrella. When I toured Louisiana State University, it was pouring rain during the beginning of our walking tour. Luckily they gave us umbrellas. However, my shoes got sopping wet and it was not fun having wet shoes for the rest of the day.

Rachel Powell at Michigan State University.

Get in touch with the college’s regional recruiter.
A lot of people don’t know this but most schools have a Houston regional recruiter. Get in touch with them and they can help you see certain things you are interested in, such as the engineering college or the honors college. At the University of Alabama, I was able to meet with the business school dean, which gave me an inside look of what my classes I would have to take to get a business degree. 

Ask questions.
This is your time to ask questions. Don’t feel awkward or embarrassed; the tour guides are there to help you get a better understanding of the school. If you have lots of questions, write them down or type them in your phone. I have gone on college tours and have completely forgotten what questions I wanted to ask. Also ask yourself some questions: “Do I see myself going here?” “Does this school have everything I am looking for?”

If you can’t find time to go on a college tour, then check out whether the college has virtual tours on their website. Many schools have them and they even have virtual dorm tours as well.