Getting a college degree is a big investment, in both time and money. Before deciding where you’ll spend the next 4+ years of your life, you should visit your top choices. College tours are an invaluable way to explore campus, get your questions answered and see if the culture of the school aligns with your values. You wouldn’t buy a car that you’ve never seen in person or test drove, why would you do the same with a university?
Let’s lay out some of the reasons why you should visit your top schools.
Every student is different and wants a unique experience from college. Visiting a university will give you an idea if it fits the experience you’re after. If you’ve had your eye on a certain college, but you get to campus in August and realize it doesn’t have the vibes you were chasing, your freshman year could get off to a rough start.
It’s important to pay attention to where the residence halls are in relation to the buildings you want to spend the most time in. Taking a campus tour will allow you to lay out a plan. Let’s say you’re an active person who wants easy access to the rec, but doesn’t want to be too far from your classes in the science building. Campus maps are great, but being able to see the distance between your potential dorm and the rec and science building helps you get your bearings and mindset ready for the fall. You’ll also be able to see if the rec, science building or residence halls at that school live up to your expectations.
You can also look just off campus and see what resources are readily available. If you don’t want to bring a car to college, you can see how walkable the area around campus is and look for necessary amenities like grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies. For instance, College Station is home to H-E-B, a grocery store beloved by locals for its coffee, guacamole and campus delivery to Texas A&M University.
This is especially important when you’re planning to go out-of-state or to a school you haven’t seen in-person before. Few things could be more shocking than arriving on move-in day and realizing it wasn’t what you expected.
Campus tour guides tend to be the most knowledgeable people on campus. Not only are they students, so they can provide you with a first-hand perspective, they also know the ins and outs of the college from doing so many tours. Guides are some of the most involved students on campus and are passionate about sharing their love for the university with others — get a first-hand account of the school from them.
They can tell you what resources are available, the shortcuts to take if you’re running late, the best places to grab food after class, which professors to take for a certain course and dozens of other tips and tricks you can’t get from a website, advisor or parent.
While on a college tour, you’ll be able to ask these questions and more and get meaningful answers. Schedule a visit to the advising office or career center ahead of time and get more logistical questions answered, like what your post-grad possibilities are. You’ll be able to seek out the resources that are specific to you, such as a First-Generation Center, LGBTQ+ Pride Center or a veterans support center, all of which can be found at Texas A&M.
You’ll also find yourself getting answers to questions you didn’t know you had yet.
Every school has its own unique culture. Texas A&M has a loud and proud culture that focuses on its Core Values (Excellence, Leadership, Integrity, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service), traditions like the 12th Man and upholding its status as one of the best college towns in the United States.
In the same way, every student has their own values. When you visit a campus, you’re able to see how these two compare and contrast. You’ll be able to pick up on the vibes of campus and see if it’s a place you can picture yourself spending the next chapter of your life. If you’re looking for a school with a really active student life and an emphasis on athletics, visiting a university in the Southeastern Conference like Texas A&M will likely get you what you’re wanting.
College is all about finding where you belong, and campus tours help greatly!
Most colleges offer tours beyond a campus tour. For example, Texas A&M offers a tour for the Corps of Cadets and residence halls and academic sessions for each college, so you can see where your desired major fits in the grand scheme.
You should make sure the classrooms where you’ll be spending 12-15 hours a week live up to your standards and will make it easier for you to learn. The residence hall you’ll live in for your freshman year should be more than just acceptable — it should have what you need, like community, support, laundry services, a common area, etc. You’ll discover this and more by taking a visit to campus!
There are colleges sprinkled throughout the United States. Some are in small towns that barely make a blip off a state highway. Some are in massive cities like San Diego or Chicago. Some, like Texas A&M, fall somewhere in the middle — the Bryan-College Station area is home to more than 200,000 people, plus students, and has all the amenities of a large city like multiple shopping districts and high-class dining, but it still manages to retain its small-town feel and culture. Venues like Harry’s will host concerts for both local acts trying to make it big and international superstars.
The place your college is located is just as important as the college itself. Safety, amenities, city culture and activities are all vital to enjoying your college experience. Yes, you’ll be busy with class, homework and potentially a job, but you need to enjoy your college years, too, and finding a city you feel comfortable with is important for that.
When you’re looking at which colleges you’re going to tour, see if you can book a multi-night stay and get a really good feel of where you could be living. Explore the city, find an arts district, ask the locals where the best Italian place in town is, attend a community event. Maybe even schedule your visit around a sporting event. Touring Texas A&M and stopping by the Dixie Chicken on Friday and seeing the unexplainable phenomenon that is Kyle Field on a Saturday sounds like an amazing weekend.
The college itself is important, but don’t downplay the city it’s in. Explore Bryan and College Station and see lodging information before coming to visit Texas A&M.
Helpful tips for college visits:
Choosing a college is a really big decision, and there’s a lot that goes into it. The campus and city are just two parts, but they’re huge parts. Make sure you can make the most educated decision — visit campus!
Register to visit Texas A&M today and see why Aggieland is where you belong!
Let’s lay out some of the reasons why you should visit your top schools.
- Get an idea of campus and the surrounding area
Every student is different and wants a unique experience from college. Visiting a university will give you an idea if it fits the experience you’re after. If you’ve had your eye on a certain college, but you get to campus in August and realize it doesn’t have the vibes you were chasing, your freshman year could get off to a rough start.
It’s important to pay attention to where the residence halls are in relation to the buildings you want to spend the most time in. Taking a campus tour will allow you to lay out a plan. Let’s say you’re an active person who wants easy access to the rec, but doesn’t want to be too far from your classes in the science building. Campus maps are great, but being able to see the distance between your potential dorm and the rec and science building helps you get your bearings and mindset ready for the fall. You’ll also be able to see if the rec, science building or residence halls at that school live up to your expectations.
You can also look just off campus and see what resources are readily available. If you don’t want to bring a car to college, you can see how walkable the area around campus is and look for necessary amenities like grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies. For instance, College Station is home to H-E-B, a grocery store beloved by locals for its coffee, guacamole and campus delivery to Texas A&M University.
This is especially important when you’re planning to go out-of-state or to a school you haven’t seen in-person before. Few things could be more shocking than arriving on move-in day and realizing it wasn’t what you expected.
- Ask questions, get answers
Campus tour guides tend to be the most knowledgeable people on campus. Not only are they students, so they can provide you with a first-hand perspective, they also know the ins and outs of the college from doing so many tours. Guides are some of the most involved students on campus and are passionate about sharing their love for the university with others — get a first-hand account of the school from them.
They can tell you what resources are available, the shortcuts to take if you’re running late, the best places to grab food after class, which professors to take for a certain course and dozens of other tips and tricks you can’t get from a website, advisor or parent.
While on a college tour, you’ll be able to ask these questions and more and get meaningful answers. Schedule a visit to the advising office or career center ahead of time and get more logistical questions answered, like what your post-grad possibilities are. You’ll be able to seek out the resources that are specific to you, such as a First-Generation Center, LGBTQ+ Pride Center or a veterans support center, all of which can be found at Texas A&M.
You’ll also find yourself getting answers to questions you didn’t know you had yet.
- Get a glimpse at the campus culture
Every school has its own unique culture. Texas A&M has a loud and proud culture that focuses on its Core Values (Excellence, Leadership, Integrity, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service), traditions like the 12th Man and upholding its status as one of the best college towns in the United States.
In the same way, every student has their own values. When you visit a campus, you’re able to see how these two compare and contrast. You’ll be able to pick up on the vibes of campus and see if it’s a place you can picture yourself spending the next chapter of your life. If you’re looking for a school with a really active student life and an emphasis on athletics, visiting a university in the Southeastern Conference like Texas A&M will likely get you what you’re wanting.
College is all about finding where you belong, and campus tours help greatly!
- Take a look at important places like classrooms and residence halls
Most colleges offer tours beyond a campus tour. For example, Texas A&M offers a tour for the Corps of Cadets and residence halls and academic sessions for each college, so you can see where your desired major fits in the grand scheme.
You should make sure the classrooms where you’ll be spending 12-15 hours a week live up to your standards and will make it easier for you to learn. The residence hall you’ll live in for your freshman year should be more than just acceptable — it should have what you need, like community, support, laundry services, a common area, etc. You’ll discover this and more by taking a visit to campus!
- You can make it a multi-day trip and explore the city
There are colleges sprinkled throughout the United States. Some are in small towns that barely make a blip off a state highway. Some are in massive cities like San Diego or Chicago. Some, like Texas A&M, fall somewhere in the middle — the Bryan-College Station area is home to more than 200,000 people, plus students, and has all the amenities of a large city like multiple shopping districts and high-class dining, but it still manages to retain its small-town feel and culture. Venues like Harry’s will host concerts for both local acts trying to make it big and international superstars.
The place your college is located is just as important as the college itself. Safety, amenities, city culture and activities are all vital to enjoying your college experience. Yes, you’ll be busy with class, homework and potentially a job, but you need to enjoy your college years, too, and finding a city you feel comfortable with is important for that.
When you’re looking at which colleges you’re going to tour, see if you can book a multi-night stay and get a really good feel of where you could be living. Explore the city, find an arts district, ask the locals where the best Italian place in town is, attend a community event. Maybe even schedule your visit around a sporting event. Touring Texas A&M and stopping by the Dixie Chicken on Friday and seeing the unexplainable phenomenon that is Kyle Field on a Saturday sounds like an amazing weekend.
The college itself is important, but don’t downplay the city it’s in. Explore Bryan and College Station and see lodging information before coming to visit Texas A&M.
Helpful tips for college visits:
- Review the college website and campus map to know where to go and park
- Write your questions down beforehand and ask them all
- Check the weather
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Bring sunscreen or an umbrella
- Take notes, photos and videos
- Bring a parent or guardian
Choosing a college is a really big decision, and there’s a lot that goes into it. The campus and city are just two parts, but they’re huge parts. Make sure you can make the most educated decision — visit campus!
Register to visit Texas A&M today and see why Aggieland is where you belong!