Questions for Students to Ask
Better than the usual generic ones. Organized by when each question actually happens during your visit.
How to use: Pick 2–3 questions from each section before your visit. Don't read from your phone on the tour — internalize them so they feel natural.
During the official tour (ask your tour guide)
What types of students tend to thrive here — and which types tend to struggle?
The most revealing question you can ask. A thoughtful answer tells you whether you fit the mold.
What do first-year students usually get wrong about this school?
Forces honesty about adjustments and what the school glosses over in recruitment.
Do students here feel more collaborative or more competitive?
How do students here usually build relationships with professors?
At the info session (ask the admissions rep)
How easy is it to explore different majors or change direction before you have to commit?
What does academic support actually look like in practice when a student is struggling?
How early do students start getting meaningful guidance on internships and careers?
On your own (approach random students)
These require going off-script. Approach any student — in the dining hall, walking between classes, studying in a common area. Their unguarded answers are more honest than anything on the official tour.
Would you choose this school again? Why or why not?
Don't accept a yes or no. The "why" is everything.
What's something students complain about that families visiting should actually know?
Watch how they respond. Honest students engage with the question. Evasive ones spin.
What does a student need to do here to actually stand out — for internships, research, or leadership?
What do weekends actually feel like on this campus?
Tells you more about social life than any official answer ever will.
What kind of student would probably not be happy here?
A thoughtful answer is a gift.
That night — ask yourself
The most important questions of the day. Answer them in writing before you talk with anyone — your gut reaction is fragile and easy to talk yourself out of.
Could I picture myself thriving here on an ordinary Tuesday — not just visit day?
Did the students feel like my kind of people? Could I be myself here?
Did I feel more energized or more drained walking around campus?
What surprised me — positively or negatively — that I should remember?