Welcome, prospective students!
Make the most of your summer campus visits

With all the homework, sports, and other activities that fill students’ calendars during the school year, summer is perhaps the easiest time to visit college campuses. Students criss-cross the country in a blur of campus tours in July and August to narrow their choices before they begin a whirlwind senior year.
While summer might be the most convenient time to visit, there are limitations: schools are not in full session; residence halls may be empty, so students and classes are left to the imagination; no student newspapers are available, and bulletin boards are blank. But despite these challenges, there is still a lot you can learn from a summer campus visit.  Key tips to consider include:

• Look for Construction. Summer is the best time to spruce up and improve the campus because most students and faculty are away. Be sure to take a student-led campus tour; keep your eyes open for construction and other changes. These are indicators that the institution is in good fiscal health. A tour also will let you see the overall condition and hear about future plans. At John Carroll, we are working on a nearly $3 million renovation to our campus dining facility, changes to our student center meeting spaces, and improvements to various residence halls. Other things to observe on your tour:
  • What is the overall condition of the campus?
  • Is there an attractive and functional student center?
  • Are computer terminals available at various campus locations?
  • Is the campus wireless, so you can work online outside?
  • Are the dorms well-maintained?
  • Do the dorms have security systems?
  • Check out the physical education facilities.
  • Are the playing fields part of the campus or a distance away? Where are the dorms in relation to the main academic buildings?
  • Is the grass cut, and are the grounds landscaped?
    
    
• Look beyond the campus. College visits should be fun. We encourage you to find a time to visit campus that will let you see what happens near and around campus. A campus community and location are going to enrich your college experience beyond living and learning. During a summer visit, you should be able to catch a glimpse of life near campus. Consider the following:
• Overall, are there activities near campus that you enjoy? 
• Can you easily get to places off campus? Are there places within walking distance? 
• Does the campus have a shuttle bus that offers easy access to other places of interest?
• Is the neighborhood safe and are there off-campus housing options? You might wish to move off campus in your junior or senior year, so how far would you live? Tip: Check local newspapers for cost of living off campus.
  
  
• Leave time to wander. Cramming three campus visits into a day -- however tempting -- is not advisable. You need to allow yourself time to get lost and to explore as much as you can after a formal tour and visit. Your informal walk of campus will allow you to talk to others on campus and gauge the friendliness and “fit” of the campus. In order to wander successfully, there are a few things to consider:
• Take pictures with your cell phone or camera.
• Be sure to have a map of the college and parking information before you arrive.
• Wear walking shoes.
• Eat a meal on campus.
• Check out the classrooms. How big are they? Are there technology and adequate lab facilities for your intended major?
• Is the campus well-lit and secure?
  
  
• Always get a second opinion. In general, admission offices will hire some of the best students on campus as summer tour guides. These students tend to be great representatives of their schools, but you can’t judge an entire campus by one student.
• Try to return during the academic year and sit in on classes to see and meet a cross-section of students.
• Do you know anyone who attends the school? Try to connect with them and share your opinions about your campus visit. See if they agree or have different experiences to share.

Summer visits will help you accomplish a great deal in your college search. You can certainly get a feel for a school and its procedures, overall. If you like what you see, come back when school’s in session to meet with students, faculty and admission staff. Sit in on a class. It is always important to visit a campus as much as you can in your college search. John Carroll is a community of nearly 4,000 students, faculty and staff. Wherever you choose to apply, take time to get to know your future home away from home to make sure your investment in, and selection of, a college will be the right one.

Things to do in and around Cleveland while visiting John Carroll this summer: www.jcu.edu/admission/visit/attractions.htm