Before applying to college, be sure to tour campus

He goes to school in Tokyo but is spending the summer with his family in Olympia. On a recent afternoon, they made the trip to Seattle to visit the University of Washington campus.


		Gilbert W. Arias / P-I
	University of Washington senior and tour guide Sam Flanigan takes high school students and their parents on a tour of the Suzzallo Library.

A UW senior gave him, sister Nina and Mom and Dad -- plus about 30 others -- a tour around campus: the library, student center and quad. Throughout the 90-minute tour, the guide told the visitors about the university's history, its majors and sports teams.

The tour was Sean's first required college course.

"You have to come," said Sean's dad, John; otherwise, you can't "get a feel for the school."

The summer months are typically the busiest for campus tours. The UW alone usually gives about 40 percent of its 11,000 annual campus tours during July and August, said Paul Francis, senior admissions counselor.

Families often visit colleges while on vacation. On O'Leary's tour, most of the people were from outside of Seattle -- some from as far away as Colorado, Georgia and Hawaii.

Whether visiting a school nearby or across the country, students and parents should explore certain parts of campus and ask key questions to make the most of their trip, college admissions officials recommend.

Among their tips:

There are two places on every campus that families should be sure to visit, said Michael McKeon, dean of admissions at Seattle University -- the student union and library. Check out how students use them.
When walking around campus, read the bulletin boards, McKeon suggests. That should give a sense of the clubs and events on campus. If you visit during the academic year and there's nothing on the bulletin boards, that might be a sign that the student body is not very active, he warned.
Find out who attends the college, recommends Mike Marston, an assistant admissions director at Seattle Pacific University. Want a college that's academically challenging? Make sure the college admits bright students -- and that those students actually enroll.
Talk with the faculty to learn about the instructors you might have, Marston said.
Make sure the college or university notes that you've taken the time to visit, McKeon said. If possible, sign up for an interview with admissions staff. Show you're interested. That could make a difference when the college is trying to decide who receives scholarship money.

Note that some campuses prefer reservations for campus tours, so check if they are required.

Though summer is often the best time for families to visit colleges, it's not necessarily the best time to be on campus, McKeon noted.

With fewer courses offered during the summer session, fewer students are on campus. Colleges also often undergo construction and maintenance during the summer, so the campus may not look its best.


		Gilbert W. Arias / P-I
	In addition to giving tours of the UW campus, tour guide Sam Flanigan also must answer questions about campus life.

Other times of the year to consider a campus visit: November, when students are deciding where to apply, and March and April, once students have been admitted and must decide where to attend.

Many universities bring high school students on campus during the academic year to sit in on a college course or spend the night in a dorm room.

Can't make a scheduled tour? College Web sites often offer virtual tours online. Some, such as the UW, have even begun offering podcast tours that students can download to a portable listening device. (Find it at admit.washington.edu/Visit/Tourcast.)

UW tour guide Sam Flanigan has given tours for about 14 months, a job for which he receives training and pay. The senior dressed in a purple Huskies T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops during a recent tour.

Not only must Flanigan show families around campus, but he also must answer their questions -- about dorm rooms, the rec center, whatever.

"I don't think anybody would do it if they don't believe in it," he said.

At the end of the campus visit, Sean and his family said they were glad they had made the trip. They learned and saw more than they would have by just researching the campus on the Internet. And now they can compare the UW with the other colleges they visits.

"Now I know what it really would be like," Sean said.

CAMPUS TOURS

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

Campus tours run 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Get a more in-depth look during Summer Visit Days, which include a campus tour, financial aid workshop, lunch and time to speak to students and faculty. Remaining Summer Visit Days are Aug. 11 and Aug. 18. For more information or to sign up: www.spu.edu/depts/ugadm/visits-events.html.

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

Campus tours run at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 206-296-2000 to schedule a visit. For more information: www.seattleu.edu/home/campus_community/visit_campus.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Student-led tours start at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. For more information: admit.washington.edu/Visit/WalkingTour . Prospective freshman also can meet with admissions staff at information sessions at 1:30 p.m. Fridays.

P-I reporter Christine Frey can be reached at 206-448-8176 or christinefrey@seattlepi.com.

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