With so much knowledge available at the tips of our fingers, it would be easy to choose a college based on information from the Internet, and maybe a phone call or two with a current student or admin member. For many people, it’s a lot less time-consuming than attending an open house or scheduling a tour.

When I was going through my own college search, I found that physically visiting campuses made a huge impact on my final decision, even after months of thorough online research. I’ve written before about major elements that I took into account while visiting campuses and that later helped Nazareth become my home-away-from home. I highly recommend visiting any college to check out the dorm rooms, take note of the on-campus amenities, and learn about the location surrounding the school.

However, visiting campuses is also a chance to get a sneak peek at the smaller details that can make a big difference after you’ve enrolled. So if you do decide to stop by Naz, here are some important details that you don’t want to overlook!

 

Campus beauty:
When I was researching colleges I was interested in applying to, I always looked up pictures of the campuses. Even though a solid education was my top priority, I wanted to go to a school with aesthetically pleasing architecture. This was specially because I knew I would most likely be living on campus all four years, which I did end up doing. I wanted to make sure I’d have the option to take scenic walks during study breaks or whenever I wanted a breath of fresh air. When I visited Naz for the first time, I was not disappointed by the buildings or the grounds.

The big glass windows of Peckham, the pink flowers surrounding the echo circle, the Hogwarts ‘look’ of the brick arches by Smyth, the large grassy areas lined with trees, the beautiful wooden doors of GAC… I easily fell in love with the purple fountain and peace garden when it was built a couple years ago, and even as the years go on, the vibrancy of all four seasons still amazes me. Summer, spring, and fall can look pretty anywhere, but there is a reason I always look forward to the Rochester winter; snow always transforms campus into a scene from a Christmas card. I could probably go on and on about how much I love the beauty of our campus!

 

Campus size:
Campus size is something that you can learn about online, but if you’re anything like me, measurements in acres don’t really mean much. I had to physically walk around a college to truly get a sense of how big or small a campus is. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit a multitude of different sized colleges in different areas, but one thing I really liked about Naz is that it only takes about five minutes to get from any end of campus to another. There aren’t any busy roads to cross or any need to hop on a bus. I knew that if I accidentally slept in late or used every last second to study for an exam, I would be able to make it to class at a moment’s notice. I also discovered that I prefer a smaller campus because it felt less overwhelming when I was walking around. Even if it did take me a couple tries to navigate the tunnels and figure out shortcuts between buildings, I was never too worried about getting lost.

 

General attitude of students, staff, and faculty:
A college’s mission statement is a good place to look to learn about the values promoted at the school, but if you visit campus, you can get a true idea about how those values are implemented. While you’re walking around and learning about the college, I urge you to pay attention to the general attitude of the people you see around campus, whether that be the students, faculty, staff members, etc and try to strike up a conversation with them to ask them about their experiences at the school.

One of the things that really made my initial visit at Naz worthwhile was being able to ask current students questions about their routines, classes, major programs, extracurricular activities, etc. Not only was I able to receive immediate and honest answers from student perspectives, but I was able to get a better glimpse of the school culture and community. Everyone I met during my Naz campus visit was very kind and willing to answer my questions. That openness definitely helped soothe my concerns about having a difficult time making friends and finding a place in the community, and ultimately had a strong impact on my confidence in choosing to enroll at Naz.

 

The college search can be extremely overwhelming and stressful at times, but I honestly believe that campus visits made my final decision much easier. I was able to figure out what I liked about certain schools, and ruled out the colleges that just didn’t feel like a good fit for me. I hope that this helps you through your own college search and that you decide to eventually stop by Naz. Even if it isn’t a formal tour or open house event and you’d prefer to just wander around the grounds by yourself, a campus visit can be very insightful and help assure you that you’re making the best decision for you. Hope to see you soon!