Be Our Guest!

I remember going on campus tours my senior year of high school.  I loved getting a little bit of the college experience.  Going on these tours helped made the decision of which college to go to a little bit easier.  I am currently in the process of visiting law schools, and it is just as beneficial as it was in high school.  I decided, because of this, to give the benefits of visiting campuses.

1.  Exploring the Campus and Surrounding Area.  One of the major benefits to visiting a campus is to see the campus in person.  While this seems kind of obvious, it is a major point.  By going to see a campus for yourself, you can see how it is laid out and also the city or town surrounding it.  One law school and its connecting undergraduate school I have toured has its own little area in the city, while another one is spread out all throughout the downtown area.  I personally like the layout of the school having its own area, but of course, this is personal preference.  By touring the campus, you can see which layout you would prefer.

2.  Free (Or Discounted) Stuff.  While free stuff isn’t everything, it is beneficial.  One of the law schools I have toured gave me an application fee waiver (which is awesome, considering applications are $40+) which is good for up to three years.  Another school gave me a coupon to use in the bookstore (which was also awesome, because I collect ball caps from every school I tour).  Each school will be different, and will have more to offer.  Of course, free stuff should not be the only reason you go to tour a school.

3.  The Atmosphere.  This is by far the most important benefit of visiting schools.  I have always been able to tell if something is right because I have a special feeling about it.  While this may not seem smart in some respects, I believe that in a situation like this, you should think with your heart and your head.  I have felt this feeling with one of the law schools I have toured.  As soon as I stepped on the campus, it didn’t feel like just another campus but, rather, it felt like home to me.  I have just recently toured a campus that I was pretty excited about; however, that excitement was lost when I got to the campus.  It was missing that feeling.  While I am still going to apply, it probably will not be the law school for me.

Picking your future graduate school is hard, but at the end of the day, pick the campus that is right for you.  Think about if you can afford it, and if you will be happy there.  I hope these tips will help you in your journey of finding your dream campus.