Beyond the Tour: How To Make The Most Out Of Your Campus Visit

Advice from a former Director of Admissions on what to look for, what to ask, and how to recognize the right fit for your child.

By: Roger Zamora

Fall is one of my favorite times of year to be back on school campuses. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been visiting independent schools throughout Los Angeles, reconnecting with Admissions Offices, and getting to know school communities from the perspective of a consultant working alongside families.

Having spent the last 12 years on the school side of the admissions process, it has been a reminder of just how valuable a campus visit can be, and how applicant families can miss the opportunity to make the most of it.

Schools put tremendous thought into welcoming prospective families, introducing them to their programs, and creating opportunities to experience their communities firsthand. And the worst is seeing families unintentionally misuse that time, or become so focused on making a good impression that they forget to place their child and “fit” at the center of this step in the process.

Here are a few things I encourage parents to keep in mind as they navigate campus tours and Open Houses this fall.

Do some research before you arrive.

A campus visit is your opportunity to experience a school, not simply collect information that is readily available online. Before you arrive, take time to review the curriculum, educational philosophy, signature programs, school statistics, and admissions process. 

When families arrive prepared, they can spend less time asking questions about facts and more time having meaningful conversations about the student experience. Your time on campus is valuable. Use it to learn what you cannot discover from the website.

Have a sense of what your family is looking for.

Before visiting multiple schools, take a step back and consider what matters most to your family. What does your child need to thrive academically? What kind of environment will help them feel happy, socially connected, and appropriately challenged? Are you looking for greater opportunities in the arts or athletics? A vibrant parent community?

Having a few clear priorities will help you look beyond the most obvious features of a campus. Every school has something to offer. The challenge is identifying which opportunities, teaching approaches, and community characteristics align with your child's individual needs.

Show up early and be fully engaged.

Give yourself enough time to park, check in, and settle in before the event begins. Arriving late can mean missing important information, the opportunity to engage with the Admission Team or feeling rushed throughout the visit.

Be fully present, and cognizant that you are making an impression from the moment you arrive. Once you're on campus, put away the distractions and take it all in. 

Pay attention to the energy in classrooms, how teachers engage with students, and the interactions in less structured spaces like the hallways and quad. Some of the most revealing moments of a campus visit aren’t necessarily part of the formal presentation.

Ask questions that invite conversation.

Thoughtful questions open the door to a much deeper understanding of a school. Rather than asking questions that produce a simple yes or no, invite the tour guides to share their experiences.

Instead of asking, “Do you have academic support?” consider asking, “How does the school identify students who may need additional support, and what does that support look like in practice?”

Instead of asking, “Is the community welcoming?” try, “How do new students typically find their people and place in the community?”

Ask questions that benefit the group, and save highly individualized questions about your child for a more appropriate conversation with admissions.

Look for tangible examples of what the school says it values.

Schools are often very clear about their mission and values. A campus visit gives you an opportunity to see how those commitments show up in daily life. If a school prioritizes student voice, how are students encouraged to share their ideas? If it describes itself as nurturing, what do you notice about the student interactions, peer to peer and with adults?

The question isn't just what a school believes. It's how those beliefs shape the student experience.

Talk to current students and parents, appropriately.

One of the most valuable aspects of a school visit is hearing from the people who are experiencing the community firsthand. If you have an opportunity to speak with a student or a current parent, take it. Ask what they appreciate about the school, what surprised them, or what helps them feel connected and supported.

Avoid putting students or parents on the spot with targeted questions about other schools, or hearsay about the community and culture. Be mindful that every family's experience is different, and one person's perspective is only one piece of the picture. Try to experience the community for yourself.

Write down your impressions after each visit.

After visiting several schools, the details can begin to blur. You may remember that one campus felt welcoming, another had an impressive makerspace, and a third offered a unique academic course, but the specifics can become difficult to remember.

Before moving on with your day, take a few minutes to record your impressions. What stood out? What surprised you? What questions remain unanswered? Over time, these notes will help you compare schools thoughtfully and return to the priorities established at the beginning of the search process.

Final Thoughts

My hope is that families take full advantage of opportunities to visit school campuses during their search and are intentional about how they show up, the questions they ask, and what they learn about their child (and family) along the way. 

It is truly a match to be made, not a prize to be won. After each visit, ask yourself: Can I genuinely see my child thriving here?

Roger Zamora is an independent admissions consultant with School First. He is the former Director of Admissions of Brentwood School in Los Angeles and former Associate Director of Admission of Menlo School in the San Francisco Bay Area.