Knowing the right questions to ask is important in choosing a college that best suits your needs and preferences. Review the following questions to see which apply to your situation. Don't forget to add any others not listed here that are also important to you in your college choice.

• Admission
• Academic Life
• Student Services
• Student Life
• Community Life
• Transfer Resources

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Admission

1. Name and phone number of the contact person for transfer students?
2. When should I apply and send transcripts? What's the application fee? What is your policy on admission decisions? Rolling admissions? Early decision? Deferred admissions? Do you have advanced placement? Are transfers accepted fall and spring? Is an interview required? Recommended?
3. What's the minimum GPA required to transfer? What's the "average" GPA of transfer students who are accepted? How many transfer students apply? How many are accepted?
4. Will my high school transcripts and SAT scores be required? What are the average test scores of accepted students? Is there a certain number of college transfer credits that would eliminate the need for high school transcripts and/or SAT scores? Are there different requirements for older students? International students?
5. Must specific courses be completed before transfer? Would an associate degree give any particular advantage? Preferential treatment for admission? Meet core requirements of the transfer school, etc.?
6. What courses should I take at my current college before I transfer? Is there a maximum number of credits that I can transfer? Is there a time limit on credits you will accept, e.g. credits completed 5, 10, 20 years ago, etc.? What's the residency requirement for a degree (how many hours must be taken at your school to earn a degree)? What standing will I have: freshman, sophomore, junior?
7. Does a D grade ever transfer? Is a C always sufficient for transfer? When will I be able to get an evaluation of my credits? Which credits will count towards core/general education requirements? Which to my major? Which to electives? Do you give credit for pass/fail courses?
8. Do you have a program for credit through life experience? Do you accept CLEP exams: general and/or subject tests? Do you have advanced placement for courses? If I received advanced placement at another college, do you honor it? How do you evaluate military experience? Will you accept cooperative education credit from my previous college?
9. When should I declare a major? Is it difficult to switch? Are some majors more competitive? Do they have a separate admission and/or higher GPA requirement? Do they have additional requirements like a portfolio? Audition? Interview? Tests?
10. Are campus tours available? What orientation to your college is available? Is it required? Is it a credit course? If I took an orientation class at another school, would it transfer? Would it waive the orientation at your school?
11. When is the earliest I can register? What types of registration do you have? Online? Telephone? Mail-in? In-person? Is there ever any type of priority registration?
12. Financial aid deadline? How early can I apply? What's the procedure? What types of financial aid are available? Is there financial aid available mid-year? Any that are specific to my major? Athletic scholarships? Percentage of students receiving financial aid? Typical aid package? Availability of on-campus jobs and types? Work-study programs and criteria for eligibility?

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Academic Life

1. Is your college accredited? By whom? Is the college religiously affiliated? Which departments are considered the strongest on campus and have the best reputation in the state, country? Are there any unique or non-traditional degrees? Are there honors classes? Programs?
2. Are off-campus programs available for credit? Co-op programs? Internships? Independent study? Study abroad? Intercollege exchange? Does the school have a ROTC program?
3. What is the advising system? How are students assigned advisors? Is it ever possible to substitute courses in my major?
4. Do senior faculty members teach freshmen/sophomores? Do professors teach most classes or do they rely on teaching assistants? Are professors required to hold office hours? How many hours a week? How much emphasis is placed on teaching vs. research? Who are the best professors in my major? Other departments? Any outstanding faculty?
5. What's the faculty/student ratio for lower-level classes? Upper-level classes in my major? Average class size for upper and lower-level classes? What's the grading system? Is getting closed out of classes a problem? Is it difficult to get into seminars or upper-level courses? If I can only take classes in the evenings, are there enough evening classes available? Enough variety? What is the percent of students who go on to graduate? Any outstanding alumni?

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Student Services

1. What kinds of counseling services are available to students? Personal/psychological? Peer counseling? Financial counseling? Is there a Veterans' advisor? Any special services or activities for vets? What career testing, counseling and placement services are available to current students and alumni?
2. What medical resources are available on campus? Health counseling? Student health insurance?
3. What are the resources for academic support? Tutors? Writing center? Math lab? Who provides the tutoring, etc.? Students? Faculty? Other? Is there a cost for these services? Are computer labs available for student use? Is there enough equipment and is it up-to-date? What are the hours and will they meet my needs? Does the school or my major require that I have my own personal computer? Are special deals available for rental or purchase?
4. What programs/services are available for students with physical and learning disabilities? Is there a specific office and/or contact person? How many special needs students are there? Is there an LD remedial specialist? Is LD testing available? Are there additional costs for testing and other services? What equipment is available, e.g. reading machines, computers with voice, Braille printers, variable speed tape players, etc.? Are buildings accessible to students with disabilities? Are accessible dorm rooms provided?

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Student Life

1. How diverse is the student body? Does one group dominate? How many states are represented? Countries? Male/female ratio? Percent of commuters vs. campus residents? Percent of part-time vs. full-time students? Average age of students? Percent of students over 25? Number of graduate vs. undergraduate students?
2. Campus rules and regulations? Curfews? Dress codes? Visitation in dorms? Are there campus shuttle buses? Are cars allowed on campus? How's parking? Costs? Any restrictions?
3. Is the campus safe? Is there an escort service available? What types of crimes occur? Are students kept informed? How? What's the drinking age and is it enforced by the school? Is there heavy drug use on campus?
4. What kind of housing is available? Are all freshmen housed on campus? What percentage of students live off campus? What is the best housing on campus? What is the worst housing on campus? Is there co-ed housing? Is there housing for couples, parents with children? Are pets allowed in student housing? How many students per room or suite? Any restrictions? Phones? TVs? Stereos? Cooking facilities? Is there any choice about roommate? What can I do if it's really a bad match? What are the chances of a private room? Is housing available mid-year? How much is housing? Is a deposit required? When? What is the payment schedule? Any special payment plans?
5. How's the food in the student cafeteria? Student union? Costs for each?
6. Is child care available on campus or close-by? Costs? Hours?
7. What facilities are available for organized athletic programs? For individual exercise? What sports is the college involved in? Intercollegiate? Intramural? What's the reputation of the formal sports programs?
8. What are the student publications? Newspaper? Yearbook? Magazine? Other? Radio station? TV station? How hard is it to get on staff? What groups/clubs are available? Drama? Debating? Political? Ethnic? Community service? Organizations related to specific majors? What's the procedure/criteria to join? What's their reputation? What musical groups/facilities are available? Band? Orchestra? Choral? What's the procedure/criteria to join? What's their reputation? What religious facilities and organizations are involved with the campus? Are students predominately of one religion?
9. If the school has fraternities and sororities (or clubs), what percentage of students belong to them? What percentage don't? What is the effect of choosing to belong-or not-on an individual's social life? What happens on weekends? Where's the center of the social scene? Do many students go off campus? How's dating? Do most people go away on weekends? What activities (such as lectures, concerts, dances and informal athletics) take place on campus? Is entertainment expensive?
10. How would you describe the sense of community and school spirit at this college? How are race relations? Is there a large African-American/Asian/Hispanic community? How are gays and lesbians treated? Are there minority support groups? What are the current social issues that students are discussing? Is this considered a conservative or liberal atmosphere?
11. How large is the alumni association and how active? Do they support the school?
12. Are there any special problems about this school that I should know about? Any recent or upcoming changes?

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Community Life

1. Are there affordable restaurants within walking distance? How's the shopping? Are there malls, discount stores, etc.?
2. What are the local cultural and social attractions? What kind of entertainment is available? Is it expensive? Is there a good variety?
3. What are the religious facilities, churches? What are the medical facilities, hospitals, etc.?
4. What are the closest cities? What public transportation is available?
5. How do the "townies" feel about the college students? Have there been any particular problems? Are there any collaborative projects between the college and the town?
6. What kind of work opportunities exist?
7. What's the ethnic composition of the town? Is the area seen as conservative, moderate or liberal?

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Transfer Resources:

Print

1. College catalogs and viewbooks
2. Specialized brochures on specific programs/majors at a college
3. College transfer guides (usually only available for in-state colleges)
4. General college resource books (e.g., Peterson's College Guide, Barron's Profiles of American Colleges, The College Handbook for Transfer Students, etc. )
5. Specific college resource books (e.g., Insider's Guide to Colleges, Rugg's Recommendations on the Colleges, The Gourman Report, etc.)
6. Student publications and information sources (campus newspapers, magazines, student handbook, campus bulletin boards, etc.)

Multimedia

1. College videos
2. Computer programs (e.g., Peterson's College Selection Service, VA View College Search, Discover, etc.)
3. Web sites for colleges and college-related organizations (e.g. Petersons, Collegeboard, etc.)

People

1. Admission and transfer counselors of other colleges
2. Officials at colleges being considered (Admission, Financial Aid, Housing, etc.)
3. College representatives
4. Transfer student advising sessions
5. Students who are currently enrolled and alumni from the other colleges
6. Faculty in your major
7. Coaches and other "specialized" faculty

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