Ask the really tough questions to get to the heart of the place.

Go beyond the brochure factoids and guidebooks. Avoid simple “number” questions: what’s the student-faculty ratio, how many men/women, what’s the average class size, how many clubs and organizations? So, the average class size is 12. Your freshman English class could still have 120 students in it. Even if the student/faculty ratio is low, you could still have grad students teaching you instead of regular faculty with Ph.D’s.

Here are some tips for what to ask:

Ask the admissions staff:

• How available is the major I’m interested in? What if I want to change majors; how easy is that to do? What if I have no idea what I want to major in?

• What percentage of students take part in non-classroom learning opportunities such as study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, and leadership development programs?

• Where do my SAT scores and academic record fall in the range of your accepted students? (You can ask about your chances for acceptance, but don’t expect a firm commitment.)

• What scholarships, loans, and campus work opportunities are available?

• How easy is it to get into the activity that really interests me (campus radio/TV station, varsity sports, etc?)

• Tell me about the orientation programs available for new students.

Ask the faculty:

• What do you like about teaching here? What are the students like?

• Why is your academic program different from that at any other school?

• Does your program offer opportunities for undergraduate research? Study abroad? Internships and co-ops?

• Tell me about the alumni from your program. Where are they, and what are are they doing now?

• (For engineering and science majors:) Can I use your best lab equipment as an undergrad?

• Do you, personally, ever work with undergraduate students on research projects?