With just under 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, choosing which schools to apply to and which one to attend is a daunting task. A college visit is a great way to alleviate some of the stress that comes along with selecting a school. However, it is essential to know what to expect at a college visit and to ask the right questions in order to get the most out of a visit.

To begin narrowing the college search, visit both public and private schools while making sure to see small, medium and large campuses in order to get a feel for each type of college experience that different size universities can offer. This helps to find the type of school that is the best fit.

According to The Princeton Review, it is important to “visit every college you are strongly considering” even though it is possible to take a visual tour of most campuses online. Visual tours are a great way to preview a college, but do not provide enough information to be able to make a final decision about which university to attend. It is important to visit as many colleges as possible before, during and after applying.

The following are important questions to ask the tour guide and yourself in order to get the best experience possible out of a college visit:

What distinguishes their academic programs (for intended major) from other reputable universities?

Is there opportunity for undergraduate internships and/or on campus research?

Is the campus layout manageable?

What is campus life like? (This is very important: this is the environment that you will live in for the next four years.)

Is this an area where you want to eventually live and/or work?

Additionally, it is important to consider the organizations on campus, from Greek Life to clubs and sports. Ask about groups and activities that interest you specifically. Most universities have 200 or more organizations for students to participate in.

Ultimately, the most important factor is deciding on a college is trusting a gut feeling in order to select a place where one can thrive and achieve the greatest education possible.