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More than 30 million students have used campustours to find virtual campus tours and maps., the #1 destination for interactive maps and virtual tours.

CampusTours builds video tours, photorealistic interactive campus maps, mobile walking tours and custom data-driven multimedia applications for education, non-profit and government clients worldwide.

Turn any type of map artwork into a rich interactive map and virtual tour experience with AnyMap.

From community colleges to the United States Capitol, organizations trust AnyTour to tell their stories.

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Visitors today are converging on your Web site on a plethora of devices, and they expect your tour and interactive map to “just work” on their computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

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CampusTours virtual reality scenes transport your visitors onto campus and into buildings with support for a wide variety of virtual reality viewers.

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Visitors to your campus today likely come equipped with smartphones or tablets, and CampusTours products can pinpoint your visitors' locations and serve up nearby tour content.

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Interactive campus map builder for universities & schools

• Highlight and display your campus spaces and culture using our 3D and 360° tour feature
• Add drone imagery or illustrations to most accurately reflect your campus on your map
• Create suggested tour routes to guide potential students and provide them with an authentic experience of your campus and its culture

Most Popular Use Cases for Interactive Campus Maps

Virtual campus tour.

• Immerse prospective students in your campus life with photos, videos, and 360° content.
• Add trivia and fun facts to bring your campus tour to life.
• Use categories and filters to organize campus amenities such as dining, parking, libraries, and offices.

Check out this High school campus tour

Campus Highlights Map

• Highlight popular campus spaces and guide prospective students through your campus.
• Create maps focused on special features of your campus such as athletic facilities or accessibility features.
• Embed the maps on your website or share them on your social media.

Check out this athletic facilities tour

Interactive Campus Map

• Use categories and filters to organize your map by facility, resource, or campus feature.
• Allow visitors and prospective students to customize the map based on their areas of interest.

Check out the University of Tulsa campus map

Multi-locations Campus Map

• Users start with an overview map displaying all the campuses and then drill down into each campus.
• Helps users easily navigate between different map levels and focus on the relevant information for their needs.

Check out the West-Mec multi-locations campus map

When the global health crisis prevented us from allowing families to visit our campus, Mapme enabled us to share our campus virtually. Rather than lifeless 360 video of empty spaces, we were able to populate our tour with photos and videos that better told our school story. The Mapme team went above and beyond to support us through the process.

Director of Marketing , University School

Popular features for school campus maps

Add drone images or illustrations.

Overlay your map with illustrations or drone images. Drone images are ideal for offering a detailed and lifelike portrayal of your campus ground. With illustrations, create a stylized map background to provide a clear visual representation of your campus.

Categories and filters

Organize your campus locations with categories.  Let your prospective students filter the map to view the locations on campus that interest them the most.

Embeds of 3D Immersive Media

Let visitors and potential students explore your campus right from their own computer or phone. Use our embed media feature to include 3D and 360° views. You can add advanced media such as interactive 3D ‘digital twins’ from Matterport, VR showcases, 360° videos from YouTube, panoramic images from Facebook, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do interactive campus maps help with student recruiting?

Absolutely. Interactive campus maps offer educational institutions a dynamic way to showcase their campus. These maps allow prospective students to virtually tour various facilities and amenities, providing them with an immersive glimpse into campus life directly from their phones or computers. This engaging experience can be a significant factor in attracting new students.

How does a campus map benefit students and academic staff members?

Interactive campus maps serve as a practical and essential guide for students, staff, and visitors. These maps are accessible on mobile devices, allowing users to quickly locate their current location on the campus  and find the best routes to various destinations across the campus.

Can non-technical staff easily create campus maps using the Mapme map builder?

Absolutely! Our map software is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, requiring no prior experience in map creation or coding. This makes it accessible for anyone to create an impressive campus map with ease. Additionally, we offer robust support through our Customer Success Team.

What types of map styles can be used for interactive campus maps?

You can utilize any map styles available on the Mapme platform. These styles include standard options like streets or satellite imagery. Additionally, you can opt for more unique basemaps such as a high-resolution illustration or a drone image. Drone images are particularly popular for their detailed views of specific areas. For more information and examples, you can click here .

Can I integrate 3D campus tours in my map with the Mapme map builder?

Yes, the Mapme map builder allows you to embed advanced media such as Matterport 3D tours, Momento 360 images, and YouTube 360-degree videos. For more information and guidance on how to embed these media types, you can refer to the Mapme media embed guide .

Is it possible to embed a campus map on any school or university website?

Yes, campus maps created using the Mapme map builder can be easily embedded in any school or university website. Furthermore, these maps can also be shared across social media platforms and can be incorporated into newsletters or email campaigns, providing versatile use and broad accessibility.

Who uses Mapme?

Mapme is a popular interactive mapping software for schools and universities. It is being used across the globe by

• Independent schools
• International schools
• Public and private universities

No coding or technical skill is needed. You can create your campus map on your own and update the content anytime you want. Our support team will stand by if you need help.

Check also our best practices for creating a virtual campus tour.

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Articles & Advice > Campus Visits > Articles

How to Have a Great Virtual Campus Visit Experience

If you're overwhelmed by all the virtual college visit options, have no fear. Here's a comprehensive guide to having your best virtual tour experience.

by Kelli Dolan Senior Assistant Editor, CollegeXpress

Last Updated: May 3, 2024

Originally Posted: Feb 23, 2022

With the onset of COVID-19, high school and college students alike lost in-person access to valuable resources for their education. For high school students going through the college search and admission process, one of the biggest losses was their ability to go on campus visits. Campus visits and colleges tours are an important part of the college admission process because they’re the best way to determine if a college feels like a good fit for you.  

But colleges and universities weren’t about to let the pandemic stand in the way of showcasing what their schools have to offer for prospective students—enter the virtual college tour! While some colleges were already utilizing this valuable online tool, many more jumped on the opportunity when in-person visits were no longer a viable option. Though many schools have opened their doors to visitors once again, virtual campus tours remain a great way to stay safe and save money while exploring colleges. Take advantage and make the most of these valuable tools in your college search with this comprehensive guide.

Types of virtual college tours

When it comes to virtual college tours, there are three distinct approaches colleges take to showcase their campus and amenities. Some schools will utilize one of these options, while some will mix and match methods to give students a more wholistic look at life at their school. Here’s what to look for when exploring a college or university’s website.

Live virtual visits

Live virtual visits are your best bet to really get to know a college. With these events, you typically register online and tune in at a certain date and time—much like you would for an in-person tour. A representative of the college will take you (or a group of prospective students) on a walking tour of campus via livestream. This virtual touring method is beneficial because it gives you the ability to communicate with your tour guide and ask questions, either by directly speaking to them or through a text chat feature.

Self-guided virtual tours and maps

Most schools offer some sort of self-guided virtual tour and campus map either on their own website or through the popular virtual tour website YouVisit.com . These types of tours allow you to learn about and explore a school’s campus at your own pace through photos, program and location write-ups, videos, maps, and more. How extensive a virtual tour is will vary from school to school, but that alone can be a good indication of the value a college places on making sure prospective students have an accessible and comprehensive view of campus. 

Pre-recorded video series

The last type of virtual tour you’ll come across are pre-recorded video series. These often fulfill a similar role to livestream guided tours. Students or admission representatives will be recorded going on a tour of the college’s campus to talk about features of the college, discuss popular programs, and show off certain buildings and locations. These pre-recorded tours make it easier to explore and learn because you can pause and play the videos at your own pace, but the major downside is the lack of chat feature and direct interaction with the person guiding the tour.

Related: COVID–19 and Virtual Campus Tours

Other virtual events to sign up for

The great thing about the various types of virtual tours is that most colleges offer multiple ways to learn more. If a school offers a pre-recorded video tour and you have questions to ask, they’ll also likely offer an information session or “open house.” Or if a college does offer a live guided tour for a large group of registrants, a follow-up Q&A may be offered so you can get answers to questions you didn’t have time to ask during the livestream. Here are the types of virtual events you should be looking for to supplement your research.

Guided tours

As previously discussed, guided virtual tours are the best version of a virtual campus visit. These offer a look at the college as close as you can get to visiting in person and allows you to chat and interact with the person giving the tour. But these tours aren’t just offered at all times. Be sure to research early so you can sign up for the virtual tours of the schools you’re most interested in, then create a schedule to keep on top of them all. You’ll be expected to tune in on a certain day at a certain time, so come prepared to ask questions and engage in the process!

Information sessions

Information sessions are helpful if you’ve just been exploring recorded video series and self-guided tours or maps. They allow you to sit down at an assigned time and talk to representatives from a college to ask questions and connect with someone who could help you in the admission process if you decide to apply to that school. Pay attention to the details, though, because some schools will offer individual sessions, groups sessions, or both. If you have the option, choose whichever feels more comfortable for you.

Current student Q&As

Q&A events with current students are something you should sign up for regardless of what type of touring you’ve been doing. A college’s students are the best representation of a school’s character, social life, and academic environment. If students seem enthusiastic and excited to talk with you and discuss their school, then it’s more likely to be a place you’ll thrive and want to be. So don’t skip out on these. It’s where you’ll get honest answers to your most important questions!

Related: How to Overcome Anxiety and Talk to College Students on Campus Tours

Explore virtual tours at your own pace

The beauty of virtual campus visits is the ability to go at your own pace and explore a lot more colleges than you could feasibly schedule in-person visits for—both time and money wise! Keep your research on track with these tips.

Make a research schedule

It’s easy to get lost in all the different offerings for virtual campus exploring, especially if you have a lot of colleges you’re interested in. As you’re signing up for events and figuring out what type of virtual tours each school offers, create a research schedule for yourself. Mark down any guided tours, information sessions, or Q&As you’ve registered for that require you to attend on a certain day. From there, you can fill in other blocks of time to sit down and explore self-guided tour or video series options.

Take notes as you go

Regardless of what type of touring you’re doing, you should be taking notes! Virtual campus visits can throw a lot of information at you all at once, and it can get overwhelming. Taking notes will keep you focused on the things that are most important to you —be it academic programs, athletics, campus organizations, or anything else. These notes will also guide your decision-making later when you’re narrowing down your list and making your final college decision.

Compare your likes and dislikes of each college

Using the notes you’ve taken, make a pros and cons list for each college you toured, then compare them to the pros and cons of other colleges. This will give you a better idea of which colleges most comprehensively adhere to all your wants and needs. From there, you can narrow down your larger list of schools to just the ones you’ll apply to. (Most students tend to apply to anywhere from four to 10 colleges on average.)

Related: 7 Ways to Narrow Down Your List of College Choices

Reach out to admission to ask questions

Whether you’ve been going on guided virtual sessions, exploring maps and interactive tours, or missed the opportunity to sign up for information sessions, the admission office is always there to help you and answer questions. Why? Because they want to support you and hope their college is a great fit for you! Here are some common things you should connect with admissions about.

Ask about things you feel were missing

Colleges and universities are always looking for feedback on ways they can improve how they showcase their school to prospective students. If you felt like there was a lack of information in the research and touring you’ve done for a certain school, reach out to them to ask about it and suggest they include that information in their virtual offerings if you think it’s something other students will benefit from.

Ask for more information on specific programs

Some colleges have a lot of programs, so it’s impossible to cover them all with a virtual tour. In fact, a lot of schools will either skip over program-specific information and cover only general features and amenities of their schools or highlight just their most popular programs. If the major you’re interested in isn’t covered, do some further research on their website, then reach out to the admission office with additional questions or ask them which faculty you should contact from that program’s department.

Ask about connecting with students and alumni

If a school you’re interested in doesn’t offer virtual Q&As with students, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have designated students (and even alumni) who are willing to talk to prospective students. If you’d like an idea of what current student or postgrad career life is like for people who attend a certain school, email an admission officer and see if they can connect you with someone you can have a conversation with.

Set up in-person tours for colleges you’re most interested in

Obviously, the purpose of virtual campus tours is to make college visits more attainable and safe for a larger pool of prospective students—but they still can’t replace the experience of physically visiting a school. And since we’ve been living through the pandemic for a while now, a lot of colleges and universities have modified their in-person campus visit options to ensure the safety of staff and students. If it’s possible for you, try to set up safe in-person visits for only the colleges you’re most interested in. Your previous research should give you an idea of which colleges these are. Attend masked-up and see if the campus is really as impressive as it seems online!

Related: 7 Smart Things You Should Do on Your Next Campus Visit

The pandemic has taken a lot away from students, but it has also presented the opportunity to find alternative ways to access important resources. Take advantage of these new opportunities to explore your colleges of interest and make the college search process a little more fun and less stressful. At the end of the road will be an amazing school that will set you up for a bright future.

Ready to start exploring online to find the best-fit school for you? We’ve made it easy with our brand-new list of CollegeXpress Featured Colleges With Virtual Tours !

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•   5 Important Conversations for Students of Color on Campus Tours
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•   Make Your College Visits Fun and Accessible, Not Stressful
•   Top 10 College Visit Tips for a Successful Campus Experience

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14 Tips for an Effective College Visit

Visiting a college can help a student determine if he or she wants to spend the next four years there.

Getty Images |

Finding the right fit.

For high school students in the process of researching a variety of colleges and universities , admissions professionals recommend scheduling campus visits to get a better feel for the schools. Some colleges track whether prospective students make an in-person visit and count it as "demonstrated interest," which could help admissions chances. For both students and families, campus visits are an important part of the process when choosing which college to attend. "They are very likely to show you things that you didn’t know you cared about. That’s a great first step," says Rachel Rubin, co-founder of admissions consulting company Spark Admissions. "It’s really important for families to think about what they want to know.” Here are 14 tips for how students can get the most out of college visits.

(Getty Images) |

• Start planning early.

As students get closer to the final year of high school, their schedules are filled trying to balance school and a social life – all while exploring potential college campuses. To ease the stress, students and families may want to make visits sooner, ideally before senior year. The College Board recommends spring of junior year as a good time to visit campuses for students who have already done the research on those colleges. College visits are a good use of downtime over spring break, as well. Late summer and early fall before senior year are also convenient times, the College Board website notes, adding that classes may already be in session, allowing prospective students a fuller glimpse of campus life.

• Ask questions.

A campus visit is a great chance to not only see the campus, but also to ask questions about the school and what the experience is like on campus. While some information can be found on a school's website, speaking with student ambassadors or school officials while visiting campus can provide additional important information necessary for making a smart college decision. "I think the best way to make the most of the tours is to ask a lot of good questions of the tour guide and to engage with any current students to get their opinion on life on the campus,” says Satyajit Dattagupta, chief enrollment officer and senior vice chancellor at Northeastern University in Massachusetts.

• Get student perspectives.

The largest population on any college campus is the student body. Given their collective experience, it's likely they'll have opinions to share on academics, facilities, dining services , student life and more. Talking to current students is a valuable part of vetting a college and can provide prospective students with unfiltered perspectives about the school and the student experience. "Talk to as many students as you can to get a flavor of the student population," says Liz Doe Stone, a senior private counselor for Top Tier Admissions, an admissions consulting company. "Email students from your high school who attend that school and ask to get together for coffee when you’re on campus."

• Explore college through the lens of campus media.

Student newspapers can be a valuable source of insight into what's happening at a college. But don't stop there. The College Board's campus visit checklist also recommends tuning in to the campus radio station and reading other campus publications such as literary reviews and department newsletters. This allows students to find out what issues are popular on campus, controversies happening, new programs being created, what students are excited about and trends to be aware of, Stone says. "The more that you can do ahead of time to get to know the campus culture so that you can ask good questions to current students, that’s another great way to get a more authentic sense of what’s going on or what it would be like to be a student there."

• Visit academic departments.

Along with being comfortable with the campus environment, students should explore academic departments that interest them. A great way to start can be touring facilities, sitting in on a class and meeting professors . This is a good way for students to learn about the areas where they might be spending the most time if they choose to attend school there, and it's also valuable information when comparing schools. For best results, email professors or administrators ahead of time to set up a meeting, Stone says, but even informal visits can be valuable.

• Check out other campuses nearby.

When visiting a college in person, prospective students should consider visiting other campuses nearby. Many major metro areas are home to multiple colleges, and even rural areas may have colleges that are surprisingly close together. As students plan their visits, families should take note of other options near the schools they intend to visit. "If you're going to spend some time traveling, whether it be across the state or across the country, you might as well try to maximize that and investigate other opportunities that are close and convenient," says Collin Palmer, associate vice president of enrollment management at Kent State University in Ohio.

• Learn about the local community.

While the college is the main attraction, students shouldn't overlook the surrounding community where they may live and work when off campus. Take time to discover coffee shops, restaurants and other places you might enjoy visiting frequently, and consider how the community might factor into your education aspirations, says Kent Hopkins, vice president for academic enterprise enrollment at Arizona State University and ASU Global. Determine whether the community will provide internship or externship opportunities or serve as a potential career launch pad, he says. Palmer adds that students should also consider whether they're looking for an urban or rural experience , or what size city they prefer.

• Visit a dining hall or student center.

The college dining hall is not only a place where many students consume a majority of their meals, but it also tends to be a community hub where students congregate to study or meet for clubs. Given the likelihood that much of a student's time will be spent in the dining hall or student center, experts say students and families should plan to eat at least one meal on campus to get a sense of available food options and other amenities. "That can be a great way not only to sample the on-campus food options, but also to have informal conversations with current students in line or at a nearby table,” Stone says. Some schools have particularly tasty options , and those with dietary restrictions should get a sense of whether the school can cater to their needs.

• Explore the campus library.

Another place where students spend significant time is the campus library. Many campuses have more than one library, and there's often variety in what each library offers. Some have coffee shops and restaurants. Stone notes that some are open-stack libraries, meaning students can browse, select and check out books themselves. Others are closed-stack, meaning library staffers retrieve the books for students. Similarly, some campus libraries offer a slew of private study rooms with modern technology available to use for various projects. Prospective students should use the campus visit to make sure the school library fits their academic needs.

• Explore various virtual tour options.

Some colleges may be too far from home for students to make an initial visit. Online tools allow prospective students to take virtual tours from the comfort of their couches. Students can take self-guided virtual tours or sign up for more interactive options such as 360-degree video and virtual reality. Experts say virtual tours are good substitutes for those unable to visit in person. Some guided in-person tours may not take students to all the places they want to see, but through virtual tours students can investigate other aspects of campus. Virtual tours are especially valuable for international students, experts say.

• Ask about campus safety.

With the amount of time traditional college students spend on campus, feeling safe on school grounds is an important factor to consider when exploring colleges. Prospective students should ask tour guides about campus safety policies. In virtual campus tours, students can ask guides or the admissions office for more information. Federal law requires colleges to release information related to crime on and around campus. Families can check annual security reports to see recent incidents on campus. If anything stands out as a cause for concern, ask the school for more information on campus safety . While on campus, asking students how comfortable they feel at the school is a good way to gauge how safe students generally feel, Hopkins says.

• Get financial aid information.

Along with understanding the culture of a school and the academic options it provides, students should research financial aid opportunities at a college. A campus visit is an opportunity to do just that. Finding out the types of aid available, such as merit-based and need-based, is one of the first questions students should ask when speaking with the financial aid office, Rubin says. “Students can also bargain for more money once they’re accepted, and that’s where they really have a leg up," she says. This can also help students budget for attending that school, Hopkins says, noting that families should be aware that cost of attendance is not the sticker price. Families should factor in room and board, travel expenses for students attending away from home and any aid or income that could help offset costs.

• Ask about disability accommodations.

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, any school that accepts federal money is legally required to provide accommodations for qualifying students with disabilities . Some do the bare minimum, but others have strong programming for students with disabilities because they have a high number of students needing services. Some charge fees for certain services, like tutoring, so experts suggest taking time on a college visit to meet with the disabilities services office to ask what’s available and at what cost. “It’s really important for students to understand to what extent they need to fight for these services and always be on top of their teachers and make sure their accommodation plan goes out to everybody at the start of each semester," Rubin says.

• Meet with clubs and organizations.

A big part of the college experience is the social component, and experts say students should make sure they attend a school where they can get involved in clubs and organizations. For example, students who are interested in joining a fraternity or sorority should check out Greek life housing and meet with the campus administrator overseeing Greek organizations. Those who enjoy sports recreationally should reach out to presidents or leaders of club sports organizations or someone who organizes intramural sports, Stone says. “I always tell students to talk to any extracurricular leaders tied into your interest,” she says. "So if you’re a violin player, speak to someone in the music department. If you love drama, talk to someone who is the head of the theater club."

Learn more about colleges.

Get more advice about how to choose a college and check out the complete rankings of the Best Colleges to find the school that's best for you. For more advice and information on selecting a college, connect with U.S. News Education on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook .

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On Campus Information Sessions & Tours

Registration instructions.

• Registration for a campus visit is required .
• To sign up, please select an available date from the calendar below. Multiple events may pop up when you select an available date. Click on the event labeled "On-Campus Visit" at the time that works for you, and then complete the registration form on a new page.
• Once your registration is complete, we will be in touch via email with helpful information to plan your visit and visit reminders.
• If you arrive on campus without registering, a member of our visitor team will help you to determine your best options including providing information about a self-guided tour and helping you to register for an open tour date and time.
• Sign up for an online session here  - this is a 1 hour live session with an admissions officer. 
• Click here to do a self-paced virtual tour  of Harvard's campus. 
• If you are in the area, you may stop by our office at 5 James Street from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (11am-5pm on Wednesdays) and pick up a self-guided tour map and ask questions of the Visitor Center staff. 

COVID-19 Precautions

Group visits/tours, important information for your visit.

• Special Accommodations - there will be space on the registration form to request special accommodations. Please note that we require 21 days advance notice in order to secure ASL interpreters. We cannot provide interpreters for other languages at this current time. Those requesting the use of a wheelchair must leave a current driver’s license or state ID with our Visitor Center personnel until the chair is returned. 
• Most buildings are closed to the public. Public restrooms will be available in the Elizabeth Cary Agassiz House before/after the information session, and at the end of the tour at Smith Campus Center.
• At this time, it is not possible to store luggage or other personal property during your visit. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially for families who have traveled long distances to join us.
• Your registration and attendance have no bearing on the admissions process should you decide to apply.
• Guests are not permitted to record any part of the information session and/or tour. 

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6 Best Virtual College Tours

An important first step in any college search is to do a college tour. With over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone, doing an individual in-person tour would be impossible (albeit a great way to rack up some frequent flier miles), expensive and highly time consuming. Virtual tours are a great option to gain insight into a school while wearing your favorite slippers. Check out some of our staff favorites and a great starting point for any student jumping into their college journey.  

• University of Arizona - Arizona’s virtual experience drops you right to the front entrance of Old Main to begin your tour.  With video tour guides giving a great overview of everything from specific departments to downtown Tucson, this is a wonderful way to get a deeper introduction to the university. 
• Rice University, Texas - Staring at this Webby Award , cartoonish map of Rice’s campus, visitors can choose to do feature tours of notable locations on campus like Lovett Hall and Fondren Library. You can also search the map by clicking on any of the buildings or landmarks. 
• Chapman University, California - Chapman takes the virtual engagement well past just a campus tour. They are providing information sessions, one-on-one interviews, chat sessions with students, and prerecorded videos. Plus you can schedule “walk-through” experiences with the Keck Center for Science and Engineering or the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. 
• Colorado State University, Colorado - Want a tour tailored to whether you are a prospective student, parent, or neither of those? Well, CSU is a wonderful place to start your virtual exposure. Once you complete a few details, you are brought to a personalized “walk” around their campus with a voice overview including details, stories, and humor. 
• American University, Washington, DC - Looking for more familiar ways to learn about a college online? Then American gives you a preview that may fit your interests with live webinars and recorded sessions ranging from diversity & inclusion student panels to consider Early Decision. 
• Tulane University, Louisiana - The virtual experience with the ‘Green Waves’ is very user friendly with cards including quick links to webinars, interactive map, residence hall tours and more. You will surely get your all the information you need without stepping on campus. 

Now that you have seen our staff favorites, you can also continue the binge-watching on YouVisit i f you find yourself ready to make some of your virtual visits a reality, check out our helpful guides on scheduling your college visits and of course our advice on what to ask on a tour .

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Sign up for an in-person walking tour of our beautiful campus, or take a Self-Guided Tour! See our Santa Cruz Area page for more information about our area. For a complete visitor guide, including information on accommodations, dining, activities, and more, see the Visit Santa Cruz County homepage. For families who can’t travel to campus, we continue to offer many virtual options to experience our extraordinary campus environment (see below).

Campus Tours

Join us for a student-led, small-group tour of campus! Our S.L.U.G.s (Student Life and University Guides) are excited to take you and your family on a walking tour of campus. Use the links below to see your tour options.

General Walking Tour

Register here for a tour led by one of our Student Life & University Guides (S.L.U.G.s). The tour will take approximately 90 minutes and includes stairs, and some uphill and downhill walking. Appropriate walking shoes for our hills and forest floors and dressing in layers are highly recommended in our variable coastal climate.

For a smoother arrival, plan to arrive early, and download the ParkMobile app in advance.

See our frequently asked questions for more information.

Self Guided Tour

VisiTOUR is an app that you can download to your phone for either an in-person or virtual UC Santa Cruz experience! Take a general walking tour, or select your interests to have a route customized just for you! Either way, you can check out videos and photos of different spots on campus along the way. Just text UCSC to 58052, or use the link below.

In-person group tours are offered to high schools, community colleges, and other educational partners. Please contact your admission representative or the tours office for more information.

If your group would like to visit before we can accommodate you or you have a group larger than 75, please utilize our VisiTOUR  tour  for your visit.

S.L.U.G. Video Series and 6-minute Tour

For your convenience, we have a playlist of short topic-focused YouTube videos featuring our Student Life and University Guides (S.L.U.G.s) and lots of footage showing campus life. Tune in at your leisure! Just want to get a quick overview of our campus? Try our 6-minute video tour!

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Six Steps to Get the Most Out of a Campus Visit

Why plan a visit.

Checking out a college campus near you is a great idea, even if you don't know what you want to major in or what type of college you want to attend. Campus visits can give you a sense of what might be important to you in a college and what college life is all about. Here are six suggestions for planning and getting the most out of your visit.

1. Decide Where and How.

Find out which colleges are nearby. Think about planning a visit. Your high school may have programs that arrange group trips to colleges. You could also get a group of friends together and visit the campus by car or public transportation. A family trip is another option, allowing you to involve your family in the process.

2. Prepare for Your Visit.

Before you set out, get a map of the college campus (the college's website usually has one). Pick out places of interest. Call the college's admissions office to schedule a guided campus tour. Ask about the best times to visit.

3. Take Your Own Tour.

Wandering around the campus on your own or with friends can be the best way to get a feel for the college.

4. Explore the College's Facilities.

Talk to students to find out the best places to eat and have lunch there. Visit the library. Check out the gym or the theater. Ask an admissions officer if you can tour a residence hall and a classroom. Find the spots on campus where students gather. Hang out there to get a feel for the character of the college.

5. Make Connections.

Talk to current students while on your campus visit. Ask the students at the next table or sitting on a nearby bench what they like best about the college and being a student there. Most will be eager to talk about their experiences.

6. Make Notes.

During your campus tour, write down some notes about your experience. What did you see that excited you? Do you feel you could explore the library for days? Can you picture yourself on stage in the theater? Do you want to get a closer look at the equipment in a lab? Are there aspects of the college that you don't like? If so, what are they?

When you visit a college, relax, observe, and have fun. There's no pressure.

To find the best time for your visit, read  When to Visit .

For help planning your visit, read  Campus Visits: Know Before You Go.

What’s a campus tour?

A campus tour is a visit by prospective students to a college or university to tour the facilities, meet faculty and students, and learn about academic programs and campus life. It helps students make informed decisions about college options by giving them firsthand experience and a chance to ask questions. A college visit is important in the college selection process. It helps students have a fulfilling and successful college experience.

Why do I need to visit a campus?

You want to be certain the college is the best place for you to live in and learn in. Meeting with admissions staff, faculty, and current students gives you valuable insights and answers to questions you may not get elsewhere. A campus visit lets you see if a college aligns with your academic, social, and extracurricular interests. In sum, a visit helps you make an informed decision.

How do I prepare for a campus visit?

To prepare for a campus visit, research the college. Make a list of questions. Take notes while engaging with faculty, staff, and students so you can remember what they said. After returning home, reflect on the experience to make sure the college campus is the right place for you.

How do I schedule a college visit?

If you want to visit a college, start by researching it online. Then contact the admissions office to find out what dates are available for campus tours. They can help you plan your itinerary, address a special request such as an in-depth tour of a science lab, and answer your questions.

What else do I need to do for upcoming college visits?

If you’re wondering how to plan college visits, here are a few things you can do. Research multiple colleges. Prioritize your top choices. To make sure you get the dates you want, plan ahead. If there’s someone you want to meet, like a coach, ask the admissions office to set up an appointment. Don't forget to schedule time to take pictures and explore the area around the campus.

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Michigan State University Tours

Welcome to MSU Tours! We are thrilled to have you here and excited to be your guide in exploring the remarkable world of our university. Whether you are a prospective student, a family member, or simply curious about what MSU has to offer, you've come to the right place.

Are you a prospective Spartan or a family member seeking a tour to discover all that MSU has to offer? Perhaps you're an admitted student eager to delve into first-year events, or a transfer student making your way from another university?

Visit admissions.msu.edu/visit  to learn more about your tour options! 

If you're part of a school or after-school group and want to explore MSU, you're in luck! We offer group tours during the fall and spring semesters. Our MSU Walking Tours last around 60 minutes, covering a distance of 2-3 miles. Your group will be accompanied by a knowledgeable MSU Tour Guide who will provide insights into academics, history, and student life.

Enhance your campus visit at MSU by coordinating additional activities through campus locations and partners. Expand your itinerary and make the most out of your time at MSU by directly collaborating with these popular venues and organizations.

If your group would like to create their own experience or are visiting outside of tour season, our self-guided walking tour gives you the freedom to follow your own schedule and set your own pace. This general tour of campus shares information about many of our most popular campus locations, however, please note that viewing academic classrooms is not advised as classes are in session year-round.

Self-Guided Walking Tour PDF

If you have any inquiries, require assistance, or wish to discuss your MSU Tour options, we're here to help! Contact MSU Tours

Jessica Booth

Updated May 2, 2018

Helpful Questions to Ask on College Tours

• Plan for College
• Campus Life

When deciding what colleges to add to your list, touring a campus can be a valuable tool.

A campus tour is the best way to see what life at that school is really like. Most campus tours are led by outgoing student guides—and it’s their job to answer questions. They can help give you an inside-view into real experiences and a deeper understanding of what your day to day life will be like at the school. Here are a few things to consider asking on your campus tour.

1. How Much Time Do You Spend Studying and Doing Homework?

Emma B., a campus tour guide at Texas Christian University in Texas, says that while understanding how classes are taught is of course relevant, “the amount of work that you put into a class outside of a physical hour in a class is pretty important.” You’ll likely spend more time studying and writing papers than sitting in class. She adds that this question also “gives you an idea of how academically motivated students are.”

2. What Does the School Do to Make Students Feel Safer?

Christina N., a campus tour guide at SUNY Albany in New York, advises asking about safety protocols. Most schools have campus security, cameras, and emergency phones. Get into the specifics at each school you visit by asking questions like: “Do you feel safe while you’re at school?” and “What does your school do to make this possible?”

3. What Do You Do for Fun on Campus with Your Friends?

Emma B., the Texas Christian University tour guide, says she rarely gets personal questions from prospective students, but thinks asking questions like these are a good idea. She explains that getting information about the social elements of student life is what’s going to tell you if the school is a fit. Plus, tour guides often have a script they’re supposed to follow. Emma says asking them a personal question will get them off script, which gives you more accurate insight into how they feel about their school.

4. Do You Have a Favorite Professor?

Sara H., a tour guide at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, recommends getting personal. Instead of asking generalities about academics, she says, “It’s always a great idea to ask a tour guide if they have a favorite professor.” The guide may be able to share a personal anecdote that reveals more about the school’s professors than what’s in their online bios so you can get a better idea of whether they take meaningful interest in their students. Their answer can also highlight a worthwhile class you may not have considered.

5. What’s the Sports Culture Like?

Miranda R., a tour guide from Towson University in Maryland, often gets asked, “How good is the football team?” She says a better question to ask might be what the sports fan culture is like. You can look up the stats on the school sporting teams. Take advantage of having an actual student at your disposal by getting information you can’t find online—general campus sentiment toward athletes, student attendance at school-sponsored rallies, and personal takes on tailgating and the social scene around sports.

6. What Was Your Grocery List Like Freshman Year?

Emma says that one of the weirdest questions she was ever asked was, “What was your grocery list like?” It struck her as strange, but now she realizes it’s actually quite telling about freshman life. Asking this question can give you insights into the dining hall , how the campus cuisine helps with adjusting to life away from home and what student needs have to be fulfilled off campus.

7. What Do You Wish You Had Known Before You Attended This College?

This can be a positive way to ask about a tour guide’s not-so-positive experiences. Maybe they were unprepared for the fact that many students go home on the weekends. Maybe they wished that they had known how challenging it was to switch their major. No college is perfect, and hearing your tour guide’s experience can give you insight into things you may not have considered.

8. What Is Your Most Memorable Experience from This Semester?

If you ask about what your tour guide did over the weekend, you might hear a lot of the same sleep-study-hang out schedule from campus to campus. This question can reveal things that might make the college unique. From volunteering with the community to taking part in a beloved campus tradition to hearing about an epic roommate roadtrip, this can give you a glimpse into what real life might look like.

9. What Does Diversity Mean on Campus?

This question can give you insight into how the college handles diversity and inclusion . Many colleges will include diversity in their marketing materials, but hearing about a tour guide’s personal experience can be enlightening. You might want to also ask about resources and support systems on campus, as well as how administration has handled conflicts and differing viewpoints surrounding inequality.

Don’t be afraid to ask campus tour questions that will give you the information you need to make the best college list possible. Gather all the facts and expert opinions you can before you make the big decision of where to apply.

Applying to college? We can help.

Related articles, 5 lawyers share their college major and whether it helped their careers, how to get the real story about campus life, can’t choose a college major it’s okay to go undeclared, 6 tips to prepare for a college fair.

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Please note: MIT and the admissions office will be closed Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. On Tuesday, September 3, the admissions office will be closed from 11 AM–1 PM.

Schedule your campus visit

In-person info sessions and tours.

We offer two types of campus visits each week.

• Info session and student-led tour:  Our info sessions are hosted by admissions officers who share details about academics, campus life, the application process, and financial aid. A student-led campus tour immediately follows the info session.
• Student-led tour only:  One of our amazing students will take you on a tour of their favorite places on campus.

Info sessions last half an hour, and student led tours are one hour.

Reservations are required. Should you arrive without a reservation for a session, we will not be able to accommodate you.

In-person group tours

If you would like to bring a group of 6–50 people to campus, you are welcome to request a group tour . We are not able to accommodate groups of 6–50 people in our regular information sessions and tours.

Please note that we can only accommodate requests for visits placed 3 weeks in advance.

Severe weather: What if MIT closes?

In case of severe weather, the Admissions Office follows the Institute emergency closing guidelines. If MIT is closed, the Admissions Office is closed and all visit programming is canceled. We will post any closures to mitadmissions.org and notify you of any cancellations by email. If you would like to reschedule your visit, it’s easy! Simply fill out a new reservation form.

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Explore NOVA

Visiting Northern Virginia Community College is a great way to experience what we have to offer! On a guided tour, you'll explore our modern classrooms, labs, and student spaces. You'll also get a feel for our friendly and diverse campus community.

Whether you're interested in a specific program, want to meet some of our faculty, or just want to check out the campus, we invite you to come see what makes NOVA special. Discover what it's like to be a student here – we think you'll like what you find.

Contact our Outreach and Recruitment team to have our staff experts to pay your school a visit and meet with students looking to explore college opportunities and learn more about NOVA’s offerings.

Malcolm Pace, MS Director of Dual Enrollment, Outreach and Recruitment [email protected]

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‘Curious Science Writers’ Visit NIH Campus

Photo:  Credit Mahelate Solomon

A new generation of science writers visited campus on July 18. The aptly named Curious Science Writers visited with researchers, science writers and staff from the Office of Animal Care and Use (OACU) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

Curious Science Writers (cSw) is a program for high school students hosted by Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). The young people are paired with their own science communicator/writer mentor, and research and write their own article with the mentor’s guidance. Mentors are volunteers and hail from various organizations across the country, including NIH.

High school students Olivia Wood, Cindy Lin and Pranav Boreddy visited NIH as part of a week-long boot camp of activities intended to prepare them to embark on their own science writing journey. The day’s events were also opened to student interns from NIDCR (Activities were hosted in Bldg. 30, home of the institute).

Students listened to guest lectures in the morning and toured an animal facility after lunch. The list of presenters included Angela Szwec, OACU program analyst; Tiffany Chen, a science writer at NIDCR; Dr. Brenda Klaunberg, animal imaging program director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); NIDCR biologist Lynn Vitale-Cross; Dr. Lauren Davidson, director of the NIDCR veterinary resources core; and NIDCR facility manager David Mallon.

Chen, a science writer with the Science Communication and Digital Outreach Branch at NIDCR, regaled her audience with a tale about noticing an inaccuracy in her local newspaper when she was in high school. She doubted herself at first—she was “just a kid,” and surely the writer had checked their facts, she thought. The next day, however, the newspaper printed a correction that confirmed her suspicions.

Photo:  Mahelate Solomon

“Adults aren’t always right,” Chen reminded her audience. Young people are capable and should value their own unique perspective as budding writers.

An oft-repeated bit of advice from speakers was to use storytelling to make complex subject matter easier to understand. Vitale-Cross emphasized that point in her presentation. As a biologist conducting research in the adult stem cell section of Dr. Eva Mezey’s lab, her research is both fascinating and complicated.

“You have to tell a clear and concise narrative in order to tell your science story,” Vitale-Cross said.

Wood, Lin, Boreddy and the rest of their cSw peers now have the rest of the summer to write and polish their respective articles. The finished work will be published on https://curioussciencewriters.org .

To read about cSw visits in previous years, go to go.nih.gov/yvaZAjz and https://go.nih.gov/lWhQHQu .

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Re-enroll Stop Outs

Introducing The Playbook for Stop-Outs — from Modern Campus Message (formerly known as Signal Vine).

Higher Education Texting, Made Personal  

Conversational text messaging i s a great way to engage prospective students and keep your current students on track with engaging communication.  Our premiere texting platform for higher education allows you to communicate and drive student engagement on a personal level, efficiently and effectively.

of text messages are read

of messages are read within 3 minutes after being sent

higher ed text messaging engagement rate

Personalize Student Outreach

Integrating your CRM or SIS data allows you to segment your audiences and build targeted communications to ensure that your messages hit the right mark at the right time. By sending messages that are tailored to each student, you can limit opt-out rates and improve response rates. Message is a preferred partner of Ellucian and Salesforce and can be found on the AppExchange.

Schedule Texts with a Message Calendar  

Use Message’s texting calendar to connect with students, manage everyday communications, coordinate campaigns and avoid sending recipients too many messages at once.

Automate Text Messages and Responses to Students

Manage your workload by scheduling and automating responses. Using chatbot functionality designed for higher education, you can respond to common student questions and replies about topic s such as admissions and financial aid deadlines, registration, or requirements like GPA and course work.

Track Texting Responses and Engagement

Measure the success of your messages—including texting response rate and overall engagement—using Message’s superpowered analytics. Explore our case studies to learn how other institutions have successfully intergrated Message into their communication and engagement strategies.

Streamline Workflows with Salesforce Integrations

For institutions using Salesforce, Message enables messages to be sent directly from the Salesforce interface and to be tracked seamlessly in the Salesforce system. Alternatively, institutions may choose to use Message to integrate Salesforce data into their account and bidirectionally sync data between systems regularly.

A S tudent E ngagement S olution

for the Entire Learner Lifecycle

Message streamlines and improves enrollment management through text messages that engage prospective students, enrollees, alumni and more.

Message helps hundreds of institutions increase student engagement, foster student success and boost retention.

Message's conversational messaging enables you to reach your alumni with the right message at the right time.

Encourage learners to engage with your continuing education and workforce development offerings with Message's unique Blended Messaging approach.

Improve college access, student outcomes and reduce Summer Melt through Message's college access texting solutions. 

Message helps improve student access to financial aid with text messaging by connecting students to resources to help make educated choices.

Key Features for the Modern Administrator  

Multi-Media Messaging

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Today’s students expect SMS text messages from college and universities to go beyond plain text. Modern Campus Message enables institutions to send images, videos, links and GIFs. However you want to get your message out, we have the tools to do it.

Virtual Advisor

Consider our AI-powered Virtual Advisor your personal assistant. Use it to answer frequently-asked questions and provide responses in real time. This highly technical chatbot can accurately judge whether or not it understands the question and will only respond to messages it feels confident answering.

Response Sorting

Our Message Inbox automatically sorts incoming texts from students so you know what needs your attention. This allows you to prioritize students who need help fast, rather than spending time browsing messages that don't need a response.

Contact Management

Determine what data you want to use with your contacts, how you want it structured and how it's best incorporated with your CRM or SIS. With this in mind, your team can customize contact views to fit your needs.

Reporting and Analytics

Track student engagement, response rate and the overall effectiveness of your text messaging campaigns. You’ll know immediately what's working and what’s not across each touchpoint of the student experience.

Connect with your students, prospects, and alumni at each stage of their educational journey.

Explore the leading texting platform for higher education.

Request a demo

Related Resources

A Higher Ed Guide for Designing Text Messaging Campaigns

How to design text messages that engage students, prospects and alumni

Download now

Success Story

Cuyahoga Community College Connects Students with Enrollment Resources 24-7

How Ohio’s oldest community college leverages Modern Campus Message to re-enroll stop-outs & provide students with custom enrollment support at scale

Read the story

University of California San Diego’s Student Success Coaching Program Grows 4x

How Message enables a large, public university to connect with more than 1,800 first-generation students

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RIT is now an Adobe Creative Campus, expanding access to digital tools and trainings

Starting this fall, the rit community has free access to adobe express premium, adobe creative cloud, and more.

Traci Westcott/RIT

By partnering with Adobe and becoming a Creative Campus, RIT students will have increased access to digital tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Express Premium.

RIT prides itself on being an interdisciplinary campus where technology, the arts, and design intersect . To further integrate creativity into campus culture, the university has partnered with Adobe to become an Adobe Creative Campus .

As an Adobe Creative Campus, RIT students, faculty, and staff will have free access to Adobe tools, as well as additional trainings and certifications that can enhance their digital literacy and skillsets. Specifically, the Creative Campus designation comes with the following benefits for all RIT students, faculty, and staff:

• Free access to Adobe Express Premium quick and easy content app on their personal computers.
• Students enrolled in the College of Art and Design will also have access to Adobe Creative Cloud on their personal computers, for a cost savings of more than $400 per year per student.
• Free access to Adobe trainings and seminars that provide best practices and inspiration for how to infuse creativity into projects, presentations, and more.

RIT President David Munson anticipates that these free resources will help sustain interdisciplinary collaboration and encourage students to implement more creative elements into their work.

“RIT aims to equip all students with the skills and tools needed to drive creativity and innovation in their chosen fields. The benefits that come with our new designation as an Adobe Creative Campus will further help our students boost their digital skills to become competitive professionals,” said Munson. “We look forward to seeing the creative outcomes as our students embrace these new assets.”

Access to Adobe tools can create new avenues for communication. And with Adobe Express, all students can enhance their visual communications regardless of their skill or experience level. For example, students in STEM disciplines may lean into Adobe Express tools to enhance their data visualization strategies. Humanities students can discover new ways to visually communicate complex ideas. Researchers might even use generative AI tools as part of their brainstorming workflows.

However they are used, the RIT community will benefit from Adobe tools as they strive to produce innovative ideas and solutions for an ever-changing world.

“Digital literacy and fluency are quickly becoming core competencies for employment opportunities on an international scale. One of the most effective ways academic institutions can ensure their students become digitally literate and fluent before they enter the competitive workforce is through early and frequent exposure to creative tools,” said Dr. Todd Taylor, Pedagogical Evangelist, Adobe. “We are delighted that RIT has embraced Adobe Creative Cloud, as students will now have the tools they need to seamlessly unlock their creativity and share their stories in more visually compelling ways. As a result, students of all majors can nurture the fundamental skills that will be critical to success in their future careers.”

Access to these new tools will make it easier for students across campus to create videos, podcasts, webpages, data visualizations, and more to support their course assignments and research projects. Students, faculty, and staff can also utilize the latest generative artificial intelligence features from Adobe Firefly and stay engaged with how AI is transforming the future of education and industry.

In addition to the software access, students can take courses and earn certified badges from Adobe, showing future employers that they have essential skills in communicating visually, establishing a social media presence, and understanding generative AI.

“We are ecstatic that our students across the university will now have access to these creative, industry-leading products. We believe that creativity and impactful communication are aspirations for our students from all disciplines,” said Todd Jokl , dean of RIT’s College of Art and Design. “By getting these Adobe tools into the hands of our students, they will have developmental opportunities to exercise their creative and communication muscles, leading to advantages as they launch their careers.”

For more information on how to access Adobe Express Premium and other Adobe assets available to the RIT community, contact the ITS Service Desk . College of Art and Design students can find more information about downloading Adobe Creative Cloud on their personal devices on the CADTech helpdesk website .

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RIT unveils $25 million business school expansion   

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RIT Press publishes new title in its Arts and Crafts Movement series

Women, Enterprise, Craft: Chicago’s Atlan Ceramic Art Club , 1893–1923, written by Sharon S. Darling, revisits the Atlan Ceramic Art Club, one of the leading studios of hand-painted china, or “china painting,” in the Midwest. The publication is part of the RIT Press Arts and Crafts Movement Series.