🎓 Go Beyond the Brochure

Taking a tour of prospective college campuses is a great way to get to know the campus.  Finding a college that supports your lifestyle as well as academic goals is important when visiting campuses. Here are five questions to ask when visiting University of Texas Arlington.

1. Ask what types of research projects are important on campus. This is going to be important because it gives you a sense of the different levels of support the departments receive. It will also reveal what is happening in a department that is of importance to you. Being involved in different research projects as an undergrad can also assist you if you decide to pursue graduate school.UTA has been making a push to be a research school; they want the focus to be on academics. If being involved in research is important find out what projects are happening at the school that you can get involved with.
2. Find out about the different clubs and organizations on campus. UTA is a big campus and there several different students groups. It’s easy to get lost. Make sure you know if there is a campus group that meets your needs. Finding a group of students with similar interests or values makes college a lot more fun and memorable. Whether you live on campus or commute, you should get connected with a club. This will make transitioning to college life easier.
3. Ask about on campus housing. There are several options for living on campus. Some of the dorms are fairly new or there are dorms located right in the middle of campus. Other dorms are older or are more on the outside perimeter of the campus. There are also apartments on campus and there is Greek Row. Find out how they decide where you will be housed. Living on one side of campus and having all your classes on the opposite side doesn’t make a lot of sense.
4. Ask what your tuition includes besides classes. When I was a student at UTA I didn’t know anything about the on campus clinic. I had no insurance and was going to a regular doctor and paying for an office visit. Part of being student gives you access to services offered on campus. I didn’t start utilizing the clinic on campus until I had been there for over a year. The clinic is extremely convenient and I was always able to get my appointments scheduled quickly. More importantly, it was much cheaper than a regular doctor’s office visit. Another perk is the Maverick Activity Center. Registered students can take advantage of the gym and amenities available in the MAC. This was another benefit that I never knew about. So, when you’re taking your campus tour or meeting with advisors ask about what extras your tuition covers.
5. Find out about campus traditions and events. UTA has some fun events like the bed races or fight night. For whatever reason, I never felt like they advertised upcoming events very well. It’s a big campus, so advertising like posters and flyers tends to be thin. The best way to know what’s happening around campus is to get plugged in with EXCEL campus activities or Apartment and Residence Life. Both these groups host events that happen year round. The best way to stay connected with UTA traditions and events is to check the calendars and keep yourself informed. During your campus visit, listen to the different traditions and events and make a note of the ones that sound fun. Then you’ll know what to expect and when it should come up.

UTA is huge campus with great activities. The grounds are always buzzing with stuff. Keep yourself apprised of events and know what your tuition covers to maximize your college experience.

Elizabeth Page graduated from UTA in 2011 with a BA in communications-journalism.