In the next few weeks, many students and their parents will take advantage of the holiday break from work and school to visit colleges they plan on applying to. Here are a few things to look for while on those campus tours.

Local infrastructure:
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 58 percent of students will take more than 48 months to complete their bachelor degree programs. That means that most students can expect to live away at college for at least that amount of time. Oftentimes, a college’s tuition and fees may be affordable but the cost of attendance may be more when you add in the everyday living expenses.

Ask the tour guide, where will you eat? Where will you do laundry? How far away will the library and computer labs be? Is there a public transportation system available? If so, what are its hours of operation? Can you get around on a bicycle or will you need a car?

Nearby urban center:
Many students rely on part time jobs and internships to pay for everyday expenses and to gain experience in their field of study. Unfortunately, for every job vacancy, there are usually dozens of candidates for each of those jobs; especially in small college towns.

If possible, try to attend a college that has a mid-size (or larger) urban center within commuting distance. Usually, these cities will have more job opportunities for students than smaller college towns.

Campus office hours:
During college tours, the guides will often show off their biggest and prettiest buildings and features. However, what good does it do you to have an Olympic sized pool at your college if only members of the swim team are allowed to use it for instance? What good is ...