- Who it's for
- Youth / Young Adult, Outside Caregiver
- Child / youth age
- Ages 16–24
- Geography
- National
- Action type
- Talk
- Reading time
- About 4 min
- Last verified
- August 2026
What this is
A short question set a student or caregiver can bring to an admissions officer, campus tour, or phone call.
Why it matters
Brochures describe programs; answers reveal whether those programs are staffed. The difference shows up in a student's first hard semester.
What you should know
- Ask who a student calls at 9 p.m. when something goes wrong, and whether that person is a peer or staff.
- Ask what happens to housing and meals during winter and spring break.
- Ask whether there is a named staff member for first-generation students.
- Ask about emergency grants for a student who is short a few hundred dollars.
- Ask what percentage of first-year students return for a second year.
- Ask what documentation is needed to keep aid from semester to semester.
Talk about it
Ask your student which of these answers would matter most to them.
Your next step
Choose three questions and ask them on the next campus call.
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