Questions to Ask Current Students

The people who know a school best are the people who study there. They know which lectures are hard to get into, which dining hall is worth the walk, which advisors answer emails and what happens when you are struggling in week six. They are also not paid to impress you, at least not most of them. A short conversation with a current student often tells you more than an hour of presentations.

This guide offers questions for different topics, suggestions for finding students and ways to judge the answers. Experiences vary, so treat each conversation as one view among several.

How to find students

1. Admissions can connect you with student ambassadors, often by email or at events.
2. Open days and online sessions include student panels.
3. Clubs and societies list contact details, and they are usually happy to answer questions.
4. Department offices may link you with students in your program.
5. Your own school may know former students who attend.
6. Social media groups for admitted or current students exist for many schools. Use them with care.
7. Alumni networks help you reach graduates.

Be polite, brief and specific in your messages. Say who you are, what you are considering and what you would like to ask.

A good way to ask

• Ask open questions that start with what, how or tell me about.
• Ask for examples, not just opinions.
• Ask what surprised them.
• Ask what they would change.
• Listen to what they hesitate about.
• Say thank you.

You can ask follow-ups, but respect their time.

First-year experience

• What was your first term like?
• What was the hardest part of settling in?
• What helped you most?
• Did orientation help? What was missing?
• How did you make friends?
• What would you do differently if you started again?

Teaching and workload

• How big are your classes, and how much discussion is there?
• Who teaches the first-year courses: professors, lecturers or teaching assistants?
• How accessible are professors outside class?
• How heavy is the workload, and how does it compare with what you expected?
• How is work assessed: exams, essays, projects?
• Which courses or teachers would you recommend?
• Is it easy to register for the classes you want?

Your program

• Why did you choose your program, and has it met expectations?
• What are the best and worst parts?
• How do students in your program get internships or research experience?
• How supportive are faculty in your department?
• What do graduates of your program go on to do?
• How easy is it to change major or add a minor?

Support and advising

• How does advising work, and did you find it useful?
• What do you do if you struggle academically?
• How easy is it to get tutoring, writing help or other support?
• How did you find the mental health and counseling services?
• Do you know anyone who used disability support, and how did it go?
• How helpful is career services, and when did you first use it?

Housing and food

• Where do you live, and would you choose it again?
• How do you find housing after the first year?
• What are the real costs of housing and food?
• How is the food, and how well does it cater to dietary needs?
• Is it easy to cook?
• How safe do you feel in your housing and on campus?
• What is the neighborhood like?

Money and jobs

• How expensive is student life really, beyond tuition?
• How did you find financial aid? Was it clear and fair?
• Did your aid change after the first year?
• Is it easy to find part-time work on or off campus?
• Do you have any hidden costs you did not expect?
• What do students do to save money?

Our guide to how to compare college costs shows how to turn answers into numbers.

Social life and belonging

• What do students do on weekends?
• How easy is it to find a group that fits you?
• What are the main social scenes, and are there ones that may not suit everyone?
• How inclusive does the campus feel?
• How do students from different backgrounds mix?
• Do you feel you belong here?
• What is the school's culture like during exams?

Wellbeing and safety

• How stressed are students, and how do they cope?
• How do you balance work and rest?
• What support is there if you feel overwhelmed?
• How safe do students feel at night and around campus?
• How does the school respond to problems?

Be gentle with sensitive topics, and accept it if someone prefers not to answer.

Reflection questions

• What do you wish you had known before you started?
• What would you change about the school?
• What surprised you most?
• Would you choose it again, and why or why not?
• Who do you think would thrive here, and who might struggle?
• What advice do you have for someone like me?

These often produce the most useful answers.

Questions for specific situations

If you are an international student, ask about visas, culture shock, language support, work rules and how the international office helps. If you are a first-generation student, ask about mentoring, hidden costs and how to navigate bureaucracy. If you are a mature student, ask about flexibility, childcare and balancing work. If you are a commuter, ask about parking, transport and feeling connected. If you are an athlete or performer, ask about time demands and support.

Judging the answers

1. Compare several students. Look for patterns, not single stories.
2. Consider the speaker. An ambassador may be positive, a struggling student may be negative.
3. Check claims against official data.
4. Notice what is not said.
5. Remember that their needs may differ from yours.
6. Ask for specific examples.

Our guide to questions to ask before choosing a school covers questions to put to staff.

Recording what you learn

Write notes after each conversation: who they were, their year and program, what they said and what you want to check. Group answers by theme. Over time, you will see which strengths and problems repeat, and which are individual.

Respect and thanks

Students are doing you a favor. Keep conversations friendly, avoid pressing for private information and say thank you. If a student offers to stay in touch, be polite and brief. Never share their personal details without permission.

Sample conversations

A good conversation might go like this. You message a second-year student: "I am thinking about applying to the engineering program. What has been the hardest part of the first year?" They reply that the math workload was heavy but that peer tutoring groups helped.

You ask: "How did you find the tutoring groups?" They explain that the department runs sign-ups in the first week and that most students join.

You then ask about housing: "Would you choose the same residence again?" They say yes, but warn that one building is noisy. Three questions have given you practical advice you will not find on a website.

Another conversation might reveal a problem. A student says that advising is slow and that it took weeks to get a reply. You ask whether others share this view, and look for evidence in other conversations and in satisfaction data. One complaint is not a verdict, but a pattern is a signal.

Online and in-person settings

Online chats are easy to arrange and suit international students. In-person conversations on campus let you observe body language and surroundings. If you visit, speak to students in cafés and libraries, not just on tours. If you cannot visit, ask for video calls with students in your program. Keep expectations modest: a fifteen-minute chat can still be revealing.

Using social media wisely

Student groups and forums give a candid view, but they also amplify complaints and rumors. Read several threads, look for repeated themes and be cautious about dramatic claims. Do not share personal details publicly. If you post a question, be respectful and specific. Remember that some accounts are run by recruiters or agents, and be careful with anyone who pushes you to apply or pay.

Common mistakes

• Talking only to ambassadors.
• Asking only yes-or-no questions.
• Not preparing.
• Treating one view as the whole truth.
• Forgetting to ask about money and support.
• Not following up on concerns.

A quick checklist

• Do I have a list of questions by topic?
• Have I spoken to students from different backgrounds and years?
• Have I asked about problems as well as strengths?
• Have I checked answers against data?
• Have I recorded and compared what I learned?

Final thoughts

Current students are the best guide to a school's daily reality. Prepare good questions, listen for patterns, check what you hear and show respect. A few honest conversations can change a decision for the better.