The tour is also the best time to ask questions of someone who is both knowledgeable and candid. Guides will entreat families to do so, as they do not enjoy providing a one hour monologue. Don't ask about the student-faculty ratio. Instead, ask for the typical class size for freshmen and then for upperclassmen. If the school makes use of graduate students as teaching assistants, find out in what capacity and how often they serve.
All schools say their professors are accessible to the students.
See if this means just scheduled office hours or home phone numbers and coffee get-togethers. Inquire about the academic support facilities, such as a writing center where a student can have a paper looked over before it is submitted. Ask if housing is guaranteed all four years. At large state universities be sure to inquire about early deadlines to secure freshman housing. If the dorms are co-ed, is it by wing, floor, or every other room.