Questions to ask on a campus visit

Our scorecards are built from public sources, and some things only a visit can show. Print this page and bring it along. Good questions are specific, and the people best placed to answer them are the campus minister, a theology professor, and current students.

For colleges

Sacramental life (ask campus ministry)

• When is Mass during the week, and how many students usually come?
• When is confession scheduled? Is a priest available to talk outside those times?
• Is there adoration, and when is the chapel open?
• How many priests serve students, and are they full-time?

Theology and curriculum (ask a professor or admissions)

• Which theology and philosophy courses must every student take, whatever the major?
• Is there a required course in Catholic theology specifically?
• How does the core curriculum connect faith and reason across disciplines?

Campus culture and residence life (ask students)

• Where do Catholic students gather? What groups are most active?
• How many retreats are offered each year, and how many students go?
• Are single-sex halls available? What is the visitation or overnight guest policy?
• Is there a hall chaplain, or Mass in the residence halls?

Service (ask the service center)

• What share of students take part in service? Is it part of any required course?
• Where is Catholic social teaching taught?
• What pro-life and justice programs are active this year?

At a public or secular university (ask the campus ministry)

• When are Mass and confession? How far is the Catholic center from the residence halls?
• Is the chaplain full-time? Are there FOCUS or Saint Paul’s Outreach missionaries?
• What does a first-year student’s week look like if they get involved?

For high schools

• How often is there an all-school or class Mass? Is daily Mass offered?
• When can students go to confession?
• How many years of theology are required, and which textbooks are used?
• Does every grade have a retreat?
• How many service hours are required, and how are they connected to class?
• How many campus ministers are there, and is a priest present regularly?
• What faith clubs, pro-life, and service groups are active?

Found something on your visit that contradicts our scorecard? Please send us the official page so we can check it.