Most campus visits kick off with an information session. This is typically followed by a walking tour, during which you’ll take a look at a residence hall and stop at the dining commons.
It is useful, but it doesn’t cover the question many families care about most. What will this school actually do to prepare my student for a career?
At High Point University, families can tour campus with that question in mind. HPU is known as the nation’s Premier Life Skills University. Much of what makes that model work happens in specific places on campus.
Here is a tour that follows the outcomes story from stop to stop, so families can experience it firsthand.
Before the Tour
Visits can be scheduled through the HPU campus visit portal, by calling 336-841-9216 or by emailing [email protected]. Space is limited, and HPU recommends allowing at least two and a half hours on campus for a standard visit.
HPU is located within 20 minutes of Piedmont Triad International Airport. Families can stay on campus at the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel, and HPU’s Campus Concierge can help coordinate visit details.
It also helps to come prepared with questions. Families might jot down a few intended majors, two or three industries of interest, and any questions about the Internship Guarantee or Four-Year Graduation Guarantee.
Stop One: Walk Campus With a Student Guide
The tour begins with a student-guided walk. Student guides can speak to what life at HPU is really like, so as you move between buildings, ask about their own career experiences: internships, advisors, and what they plan to do after graduation.
Along the route, pay attention to how career preparation shows up in everyday student life. That integration is a big part of why Town & Country Magazine, working with IvyWise, named HPU one of the nation’s top 15 colleges for career preparation in 2026.
Stop Two: Cottrell Hall and the Career Bar
For a career-focused family, Cottrell Hall is an important stop. It is home to the Office of Career and Professional Development, which The Princeton Review ranks as the #9 Best Career Services office in the nation. Inside the office, career advisors work one-on-one with students.
Stop by the Career Bar, where trained Peer Career Advisors hold drop-in hours Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
These are the students who help classmates with resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. Prospective students can ask what a first visit looks like and how early most students start.
This is also a good place to ask how Handshake works at HPU. Resumes are reviewed and approved by the office before students use the platform to apply for positions.
Stop Three: The Internship Guarantee, Step by Step
While you are with the career team, ask a career advisor to walk through the Internship Guarantee. If you want a longer conversation, request the time when you schedule your visit.
The program is designed for freshmen and sophomores with 59 or fewer credit hours. Students move through five phases, including building an advisor-approved resume and LinkedIn profile, making 40 meaningful professional connections, conducting two informational interviews, applying to eight internships, and completing a mock interview.
Students who complete every step are provided an internship.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. How do most students pace the program? What kinds of internships have recent students landed? How does the program connect with a student’s intended major?
Stop Four: The Kahn Hotel and Alo
At HPU, dining is part of the curriculum. The university exposes students to professional dining etiquette across four years at venues including 1924 PRIME and Alo, the fine dining restaurant in the Kahn Hotel, which HPU describes as both a restaurant and a life skills learning lab.
For families, a meal at Alo is a chance to see the concept in action. Reservations are required, and the restaurant is closed Mondays.
Employers often treat a meal interview as one of the most revealing parts of the hiring process. HPU students practice for it long before they face one.
Stop Five: Life Skills in Practice
If the schedule allows, ask whether visiting families can observe a session from the Life Skills and Leadership Series.
The series is part of HPU’s broader life skills model. Students who attend at least four seminars can earn a Certification in Coachability, an industry-led microcredential.
It is also worth asking your guide about Access to Innovators, the program that connects students with leaders such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence.
After the Tour: Talk It Over
Before heading home, set aside time as a family to talk about what you saw. The goal of a career-focused tour is to picture how a student would actually use these resources over four years.
The outcomes help frame that conversation. HPU reports that 99% of its Class of 2025 was employed or furthering their education within 180 days of graduation, 13 points above the national average according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Make the Visit Count
A campus visit is one of the most important steps in a college search. Built around career outcomes, it can answer the questions that matter most. Families ready to plan can start on HPU’s visits page, and learn more about HPU on U.S. News and HPU’s Facebook page.
