You're down to your two final college choices. Now that you've read the brochures and scoured school websites, you're ready to trek to the home turf before May's admissions deadline.

Scores of families wait until the acceptance letters are in hand to schedule college visits. If you're in that crowd, you'll likely take the campus building tour led by a couple of energetic undergrads, sit in on a class or two, eat in the student cafeteria, and end the day with a question and answer session with the dean of admissions and head of financial aid. Your high school senior may even spend a highly anticipated night in a dorm.

That's the official part of the campus visit. But it's been my experience that you'll probably hear a lot of things you already knew.

Then there's what I call the unofficial campus visit.

Since you may only get one final shot to kick the tires before making the monumental financial decision, I have a few suggestions on how to make the most of your stay on campus.

Split up. While your son or daughter meets with admissions officials and mingles with current students, stroll on over to the financial aid office to ask about your financial aid package, especially if there are possible work-study opportunities still available for the fall semester.

Then swing by the career counseling department to check out the internship and other job resources and visit the tech support center. With tech, is it a 24/7 operation? Are backup computers available if your daughter's laptop freezes up?

Take in the campus at night. What are the hours not only for the library, cafeteria and coffee bar, but also the student recreation center? Is campus security visible after dark?

Ask about campus crime. College campuses are mini cities, meaning bicycles, watches and laptops disappear. But there are more serious crimes, too.

The student newspaper might run a list of the latest incidents compiled by campus police. But also check out the school's Clery report, which typically can be found online through the school's public safety department. This is the document that all public and private colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs are required to file about reported crime on and near campus.

How's the school spirit? Schedule your visit to coincide with an on-campus athletic event, play or other activity. Does the school offer the rah-rah environment you're looking for? Do students living off-campus show up for events?

What's the proximity to the airport? How easy, and how expensive, is it to fly home and back? What about public transportation from school to other parts of town? And ride-sharing programs?

Tour the neighborhood surrounding the campus. Does it appear safe? Is there a lot of traffic? How close to campus are the grocery stores, pharmacies, shopping outlets and banks, especially the ATMs?

And before leaving, find out where the off-campus hangouts are and either stop in for a meal or do a drive-by. You never know, that great burger and rings just might put one school over the top.

Questions, comments, column ideas?

Send an e-mail to srosen@kcstar.com.