Given the variety of factors that might influence students' impressions of a campus when they visit, StudentPoll asked the 472 students who reported visiting at least one campus to tell us what aspects of the campus visit —from the appearance of the campus and size of the school to the friendly atmosphere and facilities —had the most positive influence on their choice of a college.

Some 28 percent of respondents indicated that the appearance of the campus had the most positive influence while 28 percent also reported that the friendly people and friendly atmosphere on campus factored heavily in their choice of a college.

One interesting, statistically significant finding is that female respondents were more likely to say that the friendliness of the people and atmosphere on campus had the most positive influence compared to their male counterparts (32 percent versus 21 percent). However, 16 percent of male students reported that the facilities on campus (e.g., research lab equipment and resources) had a more positive influence on their college decision compared to 8 percent of female students.

Other interesting subgroup differences:

• Students of higher academic ability were more likely to report that the friendliness of the people and atmosphere on campus had the most positive influence compared to those with the lowest test scores.
• A high proportion of students from more affluent families were more likely to say that the quality of the residential housing had a greater influence in helping them decide what college to attend than those from families with lower household incomes.