Visiting UNH? Five reasons to also tour UNH's College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
If you're interested in life sciences, agriculture, environmental science, nutrition, genetics, marine biology, or any of the programs in UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, a dedicated COLSA academic tour gives you a closer look at the college, the people, and the opportunities that would shape your four years here.
Here are five reasons it's worth adding a COLSA tour to your campus visit and admissions general tour.
Register for a UNH COLSA academic tour
Register for a UNH admissions tour
1. You'll see the spaces where COLSA students work, do research, and learn
The UNH general admissions tour shows you residence halls, dining, and the main campus. A COLSA academic tour takes you into the college’s classrooms, teaching and research labs, and research facilities. COLSA students work across a range of hands-on environments like research labs, greenhouses, animal facilities, and field sites connected to New Hampshire's forests, farms, and coastline. Seeing some of those spaces in person helps you understand what "hands-on learning" looks like in your field of interest, before you commit.
2. You can ask questions that are specific to your COLSA major interests
A COLSA academic tour is designed specifically for students interested in the college's programs and majors. Current COLSA students lead the tour, and faculty get involved, too. Every tour includes a Q&A session with a faculty member where you can ask questions about specific majors, research opportunities, and what life looks like as a COLSA student.
If you're trying to decide between majors, like wildlife and conservation biology and environmental conservation and sustainability, or between the nutrition dietetics option and the health and wellness option, this is the right place to ask.
3. You'll get a clearer picture of where a degree from UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture can take you
One of the most common questions prospective students and families have is: “What can I actually do with this degree?”
COLSA's outcomes data offers a starting point. The most recent First Destination Survey shows 93% of COLSA grads are employed or in graduate school. During the tour, you’ll hear directly from current students and faculty about how those outcomes connect to specific programs, internships, and research experiences. Alumni have been in roles like Public Program Educator at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Community Outreach Manager for the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue Program. A COLSA visit gives you the chance to ask how students get from the classroom to careers like those.
4. A COLSA tour can help you figure out your major, even if you're undecided
You don't need to have your major figured out before you visit. In fact, many UNH first-year students arrive on campus undeclared or change their major at least once before graduating. A COLSA academic session can help you start narrowing things down.
COLSA spans five departments:
- Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems
- Biological Sciences
- Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Thompson School of Applied Science
That's a wide range of fields, so visiting COLSA, hearing how faculty and students describe the work, and seeing labs in person can help you identify which direction feels right, or rule out options that don't. If you're still exploring after you’re a Wildcat, COLSA's St. Martin Career Exploration Office is a resource for students working through those questions once they're enrolled.
5. Why visiting UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture before you apply is worth your time
Visiting before you apply or before you commit is one of the most practical things you can do to make this important decision with more confidence. A COLSA academic tour is an opportunity to see the college as it is, ask more in depth questions, and get a feel for whether this is the right environment for you.
If you're already planning to visit UNH, adding a COLSA academic session to your itinerary can give you significantly more information to work with when making your college decisions.
Ready to see UNH’s College for Life Sciences and Agriculture for yourself?
- COLSA tours are offered in the summer, fall, and spring. Check for upcoming COLSA tours and register here.
- General UNH visit options, including campus tours and open houses, are available through UNH admissions. Check for upcoming UNH visit opportunities here.