Many campuses are now allowing tours again, but they are limited and traveling is still discouraged. Most of my students who have gone on tours recently have been disappointed with the lack of what they are able to see and do at this time. Beyond that, it is hard to get a feel for the campus culture when many students are not there or are not socializing as they normally would. While much of this advice applies to researching schools any other time as well, it is particularly important for today’s students to understand the many ways they can learn about schools of interest outside of an official tour. Students are choosing their final college or building college lists without having the opportunity to visit the schools, but they are not taking the time to fully learn about them. It is vital that they understand the continued importance of educating themselves on their potential colleges and universities and use the tools available to them to learn what they can. These include:
College Websites – The number one source of information would be the school itself. Many other websites copy the information from there or from other databases which are not always accurate. The first place to go should be the college’s website. Go beyond the basics of admissions requirements and quick FAQs. Really take the time to investigate academic programs of interest, activities and clubs, campus culture, career services, etc.
Virtual Information Session – As they have cancelled tours or limited visits, nearly every campus now offers virtual information sessions. They will give you a good overview of the school as well as an opportunity to ask questions. It is also a great way to demonstrate your interest in the school and show them you are doing your due diligence. Some schools also offer sessions focused on certain areas of study to help you dig deeper into the programs.
Virtual Tours and Student Q&As – Many schools offer virtual tours via videos or interactive maps posted on their websites. If they do not, you can find tours and videos of some campuses posted on YouTube. Also, CampusReel has thousands of videos and tours directly from colleges and students and College Scoops offers many great video Q&A sessions with students from campuses all over the US.
Alumni or Current Student Connection – Reach out to alumni or current students to get additional views of campus. While everyone has their own opinion, speaking to someone who recently graduated or is currently there will allow you to get an insider’s opinion and get some of your questions answered. You can use the various forms of social media to find them (LinkedIn is great to find recent grads) or reach out to the college and ask if they would connect you with someone. It’s also a possibility someone you know already has a connection to grads or current students from your schools of interest, you just need to ask.
Virtual College Fair – Virtual college fairs allow you to attend several information sessions from various colleges all in one day. Sign up for them online, find the sessions where your potential schools are presenting and join in. Here are some upcoming fairs to check out:
Social Media – You can easily learn more about the student culture and various organizations on campus by investigating them on social media. Check out the clubs, sports teams, organizations, etc. on Instagram for example to see what they are involved in and what kind of culture they are ‘presenting’.
Hopefully by late spring traditional campus tours will be more of an option. But in the meantime, do what you can to learn about your potential schools online and through family and friends. Outside of the pandemic, it is often not possible for all students to visit every campus they are interested in due to financial and/or time constraints. Do not rely solely on the opinions of others and do not expect your family or counselor to do all of the research for you. It is up to you to make an informed decision for YOUR future. There are a lot of valuable FREE resources out there if you take the time to use them.
Additional Resources:
Check out Bucknell University’s newest Virtual Tour experience, a great way to ‘see’ a school without traveling: https://www.bucknell.edu/news/be-here-anywhere-bucknell-virtual-experience-helps-future-students-see-campus-their-own-eyes
Lessons From Applying to College During a Pandemic: https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/admission/blog/lessons-applying-college-during-pandemic/?utm_source=in-house&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Counselor_NL_030321
Virtual Tour Tips: https://www.cappex.com/articles/match-and-fit/virtual-college-tours
New Amazon series touring a different campus each episode: https://www.amazon.com/The-College-Tour/dp/B08QMDXR7Z
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/us/coronavirus-virtual-college-university-tours.html