Tips for Remote Campus Visits
Exploring campuses virtually and doing proper research allows high school students to gather valuable insights and make informed decisions about their academic future. To make the most out of this unique experience, here are some tips for navigating remote campus visits.
Choosing the right college is a monumental decision, and while the traditional campus visit is definitely the best option, it is not always possible. Working with international students, I have many families who are not able to make the trip to the US to tour campuses before making their college decision. Often, even if a student does have the opportunity to tour colleges, they don’t have the time or financial resources to visit all of the schools on their college list. Sometimes, the first time they set foot on campus is when they arrive for freshman orientation. While this is not ideal, there are many ways a student can get to know their future college without physically visiting. Exploring campuses virtually allows high school students to gather valuable insights and make informed decisions about their academic future. To make the most out of this unique experience, here are some tips for navigating remote campus visits.
1. Create a Virtual Tour Checklist: Start by thoroughly researching the colleges you're interested in and create a checklist of elements you want to explore during your virtual tour. This could include academic buildings, dormitories, recreational areas, and any specific features that matter to you.
2. Attend Virtual Information Sessions: Most colleges offer virtual information sessions that cover a range of topics, from academic programs to campus life. Attend as many sessions as you can to get a comprehensive understanding of what each college has to offer. Take notes during these sessions to help you remember key details.
3. Engage in Virtual Q&A Sessions: Seize the opportunity to ask questions during live Q&A sessions. Whether it's about the admission process, financial aid, or student life, engaging with college representatives will provide you with valuable insights. Prepare a list of questions in advance to make the most of these interactive sessions.
4. Connect with Current Students and Alumni: Many colleges arrange virtual meetings with current students or alumni. Take advantage of these sessions to gain authentic perspectives on campus life. Ask about their experiences, challenges, and what they love (and maybe hate) most about the college. You can also use LinkedIn to connect with alumni. This personal touch can be invaluable in making your decision.
5. Utilize Social Media and Online Forums: Explore college social media pages, student groups, and online forums where current students share their experiences. Don’t be afraid to reach out to students on your own to get different opinions and more information. Many schools such as Bucknell and Chapman have student takeovers on Instagram to give real glimpses into student life. There are also plenty of YouTube and TikTok videos out there. Social media can provide endless insight into the day-to-day life of students, helping you understand the culture of each campus.
6. Schedule One-on-One Virtual Meetings: If possible, schedule one-on-one virtual meetings with admission counselors or professors of interest. This personalized interaction can offer tailored information and address specific concerns you might have. It's also an excellent opportunity to make a connection and demonstrate interest.
7. Investigate the Off-Campus: Getting to know the college town and surrounding area is also something to take into consideration. Take a look at online newspapers, social media pages and even Google Maps to research what is in the area, how the relationship between the university and town is, crime levels, and potential off campus housing and local entertainment options. Depending on the college location and campus life, the off-campus can be very important.
8. Seek Out Online Campus Tours and Videos: Many colleges provide virtual campus tours and videos that offer a dynamic perspective of the campus. Explore these resources to get a sense of the atmosphere and layout. Some colleges such as Carnegie Mellon actually offer Live Virtual Tours with student ambassadors so you have a chance to ask questions and request views of certain places on campus.
9. Compare and Contrast: As you visit multiple campuses remotely (and live), create a system for comparing and contrasting each college. Consider factors such as academic programs, extracurricular activities, campus culture, and any unique features that stand out to YOU. This will help keep your thoughts organized as the details tend to run together after several visits.
While remote campus visits may not replicate the on-site experience entirely, they provide an invaluable opportunity for high school students to explore their college options. Even if you do have the opportunity to visit campus, these tips can help with your college search too. By actively engaging with virtual resources, attending sessions, and connecting with current students, you can gather the information needed to make an informed decision about your academic journey. Remember, each effort you make to engage with and research your potential colleges brings you one step closer to finding the college that aligns with your goals and aspirations.
Additional Resources:
Travel and Leisure Best College Towns and Cities
Virtual Tours on Appily (YouVisit)
The College Tour - YouTube channel with real students and stories
Tips for Researching Colleges
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.
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
How to Research Colleges During a Pandemic
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.
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. Many students are 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 schools and use the tools available to them to learn what they can.
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.
Virtual Tour – Many schools offer virtual tours via videos or interactive maps posted on their websites. If they do not, you may also find tours and videos of campus posted on YouTube or check out CampusReel for thousands of videos and tours directly from colleges and students.
Alumni or Current Student Connection – You can 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 or reach out to the college and ask if they would be able to put you in touch 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:
NACAC is hosting four college fairs this Fall with more than 600 colleges and universities participating https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/attend-virtual-college-fairs/students/
The Coalition is hosting a 2 day fair August 26-27 with more colleges and universities participating https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/august-virtual-college-fair
Private Tour – If you feel comfortable traveling and have the resources to get to campus, many schools are offering on-campus alternatives to the traditional tour and information session. This may include driving tours in which you use your own car and are given the audio and map to guide you or you are provided a live guide via Zoom. Some schools are also offering private in-person tours if you schedule them ahead of time. Check out their websites for more information. However keep in mind that the current campus situation is much different than usual with most students having online class and many social activities cancelled. If you want to get the true ‘vibe’ of the school, now is not the time.
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, etc. on Instagram for example to see what they are involved in and what kind of culture they are ‘presenting’.
Hopefully by 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 restraints. 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 resources out there if you take the time to use them.