How to Get to Know a College in the Age of Corona
With schools closing their doors left and right, high school juniors and seniors are left with a pressing question: “how can I get to know a school if I can’t visit it?” Luckily, modern technology allows students to connect with colleges right from their computers — whenever they want. In fact, there are so many ways to get connected that it might feel a little overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to break everything down for you:
1) Take a Virtual Tour of Campus
Plenty of colleges have begun using a platform called YouVisit to create pre-recorded campus tours. You can search for colleges directly through the YouVisit website, or look for a specific college by checking out the school’s admissions page. Virtual tours are a great way to start learning about a college since they walk you through all of the main buildings on campus. As you watch, take note of the resources that are available and try to get a sense of the location. It might help to make a list of amenities that are important to you before you begin the touring-process: for example, if you love to workout, make sure to check out the athletic facilities and gyms. Are gym passes free for students? Are there club sports teams? Feel free to click through the entire tour, or browse specific segments by using the left menu bar. Some schools also offer live virtual tours, but you need to register for these in advance.
2) Sign up for an Info Session
Info Sessions are a great second step if you’re looking to get to know a college even further. Info Sessions usually consist of a general introduction by a member of the admissions team, some commentary from students, and a Q&A session at the end. Signing up for information sessions is a great way to demonstrate interest to a college and to ask questions of current students. If you don’t have time to ask your question during the information session, don’t be scared to reach out to one of the students or the admissions representative for your location (their contact information will usually be listed at the end of the information session).
https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch
3) Check out the School’s Social Media Channels
Most colleges have Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube accounts for you to explore. Social media is a great way to learn more about life on campus, the interests of students, and college traditions. Schools sometimes “shout-out” certain students or faculty members to highlight their achievements; if you’re interested in research, this might be a great way to start learning more about the opportunities on campus.
4) Email the Representatives for Your Location
Colleges have admissions representatives that are responsible for different counties, states, or countries. A quick google search can tell you who the representative for your location is. If you have a question that you can’t find an answer for online, your representative is a good person to ask. This is also a great way to introduce yourself to them. However, make sure that you use this option wisely, since these representatives are often flooded with emails and will not appreciate you asking them a question to which an answer could easily be found online.
Hopefully these tips can help you plan and get started on your college research. As always, we wish you the best of luck with your admissions process.