Make the Most Out of Remote College Visits

While 2020 caused a dramatic increase in the number of students exploring colleges without ever visiting, stepping on campus for the first time on freshman move-in day is not all that uncommon. Throughout history, students have chosen to attend schools that they’ve never seen in person for a variety of reasons.

Colleges are well aware of this fact and employ many resources to attract students to apply sight unseen. Marketing catalogs are artfully designed to highlight the picturesque details of life on and around campus. University websites offer interactive maps that allow families to navigate the landscape for familiarity. At this point, most colleges also have a campus tour available on YouTube or YouVisit. These are typically hosted by undergrads rather than admissions staff so that prospective students get the feel of an authentic tour.

Thankfully, with today’s technology, seeing a college without being able to visit in person is not at all difficult to accomplish. While getting the look and feel of a college’s buildings, landscape, and layout are important components of a virtual or physical visit, aesthetics are only one aspect of the big picture.

Beyond the Tour: Find Out What You Need to Know About a College

Determining that a college or university is the right fit requires research that goes much deeper than campus pictures and descriptions. To really explore what a school has to offer, students should make connections and schedule interviews with alumni, professors, and undergrads in their desired major. During these conversations, prospective students will get a realistic idea of academic life.

Admissions is a great place to start. Admissions officers have a high level of knowledge about every department in the school, and they will provide excellent guidance regarding a student’s area of interest. These individuals will also provide information on professors and departments, and they are often willing to make a formal email introduction so that prospective students can request a phone or virtual meeting.

Academic advisors are an excellent option for informational interviews when teens and their parents are preparing for college and exploring various departments. Advisors are familiar with student concerns and are well-equipped to answer most questions. Since academic advisors spend more dedicated office hours with current students, they can put candidates in touch with a current undergrad to provide further conversation.

Prospective students may want to review papers and research published by the faculty in their major. This will help them identify professors with whom they want to schedule a meeting. It’s also important to research non-academic news about the university and surrounding community to get a sense of the region’s culture.

Seek Alumni for Additional Perspective

Most university career resource offices maintain a directory of alumni who are willing and available to mentor and advise students about their professional field and how their college journey prepared them for it. Another excellent resource is LinkedIn, where it’s possible to search for professionals based on their alma mater. Often, students will find that their parents have mutual connections with those alumni, and they are happy to make an introduction.

College admissions prep requires far more than checking out a school’s website and catalog. Prospective students are wise to perform in-depth research before making one of the most important investments of their lives to date. Hollenback Consulting specializes in preparing students for their higher education journey by helping them use their unique story to gain acceptance at the right university for their personality and objectives. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional resources about finding the right fit when preparing for college.