Are you trying to figure out where you want to go for college but you can’t visit any campus now? Or have you received your college acceptances and are trying to to decide which college to go to, but can’t decide where to go?
COVID-19 has closed every college campus, which means all college tours are cancelled. But there are still ways to get to know the culture of the campus without visiting in person.
1. Take a Virtual Tour
Every major university has virtual tours available on their website. In addition, universities have information sessions on their websites students can check out.
2. Look for Admit Weekend Replacements
This is for admitted students. Many of the most competitive colleges have admit weekends. These are important for students because you can get to know the school and immerse yourself in the culture. All those weekends have been cancelled but many of the universities have alternative opportunities for students who are admitted. You should keep in touch with the university through their admissions page to see if there are any updates as to what opportunities they are having.
3. Research the School via their Website
University websites will have great academic information. You can see if the school you were admitted to has the courses and majors you want. You can also find the values of a college online. For example: UChicago and Columbia have a strong core coursework requirement. On the other hand, schools like Brown have no class requirements. In addition, you can find out the costs of universities and financial aid information online. No need to go in person.
4. Read Student Blogs/Vlog
Lots of students have videos on their daily life and what it’s like to go to their school. This will give you great insight into the feel of what it’s like to be a student there.
5. Forums/Quora Posts/ Reviews
You can find what students have written about their university experience online on different forums such as Quora, Reddit, or College Confidential.
6. Reach Out to Current/Former Students
This is great especially for admitted students. Work your own network. Maybe you have a family member or someone from your high school who goes/went to a university you are interested in. In addition, you can try to reach out to the admissions office to see if they will connect you to someone. Or you can reach out to the local alumni association in your city to connect with a former student.
Silver Lining
COVID-19 has completely changed the college process. However, universities recognize this and are pushing back deposit deadlines. So if you are an admitted student and you are unsure of where you want to attend, some schools are allowing you to wait to put down a deposit until June 1st or later. This will give you more time to research a university, see if universities will open back up soon, or see if you get off a waitlist position somewhere else. To see what schools have pushed back deadlines, you can download the PDF below.
