How to Make College Decisions Without Visiting Campus
This was originally a piece I wrote for Empowerly, the college counseling company I work for, but somebody else wrote a very similar piece at basically the same time, so you guys get it instead.
After I had received all of my college acceptance (and rejection) letters, it sunk in that I had to decide where I would end up studying for the next four years. This decision was both exciting and daunting. I was scared by how great an impact this decision might have on the rest of my life, but excited to take this next step. I was lucky in that I could tour at least some of the schools I got into. Now, thanks to the coronavirus, campuses are closed, meaning that students can’t visit and get a feel for what campus life might be like. Despite this roadblock, there’s more than one way to learn about school life. Here are a few options you can use.
Virtual Tours
Most schools are now offering virtual tours. While this is less ideal than seeing the campus in person, it can give you an introduction to work with. You can go to the college’s website to find links to virtual tours of the dorms, lecture halls, recreational facilities, etc. As this quarantine continues, more and more schools are updating their information and making new and creative ways to allow students to experience campus life, so keep an eye on their websites to watch out for new resources.
The only downside to these tours is that they only show the things they want you to see. It’s difficult to weigh the pros and cons if you only see the pros.
Reach Out to Upperclassmen
I found this to be the most helpful tool in trying to get a feel for what going to college would be like, even more so than going to admit days. I reached out to friends who had graduated before me and were going to the schools I got into. They gave me their honest opinions. One friend even put me in contact with a campus tour guide, who very nicely answered all my questions.
You might not have friends who go to all the schools you’re considering, but you can contact your high school counselor to put you in contact with alumni who now go there. You can also talk to your teachers. They often have students they’ve kept in contact with and have a good idea of where people are happy.
Watch YouTube Videos
Another thing I did while trying to make my decision was looking up YouTube videos posted by students who went to the schools I was looking at. Lots of people post vlogs and Q&A videos where they talk about their schools. I also found videos put up by clubs and student organizations to see what they were doing and if I would be interested in joining. You can also find blogs written by students to get a similar perspective.
Overall, my main piece of advice is to keep talking to people. Ask questions. Be annoying about it. This is an important decision, so you should try to get as much information as you can.
