Where to attend college is one of the most important decisions in a young person鈥檚 life, and an important part of any college search process is visiting campus. But what do you do when you can鈥檛 physically visit campus and only virtual visit options are available? Below are some tips for getting the most out of your virtual campus visit, direct from our 彩民宝典 Student Ambassadors.
Be prepared for your virtual visit!
Come prepared with some general questions. This will require you to do a little bit of homework about the university you鈥檙e virtually visiting. Having some background knowledge about the institution, as well as your interests in areas of study and extracurricular activities can help drive questions and conversations. If you have specific questions, look for opportunities to connect one-on-one with an admissions counselor or student ambassador since typically colleges prefer to answer general questions during information sessions to appeal to a wider audience.
Schedule your virtual visit early on in your college search process. We know this may sound obvious, but it鈥檒l make your life less stressful since you'll be well ahead of impending deadlines. Avoid putting off your virtual visit just because colleges and universities have more regular offerings in the virtual space. It鈥檚 best to complete your visit early to start narrowing down your options and ultimately make your decision.
Sort out all your virtual visit logistics. This includes confirming receipt and having access to the correct Zoom link, checking your time zones so you don鈥檛 miss your session, and having something to take notes on to write down anything you find interesting, confusing, or unique to the school. All of these things will help you be prepared for your virtual visit, and remember information about each college when it comes time to make your decision.
Explore beyond - the campus and your plans
Another way to make the most out of your virtual visit is to look beyond campus. College is so much more than going to class and studying, so it鈥檚 important to know a little about the city in which the college or university you鈥檙e interested in is located. Some topics we recommend looking into are: what is the weather like? What is the culture or vibe of the city and its residents? What unique, local activities and events are offered? How easy is it to get to the nearest grocery, pharmacy, or convenience store? All of these things can be explored virtually and are important to your college search.
Additionally, ensure the schools you鈥檙e interested in are able to support your Plan B, even if you may not know what that is yet! Many students change majors or pursuits once they get to college, which is understandable and totally okay! We encourage you to research this in advance to not only be able to stay on track for graduation, but also not feel blindsided during your virtual visit should the school or college not have what you鈥檙e looking for.
Be engaged!
Making the most of your virtual visit also includes staying engaged after your visit. Most schools and colleges will send you lots of information post-visit (if they haven鈥檛 already!). We know it may seem overwhelming, but do your best to read the information you are sent, even if it is just a skim. You never know when something will resonate with you or spark an important question!听
Many schools and colleges are taking their in-person-only events and turning them virtual. This gives you, as the prospective student, a really unique opportunity to attend events and sessions you might not have been able to get to in person. Again, the amount of offerings may appear overwhelming, so our advice is to sign up for sessions that are of actual interest to you. This will help you stay engaged in the session and make the most of your virtual visit.
And, while we hope this goes without saying, do you best to limit distractions! Set up in a quiet place and put your phone on do not disturb. We also love when prospective students turn their cameras on - it鈥檚 another great way to feel engaged in your virtual visit.
Clear eyes, full hearts
We know times are tough, and we hope that your virtual visit can be a bright spot of what鈥檚 to come for you and your future. Take time to think of positive qualities and aspects that get you excited about attending college. Participating in virtual visits takes dedication and hard work, so focus on the future reward of knowing you鈥檙e making significant progress in your college search process, and that you鈥檒l have earned a full day of Netflix once your virtual visits are complete and you鈥檝e submitted your application(s). Remind yourself to take pride in the process as it will help you appreciate your virtual visit experience.听
Consider yourself a pioneer in the world of virtual college visits! While it鈥檚 virtually and nearly impossible to replicate the on-campus experience online (see what we did there :) ), this should not deter you from applying or knowing that college is for you. Learn as much as you can about each university and what they are doing during these difficult times. You will be happily surprised by the actions and steps many schools and colleges are implementing, along with new opportunities for students to compliment their former collegiate model.
Next steps
Sign up to 鈥渧isit鈥� 彩民宝典! You can find all of our . Check back every Monday afternoon, as new events are added weekly! If you have specific questions about applying to 彩民宝典, please consider reaching out to and setting up a virtual appointment with your admission counselor.听
Continue monitoring the websites of the colleges you are interested in and know if they are allowing and welcoming visitors to campus. At this time, 彩民宝典 is not allowing outside visitors to campus, for your safety and the safety of their current students, faculty and staff. All-in-all, we just want everyone to remain safe, so that we can open campus to visitors as soon as possible!听
鈥淲ritten by 彩民宝典 Student Ambassadors鈥�