3 Ways To Find The Right College Fit Virtually
By Jody Bell
Two years ago I was applying to colleges and was completely torn about which ones were considered my “top schools.” Over and over again my family and friends were telling me that it has to do with a gut feeling ‒ which schools simply felt “right.”
At the time I was completely confused about what this could possibly mean ‒ how does a random campus I’m touring for the very first time feel “right”? However, that was before I stepped foot on my current university campus, when I had a light-bulb moment and simply knew that this was going to be my home for the next 4 years. As cliche as it may sound, many people experience this epiphany moment where the obscure comments about which school feels “right” just clicks.
But what about students applying to schools during a pandemic? In-person tours are limited and travel is still considered risky by many, so how is a student in 2021 supposed to find the “right” fit?
Luckily, many colleges and programs are now offering digital ways to connect to students and campuses that can actually be more informative than traditional tours. We’ve compiled our top 3 ways to find the right college fit from the comfort and safety of your own home.
1. Virtual Tours
While most colleges already had some semblance of a “virtual tour”, many programs have now been updated, and there are even third-party digital experiences available.
To find a basic virtual tour of a campus, visit their website or check out the resources that compile hundreds of tours onto one site. These tours are often made by the colleges and are fine-tuned to give off a “perfect” feeling. If you want a more authentic virtual tour, look at Campus Reels, which allows students to post videos of their institution.
If you’re looking for a more interactive experience, we recommend You Visit, which allows you to ask questions about the campus (as would happen on a real tour). If you want to take this a step further, you can schedule a time to video chat a student at another campus and speak to them as they walk around campus on Live Campus Tours.
2. Ask to Sit in on a Virtual Class
With many classes still offered virtually, it’s never been easier to sit in on a college class.
Oftentimes these programs are offered during in-person visits as well, but not many courses are offered and the experience is highly curated. However, in the era of zoom-classes, if you’re really interested in how a specific department/course is taught, most colleges will let you sit in. It’s as simple as emailing admissions with what course/department you want to observe, and they will usually send you back a zoom link for that class!
3. Personalize Your Conversations
Due to the circumstances of this past year, college admissions counselors are more involved than ever in personalizing the admission and financial aid experience.
Many of these counselors understand that there are now questions and concerns arising that many families had not anticipated, and institutions are asking admissions officers to really cater to the families in this situation. So, this is your opportunity to really get to know the person behind your college decision ‒ if your family is in a difficult situation tell them, and if you have concerns about the coming school year, voice them. Even if you don’t have these pressing questions, it’s a great idea to speak to your admissions counselor to better understand the school and see if they recommend other ways for you to get more digitally involved.
2020 was a difficult year, and with many college decisions due in less than 2 months, many students feel incredibly stressed. With limited in-person graduations and no prom, it can feel like you're just going into college without any closure of highschool ‒ and that’s incredibly difficult.
Despite this, we want to remind each student about the absolute joy of college and what's to come. Many colleges are already stating a full resume to in-person classes during the next academic year, and with vaccine rollouts approaching, we believe this might be a reality.
So, keep your head up high, take a breath, and look towards the future with hope.
Jody Bell, 19, is Girls With Impact’s Chief Editor and a program graduate. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, after-school, entrepreneurship program for teen girls, turning them into tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators.