Visiting college campuses is a time-honored and valued tradition among prospective college students. It's hard to imagine getting a true sense of a university or college campus—and of college life, in general—without seeing it in person. Although a few schools are still open for in-person visits by requiring everyone to practice safety precautions and social distancing protocols, many students and their families simply aren't comfortable with the idea. Fortunately, most colleges and universities are responding with an array of creative and useful alternatives:
Take a virtual tour. Schools are now offering a number of different options for virtual tours, doing whatever they can to provide a detailed, realistic view of campus life. These may take the form of slide shows, videos, or even podcasts presented by current students who are part of the traditional campus visit teams. YouVisit.com offers a library of pre-made virtual campus tours, or students can contact the schools they're interested in directly. Students may also want to use Google maps to take virtual tours of the surrounding neighborhoods and get a feel for what other resources are available nearby.
Interact with staff and faculty. Many schools have asked their faculty members, staff, and students to make themselves available for online meetings and/or phone calls. This creates opportunities for prospective students to ask questions from campus insiders and get a feel for what the school is all about. Additionally, because so many schools are currently offering online classes, a prospective student may be able to "sit in" on a virtual class.
Mine the internet. Every school has a website, and there are many additional online resources that can provide valuable information about a particular college or university. Look at data about the student population, graduation rates, faculty credentials, and more. With a little more digging, students may also be able to find candid insights on social media. For example, a student who's looking for a school with a strong drama club or a capella singing group could hunt for social media accounts run by students involved in those activities at the schools they're considering attending. The Ohio State University men's hockey team's Facebook page is just one example of many.
Reach out on social networks. Through family members and friends, prospective students may be able to connect with current students and alumni from the schools they're considering, so social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can become valuable resources.