Campus Visits from the Couch
written by Katie Matti from Georgia Tech
Most colleges realize there may be barriers to visiting every college on your list, and they want to help. So, check the college website's "visit" section for a virtual campus tour. Next, dig deeper! Many universities also offer virtual academic sessions. Hear a professor talk about their research. Get a glimpse of a lab. Learn the job outcomes for a particular major or department. The campus tour is just the beginning.
Pro tip: Here is the sleuthing part! Watch virtual offerings for a college’s surrounding environment. Is the campus urban, suburban, or rural? Did you see trees? Do you want to see trees? Is it walkable? Did you see student gathering spots? What is the area around the campus like? Take screenshots if you want to compare them later.
Social Media and Student Forums Start by hitting the follow button. Follow official and student-run accounts to learn more about the personality and ethos of a campus. Do you want to play club sports at college? Check out their organization online. Do you love art? Start searching for showcases and spotlights. Care about balance and health in college? Look for an active rec center or wellness programming for students. YouTube will often have student videos, vlogs, or Q&A recordings from campus events. You might consider platforms like Niche, Big Future, Appily (formally Cappex), Unigo, and Matriculate as additional resources. All are great places to mine valuable insights.
Be a Savvy Virtual Consumer! Lots of students look at Reddit and College Confidential, and these can be helpful additions to your research, but be a savvy consumer. Be aware of possible bias or misinformation on non-official sites. Consider who is posting. The viewpoint of the source (student, parent, alumni – or none of the above) could influence their opinion. Check the post history on sites like Reddit for frequency of posts and tone. Watch for patterns versus one-offs. One unhappy customer may not tell the whole story, but a recurring theme might be worth consideration. When did this post occur? Last month or five years ago? Check the college’s website to verify facts. Bottom line, non-official forums can be a good place to start, but learn more before forming an opinion.
Location, location, location! Lastly, start checking out the location of the college. Tried and true Google Maps can literally let you see the area! What are some of the top restaurants? Is there an online city guide you can check out? What is the area known for? Do they have the most bike-friendly roads in the country? Do they have public transportation? Is there a major league sports team? Are there any local festivals? (Atlanteans have a saying, “We have a festival for that,” because there are so many different festivals here.) Whatever your scene, start checking out the neighborhood and the surrounding community to consider fit and connection.
Happy research!
Weil College Advising, LLC
info@weilcollegeadvising.com