10 Tips to Virtually Research Colleges and Universities

Spring is almost here and it’s time for high school juniors to focus on researching colleges. A small number of schools are offering limited, in-person tours and information sessions, but most universities are still holding all admissions events virtually. With a little preparation and creativity, students can still find colleges that will be a good fit. Below are ten tips for getting the most out of researching colleges virtually.

1. Get a feel of different campuses by taking a virtual tour on a website like CampusTours or YouVisit.  

These sites allow you to take tours of many different campuses.  Unlike in-person tours, you can skip ahead or pause on places that interest you and control the pace of the tour.  

Insider Tip: How you schedule these visits is up to you. Be creative with organizing a schedule of virtual visits.  You can choose to virtually tour a couple of campuses that are in the same area.  These are the ones that you would likely visit on the same day if you were going in person. Alternatively, pick a couple of schools that are the same size to visit on the same day even if they are in different parts of the country. The great part about virtual tours is that you can customize them in a way that makes sense for you.

2. Check out many colleges in one place at virtual college fairs.

Sites like virtualcollegefairs.org and collegeboard.org offer college fairs with hundreds of institutions. Register for these fairs and put them in your calendar ahead of time. If you are interested in exploring historically black colleges and universities, HBCU College Fairhbcucollegefair.com offers videos and virtual college fairs. Make sure that you take notes on your impressions of each school.

Insider Tip: Take the time to figure out which schools you want to learn about at each fair.  There won't be time to cover all of them, and it will be more efficient if you have a strategy and list of schools to visit.

3. Visit the college or university website to research the institution.

You will find virtual tours on the admissions page, but this is also the place to find out information about majors and academic requirements. Take the time to explore clubs, affinity groups, and student support programs.  Again, make sure you take notes on the areas that interest you so that you can refer to them when deciding where to apply and also when filling out applications.

Insider Tip: Pay attention to graduation requirements.  Before you apply to a school make sure you understand whether there are certain required classes, general education requirements, or whether it is an open curriculum. If you love languages, you may like a three year language requirement, if you don’t, it may not be as appealing.  

4. Attend virtual admissions programming.

Many institutions are offering virtual information sessions for prospective students and their parents. Some schools are also offering live Question and Answer sessions.  Use these sessions as an opportunity to learn more about the school, their financial aid policies, and student services. Take notes to remember what you like about an institution.

Insider Tip: Take advantage of these opportunities to ask questions but don’t ask questions about information that can easily be found on the school’s website.  Instead, use these events as an opportunity to ask deeper questions about school traditions, research opportunities, or any other area that interests you. The best questions are ones that aren’t answered with a five-minute Google search.

5. Use social media as a research tool to find out more specifics about different schools.

Many institutions have official Instagram accounts and YouTube channels.   Some schools use these accounts to highlight internships and other opportunities, while others host weekly takeovers where you can hear directly from students about their experiences. If you are interested in sports at a school, teams often have their own official Instagram accounts, which give you more details about the programs and the team members.

Insider Tip: Since many students are on TikTok, see if a college that you are considering is posting videos. These are often informal and fun ways to see another aspect of a school.  

6. Use websites like Niche and Unigo wisely.

These sites can provide valuable information about admissions data and other aspects of a school.

Insider Tip: If you read the student reviews, keep in mind that often people who have a negative experience are more likely to leave reviews.  

7. Find out more about the city, town, and surrounding area.

When deciding on where to apply, it is important to learn about the area around the campus. Trip Advisor and similar websites will tell you the main attractions, dining, and hotel options, and generally, give you a sense of what the place is like.

Insider Tip: Talk to current students or recent graduates about the places they frequent in town and other things they do off-campus. 

8. Talk to people who know the school.

Take opportunities that are offered to talk to students, admissions officers, financial aid personnel, or representatives from other departments that are helpful to decide whether a school is a good fit for you.

Insider Tip: Sign up for alumni or student interviews, if they are offered.  Often, these interviews are for informational purposes only, meaning they do not count in the admissions decisions, but they are a way to gain insight into the focus and values of the school.

9. Sign up for college and university email lists.

This will help you stay up to date on what is happening with the school.  Schools will email their lists at different intervals.  You may hear from one school often while others more infrequently.  

Insider Tip: Some schools track demonstrated interest, so read emails and click on links from schools that are of particular interest to you.  You will learn more about the institution and will show them that you are interested if they are tracking.

10. Try to have fun with the process.

The upside of virtual college visiting is that you can do it from the comfort of your home.  Make popcorn, dress up, dress down, just do what makes you most comfortable.  Do it with a trusted adult or by yourself. You have flexibility with the process. Give yourself time to look into schools that interest you, and take a few moments to virtually visit a school that you may not be familiar with. You might find a new place that interests you!

If you have questions about specific colleges, please reach out to karen@excelsiorcollegeconsulting.com karen@excelsioradmissionsconsulting.com or visit www.excelsioradmissions.com