How to Make the Most of a Virtual Campus Visit
What’s so special about a campus visit, anyway? Well, just about everything.
Catalogs, brochures and university websites are all carefully curated to give you a rosy picture of a university’s academic programs, support services and campus life – but they’re no replacement for getting a good look at a school with your own eyes.
When you make an in-person campus visit, you get an up-close (and unvarnished) view of the culture, the surrounding community, the student body and the faculty. In fact, it can be your one opportunity prior to enrolling to see if you’re a “fit” for a particular school – and if a particular school is a fit for you.
But, trips to college campuses are time-consuming and expensive, especially if you have to travel quite a distance. That’s made virtual campus visits a much more common experience these days, whether it is used in place of in-person visits entirely or just to decide if an in-person visit is worth it.
You do need to do a little prep work, however, to get the most out of the experience. Here are some tips:
- Use the Campus Map in Advance
Many university websites offer virtual reality or 360-degree tours that can allow you to explore different areas of the campus, such as academic buildings, residence halls and recreational facilities. You can be certain that you’re still getting carefully selected segments of college life, but you can also use what you see to get familiar with various aspects of the campus before your actual tour date.
- Practice Your Research Skills
You can’t just consider the campus and the academics when you’re choosing between schools. The surrounding community and its overall vibe can have a tremendous influence on how you feel and the quality of your college experience. Before you arrange a virtual tour, hop on Google Street View, AreaVibes and NeighborhoodScout to get honest takes on what life is like (good and bad) in the area.
- Connect With Current Students
Many virtual tours offer the opportunity to connect with current students through live chats or Q&A sessions, and you definitely want to take advantage of the opportunity to ask about their experiences at the school. If you really want bare takes, however, you may also want to explore social media pages that are run by actual students, whether that’s on Discord, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
- Get a List of Questions Ready
Be prepared to ask questions during your virtual tour. This can include questions about campus life, academic programs and admission requirements. It’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions in advance so that you don’t forget anything important – so get out a notebook and start jotting down questions as you think of them during your prep work.
- Watch Those Testimonial Videos
Many virtual tours include videos or testimonials from current students, faculty and alumni – and these are absolutely worth the time investment you have to make to watch them. You can get a better sense of what life is like on campus and what alumni have gone on to do after their graduation.
- Use Your Critical Thinking Skills
Once you get to the actual virtual visit, you’ll probably be guided along by a campus representative – but it’s important to focus less on what you’re being told and more on what you can actually see with your own eyes. Pay attention to the details. Look at the architecture of the buildings, the size of the classrooms and the amenities available on campus. Take notes as you go, and use them to ask additional questions as they arise.
While virtual visitations may not be the same as visiting a campus in person, there are ways to make the most of them. By researching beforehand, connecting with current students, talking to admissions representatives and exploring the surrounding area through the tools available, you can get a better sense of each school and make informed decisions about your future
