College Tip of The Week #9: Getting a “feel” for a college

It may seem impossible to get a “feel” for the college campus you would like to apply to during this pandemic, but there are still many ways you can learn about the campus from the comfort and safety of your home.

The college’s website is a wonderful tool for learning about the campus life and resources, as many colleges provide virtual tours and images for you to see what you will walk past on your way to classes once it is safe to do so again. You can also learn about majors and classes that you may be interested in, as well as student support services that would help you have the best college experience possible.

Another great way to learn more about the on-campus experience is through the college’s social media, where you can view opportunities and events as well as get more visual insight into what makes the college unique. To get more direct information about student life, visit pages like Reddit, Quora, or LinkedIn, and even facebook groups for different organizations and students at the college. Here you can ask students direct questions about their experiences and the opportunities they have gotten, and decide if they align with what you want from your college. You can also visit college review websites (such as Rate My Professors) to learn about both positive and negative experiences of students. However, you must read them critically, as everyone’s experience is different and may be the result of other unmentioned factors.

The final resource is to contact school officials, who can assist you with questions you have regarding majors and minors to pursue, career services, and more, allowing you to learn about the specific benefits or programs of a college. All of these options are ways to learn about the on-campus experience of a college without having to leave your home.

And if you would like to hear about our consultants’ experiences at Duke, Hopkins, UPenn, or UT Austin, follow us below!