We’ve long felt that the campus visit was the best way to learn about the colleges you are considering, so you can judge college fit and picture yourself living on campus and participating in the college community.  But now, with campuses closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, students sent home and the San Diego area under stay-at-home orders, juniors and seniors need back-up plans.

Seniors

Most seniors were hoping to attend accepted student days or revisit campuses and possibly attend a class or stay overnight in a dorm.  What should seniors do now to help choose between admitted colleges?

Begin by checking on your colleges’ plans for virtual accepted student days. Sign up for the Facebook Accepted Student groups for each of the colleges on your shortlist and engage with the group members. Reach out to your regional admission representative via phone or email. Ask for their recommendation on how best to virtually experience the college. See if they can connect you with a student ambassador online or put you in touch with a current student in your intended major. Use social media to get a better feel for campus life.  YouTube videos, Instagram and Snapchat are all useful here.

Explore the college website. Check out curriculum requirements for your intended major. If undecided, investigate advising resources for students unsure of their path. Go to the student life section and check on student groups and organizations.  Are there groups you are eager to join?

Attend virtual tours on a variety of sites.

Finally, make a spreadsheet of pros and cons. List all of your “must haves” and compare.  Don’t forget the financial aspect—which colleges have offered you aid, what will your net cost of attending be, how long will it take you to complete your degree?

Be sure to check each college’s final enrollment date. Although traditionally May 1, there are a growing number of colleges that have pushed their deadline to June 1 to help students make better informed decisions.

Juniors

Juniors were looking forward to spring break college tours to help decide their application list.  Without the traditional campus visit, you’ll need to utilize other resources.  Virtual tours through YouVisit or Campus Reel or YouTube provide college-produced videos and those uploaded by current and prospective students. 

Dive deeply into the college websites. Review the mission statements, academics and student life sections. Read the colleges’ newspapers to get an idea of issues that concern different student groups. Reach out to your regional admission officer asking how you can best experience their institution virtually. See if they can connect you to a student ambassador online. Ask about the admission officer’s plans for visiting your area or high school in late spring or summer. When you have real questions about the college, reach out to your admission officer and ask them. Be aware, too, that many requirements for the class of 2021 may change. Make sure that you are on the college’s prospective student list so they will keep you informed about changes and or meetings.

If you have carefully researched the colleges on your application list, you’ll know which ones will be most important to visit once you are able to do so.