COVID has changed college admissions in every way imaginable. One tiny example is that in many cases, students who are applying to college in the coming months will seek admission to campuses on which they’ve never set foot.

It’s not imperative that students visit every campus they apply to, but it is important for students to understand broadly whether they prefer a large or small campus; an urban, suburban, or rural setting; public or private, etc. Students who planned to start their visits last spring are not even able to get a feel for basic decisions like these.

So we have to shift our focus to what we CAN do. Here are some ways to learn about colleges without having set foot on campus:

1. Many campuses have scheduled virtual conversations with admissions officers, current students, professors, and other campus professionals. You can join an already scheduled visit, or reach out to your admissions officer and schedule your own private conversation. Google the regional admissions officer at the college you are interested in and drop them an email to start the conversation.

2. Look for videos from admissions officers, administrators, campus housing departments, and even students on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Many colleges have their own YouTube channels with extensive videos and discussions about their campus, academic programs, social life, location, etc.

3. Rating sites like Niche.com and College Confidential are filled with reviews from students about what life is like on campus.

4. Ask the advice of your independent educational consultant (independent college counselor). Counselors have visited scores if not hundreds of campuses throughout their career and can provide advice or guide your search.