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There’s a lot of talk these days about the toll stay-at-home orders are taking on college and high school seniors. And there should be. These kids are missing all kinds of perks and lasts, not to mention graduation. In the long run, they will be fine and probably more resilient and stronger for this loss. But it still stings.
Less has been said about high school juniors and sophomores as they begin their college searches. ACT and SAT testing is in limbo. Athletes are missing critical seasons for recruiting and many kids have had to cancel their plans to visit campuses. So how do these kids even start their search? Here are 7 ways to start the college search during a pandemic:
Online Tours: Almost every college and university has an online tour of the campus. In many of them, you can “walk” from place to place with a virtual guide giving information about each stop along the way. The added bonus is no slogging through rain or cold! Online tours can be found on college admissions websites. Click the “Visit” button to find them.
Online Information Sessions: Yes, most of them say the same things. And yes, it will probably be even harder to discern differences online. But here’s why you need to attend the info sessions. First, you’ll hear directly from a representative of the admissions office. Second, because you have to register for these sessions, colleges will have a record of your “visit”. Registration for information sessions can usually also be found on the admissions website.
College Confidential: Want to know more about a college from an insider’s point of view? College confidential forums, school profiles and articles give you the low down on all the things you really want to know about a school from students, parents, faculty and staff.
YouTube videos: You can learn all sorts of things about a school from the videos their students, faculty and staff post on YouTube. You can also gain valuable advice and tips about the application process, especially for programs that require a portfolio or project proposal.
Social Media: Most college admissions offices have a Facebook page, Instagram feed and Twitter account. Following them will give you an idea of the rhythm and pace of the campus. It will also give insight into what they think is important for their school family to know. It’s also helpful to follow college presidents and any relevant department heads if they post.
Daytripper U.: Want to know what the town around campus is like? What to do, where to eat, where to stay? Daytripper U. has polled the people in the know, students and parents, for all this information and more to help you visualize your kid’s potential home away from home.
Tap into your network: Now is not the time to be coy. While it used to be the thing to keep college preferences private, in the time of COVID, it might be a good idea to start asking around. You’ll probably be surprised to learn that your neighbor went to your child’s school of choice, or that your doctor’s nephew is enrolled in the exact same program your kid wants to attend.
Just make sure you set aside dedicated time for your tour and information session, just as you would if you were there in person. Sit with your kid at their computer, talk about your impressions after and ask questions, just as you would if you were there in person. Find ways to engage with the community and ask questions, just as you would if you were there in person. None of this is normal, but there are ways to make your child’s very non-traditional college search seem a little closer to the experience you both were expecting (hoping) to have.
Good luck and go team!
