360-Degree Virtual Tours of 1,000 Colleges

Universities closing their campuses, bans on large group congregations, and the need for social distancing have all ruined the plans of college-bound students and their families who hoped to spend their spring break touring potential “good fit” schools.

But the national health crisis we are all experiencing these days does not need to put a halt to the information-gathering process that is so vital to a successful college search.  While potential students can no longer walk college campuses, go on official tours, or attend information sessions, the tools of technology offer many options. 

Campustours.com offers video tours, interactive campus maps, and mobile walking tours of more than 1,700 colleges and universities. Likewise, youvisit.com, provides 360-degree virtual tours of colleges worldwide, sharing the academic, cultural and social experiences offered on more than one thousand campuses.  Not only are these tours offered in English, but in Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish as well.

While nothing can replace the actual experience of walking the grounds of a college and interacting with its students, faculty and staff, virtual tours are a great tool for previewing college campuses and seeing all the resources and amenities that they offer. Students should then take the next step, for any college they find appealing, and visit the college’s website. Here they can gather much crucial information: list of majors offered, admission requirements, average SAT/ACT scores and G.P.A. of accepted students, costs of attendance.

Students should make a list of questions regarding each individual college that piques their interest, and then reach out to an admissions officer at each school.  This is basis of establishing a relationship with the college and showing demonstrated interest.  But students should be sure that their questions are specific and that the answers cannot easily be found on the college’s website.  

It’s important to keep a record of virtual tours and any interaction with each college, as this information will come in handy when the time comes to fill out applications. Colleges often ask why you are applying to their school and whether or not you have visited. The more information a student can provide demonstrating a knowledge of the school and enthusiasm for joining the college community, the better the chance of acceptance.

Thanks to technology, students can still make great use of their spring break to embark on their college search and imagine what life will be like on the next step of their academic journey.

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.