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Despite living in COVID-19 times it's still Junior Spring, and it’s time to “tour!”

Now is a great time to visit college campuses, even if you are doing so from the comfort of your living room chair. Most colleges are closed and we are sheltering in place, but there is much you can research through the many virtual resources colleges are offering prospective students. If you cannot travel to colleges this spring, the colleges want to come to you!

Here are some tips to help guide you as you explore:

Step 1: On the college’s website, click on Undergraduate Admissions and/or Visit Us. 

Step 2: Sign up for a virtual information session. An information session webinar is an excellent way to learn more about a college’s academic programs, active student life, and how to navigate the admission and financial aid process. 

These virtual information sessions are typically led by a member of the Admissions Department together with a current student, followed by Q&A via live chat. 

Step 3: Take a virtual tour. Each college will offer different types of tours. Many will ask for your contact information (fill that out). Some (like UMASS), offer custom tours based on student interests. Through virtual tours, you can get a closer look at different parts of the campus using interactive maps and other tools. Signing up for virtual tours may help you to demonstrate early interest with that school!

Step 4: Explore the Academics pages. If you have a particular major or subject area you are interested in, spend time looking at courses you would be taking. Basic course information is often available via the online catalog, usually by major. 

You can read short descriptions of current classes or learn about frequently-offered elective classes for each major. This can help you decide if this program is the right fit for you AND HELP INFORM ANY REQUIRED SHORT ESSAYS ON WHY YOU WANT TO ATTEND THAT COLLEGE.

Step 5: Explore site sections such as:  Student Life. Look at Housing and Residential Life, Dining Options, Athletics/Intramurals, Clubs and Organizations, Student Government, Diversity Groups -- the more you find that interests you can help you decide if you want to include this college on your list.

Step 6: Investigate Support Services to learn about the services and resources available to help students succeed. Academic support can include tutoring, writing assistance and study skills courses. Other support may include assistance with the financial aid process, counseling and career-planning services. 

Step 7:  Look at what the college requires and what is important in the application process. Then look at Naviance scattergrams to determine whether or not the school falls in as a Realistic, Reach or Likely school.

Want to REALLY know what goes on with the student body? 

 ● Dig into social media accounts that aren't formal feeds from the Admissions Office. Look for posts by student groups, academic departments, athletic teams, etc. on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. This is a great way to find out about the true, organic culture of the school.

● A college's newspaper can reveal current issues and introduce you to a campus's activities. What types of stories do current students report on? What local events get coverage? College papers can also give you a feel for the level of student thinking and writing on campus. 

 ● If you want to talk to someone who really knows a college, use online resources to look up the contact information for alumni and current students. You can send emails requesting an interview or just ask questions. Some colleges even have live chat rooms in which prospective students can mingle with current students. 

Keeping track of your virtual tours 

You might want to create a Google doc for each college you tour to capture the important information you have spent time researching.  Keep these organized so that you can easily access your notes when it comes time to applying to that college. Taking good notes now-- and thinking about how you would specifically engage at that school -- will serve you well as you consider your favorite go-to colleges!