Newsroom
Making the most of a virtual college tour
April 30, 2020
It may not be what you had planned, but a virtual campus tour can help you choose the right college to accomplish your educational goals.
The key is knowing what you are looking for in a postsecondary school or college. By planning ahead, you can avoid getting overwhelmed with all the information or confused about what college offered which features.
Prior to taking any virtual tours, you should have already narrowed down the list of potential colleges by selecting only those that offer the educational program you want to pursue.
With that factor considered, the first step is to make a list of what you want in a postsecondary institution. list all the features you want in your dream college. As you take the virtual tour, take notes about that feature or amenity. For example, if you want a fitness center on campus? If so, did the virtual tour provide a view of the fitness center and what were the pros and cons of that amenity?
Other features or amenities that you may want to include on your list could include:
- Campus setting. Is the campus an urban, suburban, or rural setting? What type of campus setting do you want and what were the pros and cons of the campus settings for each college you toured?
- Campus buildings and classrooms. Hopefully, the campus tour will offer a view of the building where you will spend most of your time based on your major. If not, check to see if there any specific tours of the building housing your program of study.
- Dorms. If you plan to live on campus, did the tour give you an idea of what the dorm rooms look like? Depending on the size of the campus, the college could have a variety of types of dorms, some older and some newer.
- Facilities. If you plan to spend most of your time on campus, what type of facilities will you want or need? In addition to a fitness facility, is there shopping or post office on campus or nearby. Are there restaurants and entertainment options on campus?
It's also a good idea to supplement the virtual college tour by reading the college newspaper, the local community newspaper, and visiting the social media sites for the college. Those online publications may give you some additional insights about what the college has to offer incoming students.