The class of 2021 has missed the time-honored tradition of visiting college campuses this past spring. While COVID 19 has altered the college search process for high school juniors, students can evaluate the colleges on their list safely from their homes. The websites and social media platforms below fill the void caused by the coronavirus.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) provides information from more than 1,000 colleges and universities about changes to their college admissions due to the pandemic. The site is updated regularly and covers topics such as testing requirements, application deadlines, exam credits and availability of campus visits.
College Scorecard is an online tool created by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides data on test scores, admission rates, average annual cost, financial aid and debt, fields of study, socio-economic diversity, racial/ethnic diversity, and starting salaries.
CampusTours provides interactive virtual tours and campus maps for more than 1,800 colleges and universities. One hundred of the schools on the list have included students’ insights about their schools during their virtual tours.
CampusReel gives prospective college students the chance to watch over 15,000 videos created by current college students. The videos highlight student life, residence life and campus culture.
Niche allows students to search colleges and universities on broad topics, some that may not be included on a virtual tour. Some searchable topics include popular programs of study, student body diversity, campus safety and best return on investment.
Colleges’ Instagram and Twitter accounts give high school students a sense of campus culture and provide relevant admissions information. By following the schools on their list, students can determine if they connect with the schools’ content.
Some colleges and universities have resumed in-person tours and more campus tours will start this summer and fall. However, students should take advantage of the virtual tours and online tools now to narrow the number of campuses that they will have to visit during the 2020-2021 admissions season.