Julie Song, Editor-in-Chief
@juliescourant
For the newest crop of seniors, the college exploration process has grown past touring campuses. As seniors finalize their college lists and begin to choose the school for them, there will be a variety of virtual, social, and in-person experiences to guide them along the way, all products of the pandemic.
There is the traditional campus tour which allows insight into the aesthetic of the campus, but more importantly, the student experience through students’ eyes.
“Try to pay attention to the students, including your tour guide. What are they doing? How do they engage with each other? Asking those questions will lead to a more meaningful impression of the schools you’re touring,” John Renda, class of 2019 alum and sophomore at Dartmouth University said.
In fact, tour guides and student ambassadors are specifically there to provide personalized stories, according to Bucknell Admissions Counselor Carrine Gadoury. “We really encourage our ambassadors to tell their own stories, whether it’s the academics, the student life, the sports research, study abroad, or whatever their stories might be,” Ms. Gadoury said. “If you were to potentially come to campus and maybe walk around on your own, you would be missing the impact of those experiences that our students love to share with prospective students and families.”
Ms. Gadoury added that these student ambassador stories can be a defining factor in the application process. “A student actually came into the admissions office and said, ‘I’m here, but I’m here because of you and what you were able to share with me and that made me passionate,’” Ms. Gadoury said.
Additionally, applicants can begin to imagine themself as a student and what their experience might be like. “There is truly no better way to soak up the vibe of a campus,” Elena Unger, class of 2020 alum and freshman at Yale University, said. Elena added that reading flyers around campus, going into off-campus areas, and visualizing yourself as a student is the best way to understand the student experience.
Prospective students should not be discouraged if not able to get onto campus though, according to Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Washington University in St. Louis, Hope Allchin.
“At the heart of many of these stories is a moment where students felt welcomed,
included, and inspired by a community member who took a moment to connect with a
prospective student, and those experiences can still happen in the virtual world,” Ms. Allchin said.
Many schools nationwide have utilized Zoom and their websites to offer virtual opportunities to interact with students and the school. According to Ms. Gadoury, Bucknell has a virtual welcome page with PDF versions of brochures, as well as a multitude of Zoom sessions ranging from topics specific to Bucknell’s dining and as broad as financial aid and application advice. Additionally, Ms. Gadoury added that she is available as an admissions counselor to schedule one-on-one Zoom meetings or email with prospective students to answer questions.
Likewise, Ms. Allchin added that Washington University in St. Louis offers webinars and opportunities to get in touch with current students to ask questions and chat about their stories.
For those tired of Zoom, most schools are even active on social media and updating regularly about the ins-and-outs of campus life. “Virtual tours were not particularly helpful to me,” Elena said. “However, I did love stalking all the different clubs on social media. Getting an inside peek at what activities and events students are participating in is a great way to familiarize yourself with a school’s culture.”
Additionally, the College and Career Center is offering college visits, both in-person and virtual. According to director of the College and Career Center Susan Carroll, these visits are a way for students to focus on their academic goals with the school without getting distracted by the bells and whistles of a campus tour.
Students can expect an opportunity to ask the more specific questions pertaining to their academic goals or inspired by their previous campus visits. “This is a chance for you to bear down a little. Perhaps you’re interested in engineering, if they have aerospace? And if so, are there internships available?” said Ms. Carroll.
Additionally, important information on how a school has handled and is currently handling the pandemic will also be shared. “I think how prepared, how welcoming, and how open the campuses through this pandemic [have been], really speaks to how they handle other emergencies and situations,” said Ms. Carroll.
Students can also use the visit as a way to show demonstrated interest in a school. According to Ms. Carroll, the admissions representative presenting will almost always be the first person to look at your application. So showing up, making introductions, and asking important questions as an applicant can show valuable demonstrated interest to admissions officers.
In the coming weeks, important information will be posted and communicated through email and Naviance. “The best way to have a successful senior year is to check your email,” said Ms. Carroll.
So whether seniors choose to get on campus, use virtual sources, or attend college visits, all offer a way to get to know schools more personally, and to ultimately decide if a school is the best fit.
“Take some time to just be curious. Applying to college is very stressful, but be yourself as much as possible. Be as authentic as possible,” Ms. Gadoury said.
