College Bound: Everything seems crazy, what's a junior to do?

So, you are having to cancel your school tours that you had planned over Spring Break, now what? Although it is very disappointing, there are some things that you can do. First, this too shall pass. Take a deep breath and come up with a plan to keep things moving forward on your college planning. Here are some things that will help you do that.

Posted 12:59 a.m. Apr 2, 2020 — Updated 12:59 a.m. Apr 2, 2020

By

Wendy Briley

, Briley College Consulting

Editor's note: Wendy Briley is a Raleigh-based college counselor and owner of Briley College Counseling. She's offering regular Facebook live sessions to help teens who are navigating the college selection process right now.

So, you are having to cancel your school tours that you had planned over Spring Break, now what? Although it is very disappointing, there are some things that you can do. First, this too shall pass. Take a deep breath and come up with a plan to keep things moving forward on your college planning. Here are some things that will help you do that.

Four tips on learning about colleges without visiting them

We know you are bummed that you won’t be able to visit schools like you had planned this year. Unfortunately, the coronavirus had other plans: coronavirus has wreaked havoc on college tours, and students are scrambling for a plan B. It’s time to get creative and find new ways to learn about colleges.

If you can’t visit colleges during your break this year, here are few ideas to help you learn more about these schools from the comfort of your own home.

Take virtual tours

While virtual tours aren’t as good as visiting in person, they are still a great way to learn more about a college. Most college websites offer a virtual tour under the visit page, or you can head to Campus Reel, which offers 15,000 videos, tours, and experiences on over 300 college campuses. (North Carolina's public colleges and universities also offer virtual tours.)

Contact admissions

Reach out to the admissions offices of all the colleges on your list to let them know you must postpone or cancel your trip. Ask them if they have any virtual options for connecting with their admissions team. Some colleges offer phone calls or might be willing to set up a video chat with a student admissions ambassador.

Use your family network

Make it your family mission to find friends of friends who have students at the colleges on your teen’s list. Reach out to these people to set up a time to speak with them about their experience at the college of interest so you can get a first-hand take on what campus life is like.

Use social media

Many students prefer to use YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about colleges. It certainly requires discretion, as there are a variety of students representing colleges on social media. For that same reason, it can give your student a more realistic view of a school—the good and the bad. It’s also great to follow colleges on all social media platforms.

So, put the map on the shelf for another day and start planning your remote college tours. You may not get to walk the campus, but you’ll still get a well-rounded picture of all the schools your student might love. And you’ll save some travel costs while you’re at it.

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