4/14/20: COVID-19 is Disrupting College Tours (Marketplace)

COVID-19 is shifting the college admissions process and it’s a landscape that evolves daily. The latest layer of complexity comes from personal campus visits. As a part of our Sophomore Strategies and Junior Jumpstart packages, we curate and plan campus visits for each of our students. Families are given an itinerary at their colleges of choice and we set up meetings and orientations with admissions reps and faculty to give students a unique picture of what life might be like on campus. Traditionally scheduled for Spring Break, it’s a worthwhile opportunity to get a taste of college life and students often return having a clearer picture of their working college list. It’s also one of their most favorite aspects of working with us! Now, with COVID-19, college campuses are closed. Virtual tours are great, but as you might remember from your own college search, nothing beats time on campus—chatting with admissions, observing a class, touring the dorms, sampling the cafeteria food, and stopping by the campus bookstore.

What’s the impact?

•We believe that the shift from personal campus tours to virtual might “level the playing field,” giving all applicants equal personality to “tour” a campus and experience college life—from the convenience of their laptop.

• We predict a shift in “demonstrated interest” strategies in this year’s college application season and beyond. Think back to the basics—emails to admissions reps, perusing social media, etc. You don’t have to set foot on the campus to get a taste of campus culture.

• Read more here.