College Visit Guide - Spring Break 2021

By
UFit College Consulting

The weather is warming, the snow is melting, and spring break is right around the corner. If you are the parent of a high school junior or senior, spring break has always been an ideal time to visit colleges. Like everything else in this crazy COVID year, visiting colleges right now is less than ideal. It is, however, doable. Although very few colleges are offering in-person campus tours, some are providing maps for self-paced walking or driving tours, and all colleges are making a plethora of virtual visiting opportunities available from the comfort of your home. 

We have compiled a list of the colleges we are aware of that are offering in-person visits and tours. This list is fluid since colleges are modifying their policies every day. As always, we recommend that you check the colleges' websites or call their admissions offices to receive the most up-to-date information. Also, some colleges are only offering in-person visit opportunities to admitted students, so we have not included them in our list below. As summer rolls around, there will likely be more colleges offering in-person visits.

Here are some colleges that are currently offering in-person visits and tours to high school students:*

• University of Alabama
• Arizona State
• Bradley University
• Butler University
• Cornell College
• Elon University
• University of Iowa
  
• University of Kansas
• Miami University of Ohio
• University of Missouri
• Ohio Wesleyan
• University of South Carolina
  
• University of Tampa
• Texas A&M
• Texas Christian University
• Tulane University

*Please note that even though these schools are offering in-person tours, most are limiting the size of each group, so check availability and register in advance. Also, most of these schools are modifying tours to exclude entering buildings.

You are not alone if the colleges your student is considering is not on this incredibly small list. Luckily, many colleges have gotten creative with virtual options. There are many other ways for you and your student to explore college campuses. 

Here is how you can learn about colleges that are not offering in-person tours:

• Go on self-paced walking or driving campus tours, if allowed.
  While some colleges and universities currently discourage or do not allow on-campus visitors, others will happily provide visitors with maps for self-guided tours. Please check campus visiting policies with each school ahead of time by visiting their website or calling the admissions office. If you are able to visit campus in person, connecting with a current student is a great way to get information and a personalized tour.
• Attend virtual campus tours.
  You will find virtual tours are offered on most college websites and many schools have really increased the quality of these tours by providing 360 degree visibility as well as the options for live or self-guided virtual tours.
• Use Google Maps to explore campuses and surrounding areas.
  Google Maps is a great way to visualize how a campus is laid out and explore the surrounding neighborhoods.
• Attend virtual information sessions, academic program sessions, and student panels.
  Attending any or all of these sessions are a great way to learn about colleges, academic programs, and student life. Many of these sessions are presented live and require registration, which is also a great way to demonstrate your interest in a school - a factor that many schools take into account in the admissions process. 
• Talk to current students.
  Regardless of COVID, we always recommend one-on-one conversations with students who currently attend the schools our students are considering. If your student doesn’t know anyone at a given college, ask your high school college counselor for names of students that attend the school. You can also reach out to the admissions offices at the colleges, as they will often provide names of students that would be happy to share their experiences.
• Watch student-produced YouTube videos and day-in-the-life vlogs.
  Even prior to COVID, students were producing video tours and day-in-the-life vlogs about their schools. These are a great way to view a school through different student lenses and even get detailed tours of campus, dorms, dining halls, etc. 
• Follow the schools’ social media accounts.
  Colleges today are active on whatever social media platforms your students are using. By following the schools they are interested in on social media, your student can learn about what is important to the school.
• Visit a similar school that is offering in-person tours.
  If a college your student is interested in is not allowing in-person visits, you can consider visiting a school from the list above that could act as a proxy for the type of school they do want to attend.