Colleges Are Reopening - How to Make the Most of your Summer 2021 College Tour
Elton Lin
During the brunt of the pandemic, colleges across the nation made their tours virtual and closed doors on in-person campus experiences. The pandemic is still far from over, but in light of widespread vaccinations, many colleges—including the Ivy League—have announced plans to reopen for in-person learning starting Fall 2021. Some are also allowing in-person campus visits once again. If you’ve been vaccinated, here are some tips to help you (safely) make the most of your summer college visits:
Go on a college tour. Whether in-person or virtual, schools’ organized college tours are always a solid start to a prospective student’s exploration of campus. Check your college of interest beforehand to see if it’s offering in-person tours. Many institutions, like the Claremont Colleges, are transitioning to in-person visits this summer, while others, like the Ivy League, are not opening their doors to that just yet. Try to snag your spot on these tours early! Colleges that are conducting in-person tours are limiting them to maintain COVID-19 safety, making spots hard to get. However, families who do get a spot will often get the benefit of having a tour guide all to themselves; part of these limited in-person tours is restricting the number of people per tour.
Be aware during your visit that this is summer, not the regular academic year. Keep in mind that what you see of the campus during summer will not be entirely representative of campus life during the academic season. Even considering the pandemic, there will be significantly less people going about their typical student and faculty business, not to mention the weather will likely be entirely different and campus life will be fairly dead.
Explore the campus and surrounding area yourself. Touring the campus with an admissions officer or student tour guide will show you the sights and college life hand-selected by the institution itself—but there’s still a treasure trove of value in exploring the campus on your own. Explore the quadrangle and buildings, and discover hangout spots and coffee shops. Observe any students who happen to be milling around during the summer, and feel free to ask passersby for their favorite places on campus! Wandering around outside of campus can also give you insight into the student lifestyle. You’ll get a chance to see what students at the college do outside of campus-oriented academics and clubs. Bring the family or a friend familiar with the area, both for safety and fun, and check out the restaurants, parks, entertainment, and cafés beyond campus borders.
Take notes. If you’re touring colleges during the summer, chances are you’re planning on visiting a group of them, and those experiences could easily blur together by the time you get home. You want to have reliable reference points to help you remember specific experiences and thoughts you have during your many college visits.This will help you as you focus on your list of colleges to apply to, and with your actual applications later down the road. Mentioning very college-specific details in supplemental essays or college interviews, for example, does wonders for demonstrated interest, and you want to make sure you’re not mixing up your campus experiences when the time comes!
Get in touch with a recruiter. A good college visit starts well before you step foot on campus, and contacting the recruiter in charge of your area is a surefire way to be prepared for both your visit and the application process. Contact the recruiter, introduce yourself, express your interest in the college, and fire away! They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have—after all, recruiting prospective applicants like you is in their job description—and, if you ask, they may even serve as your ticket into buildings that may have student- or faculty-restricted access. You’ll want to keep in touch with the recruiter long after you’ve visited campus, as well, as they serve as a key source of institution-specific information.
Get in touch with current students and alumni. Another valuable source of information about the campus experience is the student body itself. If you have any connections to current students or alumni of your college of interest, contact them and ask them what they recommend for your campus visit. Getting information from college-sanctioned tours and official recruiters is helpful, but unfiltered feedback from actual students is irreplaceable. You’ll want to hear the student perspective to help guide your exploration of campus and the college itself. Ask questions like: “Why did you choose this college?” “Is there a particular kind of student that fits in here?” “What do you like and dislike most about this college?” “What kind of internships and other opportunities are available to you?” And, in the case that you end up applying, being accepted, and attending, you may also land yourself an upperclassman friend!
Attend a class. This is, of course, college-specific, but many institutions offer summer classes, so contact an admissions officer (perhaps your recruiter) and ask them to arrange for you to sit in on a class and experience a lecture or discussion yourself, even if virtually. If you do manage to get a seat, you’ll get a much better idea of the academic approach of the college’s professors and students. Do the students seem intellectually challenged and engaged? How is the relationship and communication between the students and the professor? It’s all well and good to see staff-to-student ratios and passing grade percentages online, but a college visit calls for more interactive experiences. The greatest benefit in most of these college visits is allowing you to experience key facets of college life. Take advantage of your college visit and immerse yourself in the life of a college student, take notes and trade contact information to remember every detail and thank the people who helped you.That way, when you’re sitting at your desk at home later with college applications on your screen, you’ll have a veritable arsenal of experiences at your fingertips.