Last weekend I was sitting at the pool with my eight year-old, and I felt something in me relax… almost like a mental sigh. You know, the feeling you get when summer approaches. School for my son is not quite over, and admission offices work year-round, so there’s no long summer break in sight for me. But still! Like Pavlov’s dogs, I have been trained through years of conditioning that summer is a time to relax. Even when working, it just feels better.
That said, I am also staring down at a long list of “to-dos” that have not gone away. I bet you are too, and my guess is one of them is “research colleges.” So how do we find the balance? How do we keep that summer feeling of rejuvenation and still get important things done?
Growing up, some of my high school friends visited colleges all summer long as a part of their summer vacation. I wasn’t able to do that. You may be in the same situation. Alternatively, you may be visiting lots of colleges this summer but know you will not be able to see them all. What’s the best way to research colleges if you can’t make it to campus? Here are a few suggestions.
Virtual Sleuthing!
Most colleges realize there may be barriers to visiting every college on your list, and they want to help. So, check the college website’s “visit” section for a virtual campus tour. You can find Georgia Tech’s virtual tour here.
Next, dig deeper! Many universities also offer virtual academic sessions. Hear a professor talk about their research. Get a glimpse of a lab. Learn the job outcomes for a particular major or department. The campus tour is just the beginning.
Pro tip: Here is the sleuthing part! Watch virtual offerings for a college’s surrounding environment. Is the campus urban, suburban, or rural? Did you see trees? Do you want to see trees? Is it walkable? Did you see student gathering spots? What is the area around the campus like? Take screenshots if you want to compare them later.
Social Media and Student Forums
Start by hitting the follow button. Follow official and student-run accounts to learn more about the personality and ethos of a campus. Do you want to play club sports at college? Check out their organization online. Do you love art? Start searching for showcases and spotlights. Care about balance and health in college? Look for an active rec center or wellness programming for students. YouTube will often have student videos, vlogs, or Q&A recordings from campus events. You might consider platforms like Niche, Big Future, Appily (formally Cappex), Unigo, and Matriculate as additional resources. All are great places to mine valuable insights.
Be a Savvy Virtual Consumer!
Lots of students look at Reddit and College Confidential, and these can be helpful additions to your research, but be a savvy consumer. Be aware of possible bias or misinformation on non-official sites. Consider who is posting. The viewpoint of the source (student, parent, alumni – or none of the above) could influence their opinion. Check the post history on sites like Reddit for frequency of posts and tone. Watch for patterns versus one-offs. One unhappy customer may not tell the whole story, but a recurring theme might be worth consideration. When did this post occur? Last month or five years ago? Check the college’s website to verify facts.
Bottom line, non-official forums can be a good place to start, but learn more before forming an opinion.
Location, location, location!
Lastly, start checking out the location of the college. Tried and true Google Maps can literally let you see the area! What are some of the top restaurants? Is there an online city guide you can check out? What is the area known for? Do they have the most bike-friendly roads in the country? Do they have public transportation? Is there a major league sports team? Are there any local festivals? (Atlanteans have a saying, “We have a festival for that,” because there are so many different festivals here.) Whatever your scene, start checking out the neighborhood and the surrounding community to consider fit and connection.
Enjoy a Summer Respite
The minds behind this blog are taking a moment for summer rejuvenation as well and will return in August.
As I said earlier, I hope summer brings you a feeling of peace, and a momentary reprieve from the pressures of high school. When you think about researching colleges, don’t be overwhelmed. Think critically about the information you find.
And most of all, enjoy your summer! We hope that fall finds you feeling better informed, and you feel rested and restored, ready to take on a new academic year. See you back here in August!
Katie Mattli has worked in college admission for over 18 years. She joined Georgia Tech in 2014 and works with first-year recruitment initiatives. Her previous years at a private liberal arts college for women fueled her love of student leadership and advocacy. She cares deeply about transparency in the admission process and supporting students, families and student advocates as they navigate the college admission process.