Tufts Blogs

Virtual visits allow for you to get to know a school without needing to physically visit the campus. If getting to campuses is difficult or not possible for you (or you want to get a jumpstart on your college search) then I would recommend looking into the virtual offerings that the schools you are interested in provide!
 

Here at Tufts, we have a few virtual experiences that allow you to get a feel for the school and campus. We offer virtual information sessions (both general information sessions and also specialized sessions for engineering and the SMFA), virtual tours, and virtual guided tours with our tour guides over Zoom. When you are engaging virtually with schools, there are a few tips that I have to help you make the virtual visit as effective as it can be.
 
1.        Research the school ahead of time
Before attending a virtual visit, make sure to look into the college/university more to familiarize yourself with it ahead of time. This could include looking into the academic offerings and the majors that you might be interested in. You could also look into the dining options and housing options that are available on campus. Looking at the school ahead of time will allow you to pay more attention learning about the experiences students have on campus and can help you better understand the vibe of the school as you are listening to the virtual information session or virtual tour.
 
2.        Ask questions that cannot easily be found on the website
While you are engaging with the university/college virtually, be sure to have a few questions that the admissions officer/tour guide could answer for you. These questions can be about the student experience, traditions, campus life, and more, but try to ask questions that you cannot find on the website or with a simple Google search. Asking for average test scores and average class sizes can be helpful, although these are pieces of information that you have at your disposable on the website. Digging deeper allows you to utilize the admissions office or tour guide you are engaging with, and you have the chance to hear more stories to learn about the campus and community.
 
3.        Figure out your non-negotiables for your college experience and familiarize yourself with these offerings at each school
When you are thinking what colleges and universities you are interested in, first start off by identifying the non-negotiables for you: what you definitely want out of your college experience. This could include a specific major, a location, a specific size school, an emphasis on collaboration, a certain student body, and more. Once you know what you are looking for out of your college experience, you will be able to identify more specific schools that you want to engage with.
 
4.        Ask similar questions at multiple schools
When you are visiting multiple schools, in person or virtually, be sure to have a list of questions that could allow you to compare the schools to each other. This list of questions will allow for you to learn the same things about different schools so you are able to compare the types of campuses, communities, academics, extracurriculars, and more.
 
There are many ways to engage with and learn about colleges/universities from anywhere in the world, and these tips I have mentioned can help you make the most of your virtual visits. The college search process should have one thing at the center and that is you. Be sure to keep in mind the parts of the college experience that are most important to you and if you have a question, do not be afraid to ask! Admissions officers and student workers are here to help make this process easier and love to answer any and all questions.