Getting the Most of a Virtual Campus Visit

Prior to COVID-19, visiting colleges and participating in tours was like a rite of passage for high school students.  Stepping foot on campus, meeting with current student, and trying to picture oneself thriving there was truly the best way for a student to make their choice on where to enroll for their future.  Although most transportation is currently halted and colleges and universities remain closed through the end of this semester, high school Seniors are still following the timeline of committing to their future school.  So, how can a young person get a sense of the institution that’s best for them from the comfort of their own home?

Traditional tours consist of the following:

• Standing inside a residence hall,

• Grabbing food or walking through at least one dining hall,

• Quietly entering the library and learning about their services,

• Walking through the Student Center and hearing about some student organizations,

• Seeing the Recreation Center facilities,

• Discussing collegiate athletics and while passing athletic facilities,

• Walking through an academic building which includes seeing the inside of a classroom,

• And all the while, getting a tour of the entire campus by foot!

College and universities are broadcasting the virtual tours that pre-existed on their website.  Marketing teams are scrambling to share additional videos with prospective students.  And although this is great in theory, there is still something that’s significant to the success of each college student that gets minimized during tours: mental health facilities and/or resources.

Prospective students may not necessarily think they need to hear about therapeutic groups for anxious students, or the need for mindfulness spaces to de-stress.  The truth is that 40% of college students identify as anxious or depressed.  That’s a lot of current and incoming students who are in need of additional support to thrive on campus!

College is a high-stakes environment, whether you enrolled with pre-existing mental health concerns or not.  So, when you’re doing your virtual campus tour, make sure you research if your future college or university has an Active Minds Chapter, or if they are JED Campus.  Find out what well-being, mental health, and/or psychological programming exists on campus.  After all, you’ll be paying for it!  

For questions or comments contact Joanna.