b'22Visit CollegesPlan ahead and get the most from college visitseither virtual or in-personwith these tips. It is never too early to begin visiting colleges.Virtual College VisitsIn-Person College VisitsLive virtual visits are more helpful than pre-recorded. Register for a tour, open house, and admissionsTopic-specific sessions highlight certain programssession. Ask if you can sit in on classes or view a (such as business or engineering programs) or certain dorm room. Take the entire tour and ask questions. identities (such as first-generation-to-college students).Be engaged with the tour guide and schoolDo your research in advance just like you would representatives.do if you were visiting in person. Know your ownGet the student perspective. Talk to studentspriorities and what features will make a college and ask questions about campus life, activities,a good academic, social, and financial fit.and classes. Eat in the dining hall or student center. Observe campus culture by noticing where studentsRead the school newspaper. socialize, how faculty and staff engage students, Make a copy of the questions on p. 23. Bring them and what support is offered for students of color. with you, along with a notebook and pen.Current students are the best resource for getting Record your thoughts. After your visit, writea feel for campus culture. down your impressions in a notebook. Use the same Individual virtual meetings with admissions notebook to write about all of your college visits,counselors are a good option for asking lots so that you can compare schools.of questions. Do not be shy! Visit when classes are in session. You will geta better sense of life on campus if you visit whenthe full student body is present, instead of duringa holiday or summer break.Consider a fly-in program. If you want to visita school that is further away, find out if it providesa fly-in program. These are hosted by collegesand are usually free, and provide an opportunity Types of Virtual Visitsfor prospective students to learn more about the Each type has a different purpose: schools programs and campus life. Most of theseA virtual information session provides a brief overview programs require an application and a letterof a college and its admissions requirements. of recommendation.Information sessions might require pre-registration. A virtual open house is usually longer than aninformation session and might include any combination of live presentations, pre-recorded content, classroom tours, and a question-and-answer period. Open house events might require pre-registration. A virtual campus tour is designed to replicate theexperience of walking around the campus and oftenincludes 360-degree and panoramic photography.Campus tours usually do not require registration.Gwynedd Mercy University'