More Students Choosing a College Without Visiting Campus March 25, 2010
Ian Welham on why some college students are choosing a college without visiting the campus
Choosing a college is a very personal decision and includes many factors: location, campus size, majors offered, scholarships and grants available, tuition costs and extracurricular activities. And for many families, the college tour helps provide clarity for many of these factors to ensure that the college is the right fit for the student.
But recently, a growing number of students have been accepting college admission without actually visiting the college. One reason hinges on the reputation of certain schools and their success rate for particular majors. For example, Farrah Steeley is an engineering major at Howard University who decided not to visit the campus before accepting admission. “I knew I wanted to major in engineering and I knew the engineering program at Howard created nothing but success—it’s the Mecca!”
For other students, the decision not to visit colleges may not be by choice. Rather, it is fallout from a challenging economy and the inability of families to finance trips to college campuses. Visiting out-of-state colleges racks up high costs, including gas, tolls, food and hotel accommodations—making each tour as expensive as a mini vacation.
Colleges are beginning to notice the correlation between the poor economy and lower attendance at their college tours and are taking steps to not lose potential enrollees. Many colleges are uploading enhanced virtual tours so that families can view everything from dorms, to classrooms to cafeterias to help prospects gain insight into student life. Virtual college tour websites have also sprung up, including www.campustours.com , www.youniversitytv.com , and www.ecampustours.com . Although college professionals agree that this is a good alternative for families who can’t afford to visit the campus, many still agree it’s difficult to replace an in-person visit.
