Our students are well aware of the virtual ways to learn about colleges. There’s just one thing missing—their parents. While it’s great that students are independent, having both the student and parents sit down for the virtual visits can be a great bonding experience, and be very productive.

Students and parents can work together to ask admission officers the right questions, discuss impressions about the schools, and have a real dialogue about where the search is going. Based on those conversations, students can then narrow down their lists and do more research on the schools in which they’re interested.

If you are comfortable, and the college allows it, do a drive together through the campus. See what the surrounding town is like. Gauge how you feel about the distance from home, the campus, the weather. Take some of what you’re seeing with a grain of salt because most campuses aren’t at full capacity right now. After you visit and do your research, share your opinions with your consultant. We’ve seen hundreds of colleges and universities around the country and abroad as a staff, and we’re continuing to visit them virtually, just like you are.