Five Ways to Explore a College Beyond the Website

A college’s website is a great resource for prospective students, at any point in the college search – but especially during a time like this when many schools are limiting on-campus visits to minimize the impact of COVID-19.

Whether you’re a sophomore just beginning your college search or a junior or senior beginning to narrow your options down, a website like meredith.edu can answer many questions: Does the college offer my major? What kind of financial aid is available? Can I have a car on campus?

But what other resources can help you learn about a college that interests you? Here are four options to consider as you research colleges and universities.

1.  The best way to get your questions answered about a school is to speak directly with an admissions counselor. At Meredith, we offer personalized, one-on-one virtual information sessions via Zoom. These sessions allow you to chat with a counselor about your individual situation so that they can give you personalized answers based on where you’re at in the college search process. Sign up for a session via our online portal.

2. In addition to meeting with an admissions counselor, you can build on your knowledge of a school and get an idea of what it’s like to go there by following them on social media. Following a college that interests you on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter is a good way to keep up with the happenings of the school. Colleges use social media to share photos and news, celebrate student accomplishments, and promote events. (You can even get a sense of what the weather is like – at Meredith, we get all four seasons!)

3.   Search for your potential school on YouTube. Most colleges, including Meredith, have their own YouTube channel. Ours includes videos about majors, the Strong Stories of our students, faculty, and alumnae, and videos that showcase campus life and traditions. There’s our Meredith Minute series, in which faculty members explain a topic related to their areas of expertise. You can also find videos made by our students on the Student Take channel.

4.   Connect with current students. Maybe you already know someone who attends the school you’re interested in, or perhaps your admissions counselor can connect you with some. At Meredith, there are a couple of ways we can connect you with current students. You can sign up for one of our Friendly Friday Conversations or a webinar. Through either of these virtual options, current students will be available via Zoom to answer your questions about life at Meredith. Friendly Friday Conversations are small group chats with current Meredith students, an admissions counselor, and other high school students who are researching Meredith. Our webinar events feature Q&A portions, giving you the opportunity to have your questions answered in real time.

5.   Talk to alumni of the school. Get the scoop about a school by talking to someone who went there. You may know a recent graduate of your high school who now attends your prospective college. Get in touch and ask how their experience is going. Some colleges also have alumni connect with prospective students in their area. If this interests you, inquire with the admissions office to see what options are available.

Of course, you may still have questions even after all of this research. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your admissions counselor, a great resource who can speak to your individual situation. Never feel like your question isn’t worth asking – that’s why your counselor is there!