By the end of this month, students will have received admission decisions and financial aid award letters from many colleges on their lists. Now it’s time to make a decision.

**Which school gets your “yes”?**

Under ordinary circumstances, making this decision isn’t always easy. Even in a “normal” year, spring is a busy time for seniors. It can be difficult to make a second - or third or first - visit to each college that’s sent an acceptance letter. This is especially true for students who applied to colleges all over the country.

How are you supposed to compare a potential future at a local college (where you can visit multiple times, easily attend accepted student days, etc…) with the experience at a college that’s further away where you’ve maybe only spent a few hours?

For the Class of 2020, there’s an extra challenge - Coronavirus. COVID-19 is causing colleges to close campuses, canceling tours, accepted student days, and scholarship events. So let’s look at ways to help make that final decision easier when you can’t get back to every - or any - colleges still on the list.

VIRTUAL VISITS

Virtual tours are always a great way to see a campus without a major investment. I often recommend virtual tours before in-person tours for students interested in a college they’d have to travel a long distance to visit. Some colleges have virtual tours available on their websites, YouTube has lots of options (though some will be better than others), and sites like YouVisit offer virtual tours for hundreds of students.

Even if you’ve visited before, use a virtual tour to refresh your memory of what that campus environment felt like. You may even get to see more of the campus than you did on your in-person visit.

Don’t forget about the area surrounding the campus! Use Google Maps Street View to virtually explore the city or town around the college. (Pro-tip: You can also see how long it takes to walk from one end of campus to the other or from the residence halls to the dining hall!)

Keep an eye out for other virtual opportunities as well! College staff are working hard, and we’re likely to see many schools offering Virtual Accepted Student Days. Try to attend these, but be patient with any technical difficulties along the way.

ASK AROUND

Hopefully, you built a solid team around you during the application season. Your teachers, your school counselor, your IEC, and your admissions representative are all still here to help answer any lingering questions.

If you were looking forward to sitting in on a class, ask your admissions rep if you can be connected with a professor who is willing to speak with you about your intended major.

You can also learn a lot about a campus from current students. (There’s a reason most colleges have students give their tours.) Ask your “team” if they can help you get in touch with any current students at the colleges on your list and learn what their experience on campus has been.

REMEMBER YOUR WHY

When we work with students, we place a lot of emphasis on finding a good “fit” for each student. We spend time crafting a balanced list that fits our students academically, socially, and financially. In any scenario, it’s a good idea to go back and consider why you applied to that college in the first place. Remember the key criteria that make up your perfect fit and compare that list with the colleges you’re still deciding between.

A good tip is to look back at any supplemental essays the college asked for. Did you write a “Why Us?” or a “How will you contribute to this campus?” essay during the application process? Reread your own answers to these questions to remember your “why.”

START SOCIALIZING

There are ways for you to get to know your potential classmates without setting foot on campus. Join any groups on social media for admitted students and interact with people who are in your shoes. Ask them their “why.”

To get an idea of what life is like on campus, scroll through Instagram and Twitter accounts for colleges, admissions offices, or any clubs or sports on campus that interest you. Right now, they’re probably posting COVID-19 updates, but look back through their feed to see what things look like when it’s “business as usual.”

PAY ATTENTION - THINGS CHANGE

College closures on this scale are unprecedented, and the situation is changing every day. Some events may be rescheduled in a few weeks. There’s already talk of some schools extending their decision deadline from May 1 to June 1. Stay engaged with the colleges on your list so you don’t miss any updates!

Stay healthy out there!