14 | FEATURES CAMPUS TOURS Washington University has opened its campus up for in-person tours. However, many colleges have kept their tours virtual due to COVID-19.
Virtual vs. In-Person:
College touring process revamps class of 22’s senior year Izzy Sareen ’22 Staff Writer
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he college process is new to the class of 2022, and it’s extraordinarily different than those in years past. Contrary to the pre-COVID era, college visits are currently either virtual or happening in small groups. Certain states have shut down college tours, admissions interviews and visits in their entirety, while other states like Texas and Alabama have completely reopened their colleges and universities to the public. But, the majority of schools across the country are sticking to the method of virtual campus tours that were adopted during COVID-19. However, many Staples students believe that virtual tours are helpful for gathering information, but inefficient for getting a true view of the school for what it is. “I think [virtual tours] make it real-
ly challenging for kids to de- schools without having to go on cide whether or not they like huge road trips and miss school the school because they can- for them,” Sarah Toohey ’22 said. not be there in person, getUltimately, according to Inting a sense of what daily life side Higher Ed, students who is like,” Jack Rosier w’22 said. can physically get on campus and Zoom live streams and get the whole picture for what virtual information sessions the school really is, are more along with virtual tours have be- likely to feel inclined to apply, come the way of life during the especially if the school fits their past few years. Many are dissatis- individual wants and needs. fied with the virtual college visits, In recognition of this fact, resulting Holy Cross in an overCollege in all thumbs Indiana down for has recentthe curly opened rent college its doors process. for in-per“ F o r son tours, the colalong with -Olivia Marshall ’22 lege virtual meet and tours, you definitely don’t get a greets with some of the staff. sense of the college,” Olivia MarThrough their regulations shall ’22 said. “I find it really hard of having only 20 people on a to judge whether or not I want tour at once, only visiting certain to go to a school based on what buildings, and providing a good the college looks like on a screen. amount of information on the Not all schools are doing in-per- school, Holy Cross College has son tours yet, so COVID has been able to assure the safety of affected my ability to get a real their visitors through COVID-19, sense of what [a] school is like.” while giving them a detailed, There are some Staples in-depth tour of the campus. High School seniors, how“I find it both an informative ever, who believe the virtu- and exhilarating experience to al college-touring experience be able to be given an in-person comes with its advantages. tour at a college,” Shawn Zhai “I think college Zooms are ’22 said, “especially since where great because it’s so much eas- we go is going to be our life for ier to see a greater number of the next four or more years.”
“For the college virtual tours, you definitely don’t get a sense of the college.”
