Students today will never open a giant guide book and they will most likely submit their SAT application online. In fact, most students will probably have their initial campus visits virtually and communicate with college admission counselors using social media. Technology has changed the landscape of the college search process and universities are trying to one-up one another to attract not only the best and brightest, but to appeal to their parents, too.
It’s obvious to say that kids get it. High school students today have never needed dial-up, let alone a stamp. Their parents, however, may be longing for a glimpse of a glossy view book or a thick course catalog in order to share the excitement of the college search. Helicopter (and even fighter jet!) parents can get involved by using the same online tools as their children to learn about college and financial aid options. Many tools are available so it’s important to seek out those that provide useful, but accurate, data on not just where a school ranks in U.S. News, but the non-tangibles as well.
With over 3,600 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, beginning a search can be daunting. Several new sites have emerged that provide tools for finding colleges based on “real deal” criteria such as how safe students feel on campus and how accessible professors are based on student opinion. Unigo offers student reviews, videos, and Q &A forums…a great place for a parent to ask the embarrassing questions usually reserved for the campus tour guide! Unigo allows you to create an account and when someone uploads photos or updates information about one of your selected schools, you receive an update.
Another site to remember when checking out a school from the student prospective is Facebook. Hundreds of schools have “Fan Pages” on Facebook and most allow non-students to join. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on campus events…do you see things happening that you know your son or daughter would enjoy? If not, do you see opportunities for them to make their mark with new ideas in the campus community? These pages are also a great place to ask questions as they are normally monitored by members of the admission staff at the universities.
Two other up-and-coming sites that students are flocking to are Cappex and Zinch. These sites provide a role reversal of sorts in the college search process. Students create profiles of themselves including items such as academic and extracurricular interests, as well as info on any special talents or accomplishments they may want to exhibit. Once a profile is created the student can then sit back and wait for schools to contact them…that’s right, they come to you! Schools search student profiles to locate those whom they feel would be great additions to their campus community and then contact them through these sites. Students have the opportunity to learn about schools which they may not have considered and get updates on cool things happening at those schools. In addition, Unigo, Cappex, and Zinch all offer great scholarship search engines for students within their sites.
Long gone are the days of phone calls to admission offices, having been replaced by a plethora of e-communication styles. Email communication has slowly been replaced by instant messaging and now the world’s “all a Twitter.” Universities are using Twitter to provide campus updates and answer questions in real time. In order to understand Twitter, one must Tweet. It’s free, it’s easy and a great tool with which you can ask questions requiring quick responses a -la “When is your application deadline?”, “What time does the Open House start?” and the ever popular “What are your dorm visitation policies for the opposite sex?”
While all of these sites are wonderful resources, it is important to remember that nothing can replace the value of an actual campus visit or face-to-face conversation with a member of a college admission staff. Also, keep in mind that the college search process is much more than just a senior-year experience. Families can, and should, begin educating themselves on appropriate options as early as the freshman year of high school. With the abundance of options available in higher education, it just might take four years to narrow down your list of schools to which your student will apply. Doing your research first can save time, energy and money that is often wasted on pursuing inappropriate programs. Remember: this process, though seemingly complex, can be very exciting!
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