Updated for March 2020:
With the rise of infections due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, this is a time of understandable concern and anxiety across the country and around the world. There are a lot of questions regarding the best way to strike a balance between living normal life and making health conscious choices. Companies and individuals in several countries are making decisions on travel and gatherings in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus. For high school students who had hoped to use spring break to visit prospective colleges, this can be an especially frustrating and uncertain time. However, there are still plenty of things you can do to learn more about potential schools and maintain control over your future.
Check in with Campus Web Communications
Some schools in affected areas, such as the University of Washington, and Stanford University, have shut down in person classes. These campuses have either asked students to leave, replaced physical classes with online classes, or some combination of the two. However, other schools have not made substantive changes to routines. If you’re considering planning a trip to a particular school, check in with the official communications website first. Many schools are posting daily updates as they monitor the changing nature of the coronavirus outbreak, and will gladly inform you as to whether or not visitors are still welcome on campus. Some schools also offer the opportunity to register in advance. Registering gives schools a means of communication should sudden changes in routine occur.
Engage with Campus Social Media Feeds
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great ways to keep up with social messages from your school, and will help you get a sense of campus life at a particular moment. Many current students will also post items related to the every day reality on campus. Following these feeds will help keep you in the loop
Explore Online Course Materials
At many schools that have been affected by the coronavirus, in-person classes are transitioning into virtual classes for the time being. See if there’s a way to get a glimpse of what the virtual class experience could be like. There are well known programs such as MIT’s OpenCourseWare and Yale’s Online Learning site that allow community members to experience the online lecture format. It’s possible that online classes will be on the rise in the near future. Therefore, a useful way to learn more about a particular school is to investigate its online learning resources.
Connect with Admissions Officials
Admissions officials are valuable resources. If you had planned to travel to campus but are now unable to, feel free to connect with your area representative and explain the changes in plans. This is a time of change where many plans are in flux, and admissions officials will certainly understand that. If you had planned to meet with admissions officers on campus to discuss elements of campus life, consider drafting those same talking points into a longer email. Do not be discouraged if you don’t receive a reply right away. Just by taking the time to connect virtually (in lieu of a physical visit) will demonstrate your interest and excitement for a school.
Stay Calm and Take Precautions
It can be stressful to feel powerless during a chaotic situation, but be sure to remember that there are things you can do to take precautions and minimize your risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Follow the guidelines of the CDC along with your local community leaders.