As school ramps up, so does college tour season for juniors and seniors here on the Hill.

Mrs. Beth Brandes, college and school counselor, wants students to take advantage of virtual college visits that help students find the college that is right for them.

College tour season is nothing unusual for the fall. Students night take a day trip to learn about a university, or colleges would conduct seminars to educate prospective students about the benefits of choosing one college over another. “Normally, pre-Covid college visits with students would take place in a small group setting,” Brandes said. 

That has all changed due to the virus.

Because of the pandemic, these tours are “taking on a virtual format,” Brandes said. Colleges provide virtual tours to students through short meetings or through virtual seminars. “Colleges have gotten very creative on how they put together their virtual tours,” Brandes said. 

According to Brandes, more than 60 colleges will open their online doors to students within the next few months. The college visit schedule can be found on Naviance through accessing the student portal or by contacting one of the college counselors.

Brandes stressed the benefit of attending these college visits. “Being able to put a name with a face and establish that relationship is important,” Brandes said, “and (it) can have a real impact in this whole process.” Making that connection with a university can be the vital difference between being accepted and being denied.

“The key word is communication,” Brandes said.

These college visits represent glimpses students here on the Hill get regarding their possible futures. Whether in-person or online, these presentations will help students set their course in life. These choices can seem daunting, but Brandes said she looks forward to this time of the year. “This is a fun season for me and my colleagues,” Brandes said. “Very busy but also very exciting.”