5 Ways to Tour Colleges at Home
If you're unable to tour colleges physically, there are different ways to get to know a college through its online resources and social media presences. Many schools are offering virtual tours, chats with admissions officers and current students, and other online options to help you get familiar with their school. Below is a list of touring options, and be sure to check the websites of schools that you’re interested in to take advantage of any opportunities they’re providing to prospective students!
Take a Virtual Tour
Check the school’s website to see if they offer virtual tours.
Some colleges also offer virtual chat rooms to connect prospective students with current students and tour guides.
If you’re able to join one of the chats, consider asking the following questions:
Why did you choose this college?
How was your transition from high school to college?
What do you do in your free time?
What is it like to live at this college?
What does the college do to promote student involvement in campus groups, extracurricular activities, or volunteering?
What are the housing options?
What is the graduation rate?
Are there work-study programs and part-time jobs available?
Learn About Everyday Life
Follow the school’s social media accounts.
If you’re interested in joining a specific major, sports team or club, try finding their specific social media accounts as well.
Explore the school’s student-run newsletters, magazines, online publications, or blogs
Learn about the campus services that are available for students:
Residential services
Counseling
Health centers
Religious centers
Financial aid office
Information technology support
Career centers
Commuter services
Browse Course Catalogs
Read the short descriptions for the courses that may be required for your major
Learn about some frequently offered elective classes.
Find out if there are internship opportunities that you can also take for college credit.
Look into Housing Options
Find out what sort of housing options are available for incoming freshmen.
Depending on the school, certain dorm types may only be available as special living options, honors colleges, or upper classmen, so make sure you become familiar with the type of dorm that you may be living in.
Double-check the living requirements as well, because some schools make it mandatory for freshmen to live on campus.
Colleges offer all sorts of dining choices, such as restaurants, cafes, and dining halls, so check out your dining options and what sort of foods are available on campus and off campus.
Use Crowd Sourcing Information
There are many crowd sourcing resources available for students whose college visiting plans have been impacted by coronavirus. Please note that these are crowd-sourced, unofficial resources that may be helpful to you in your college planning:
Vint Hill Educational Services offers mock tests for the ACT and SAT. These are taken in a group setting to simulate the testing environment. For the ACT and SAT, we will review the scores to see which test the student is scoring higher on. Since all colleges and universities accept both tests, it's beneficial to know if your child is scoring higher on the ACT or SAT. Check out our ACT versus SAT comparison chart for test differences. Sometimes the difference is like night and day, and for others, it may be a hairline higher on one versus the other. The student won't know which test is better, unless the individual takes one of each. We'll use our score concordance chart in order to make a test recommendation.
2022-2023 MOCK ACT/SAT TEST DATES
WE WILL BE PROCTORING TESTS VIRTUALLY ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 9:00 AM. UPON REGISTERING FOR A VIRTUAL MOCK TEST, YOU’LL RECEIVE A TEST PACKET VIA USPS.
PACKET INCLUDES:
ACT/SAT ANSWER SHEET
ACT/SAT TEST BOOKLET
TEST INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE SIGN UP NO LATER THAN MONDAY DURING THE WEEK OF THE MOCK TEST. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR ADDRESS DURING REGISTRATION, SO THAT WE CAN MAIL YOU A TESTING PACKET.
ALL ACT/SAT TESTS WILL BE PROCTORED VIRTUALLY THROUGH LESSONSPACE. THE DAY BEFORE EACH TEST, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE AN EMAILED LINK TO JOIN THE VIRTUALLY PROCTORED TEST. THE TEST INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE USED SHOULD A STUDENT LOSE CONNECTION TO THE TESTING LOBBY. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A WORKING BUILT-IN MIC (OR A HEADSET) AND AUDIO ON YOUR LAPTOP/DESKTOP.
ACT
Register for a mock ACT by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
SAT
Register for a mock SAT by clicking on a specific test date below. :
Mock SAT test dates:
We also offer one-to-one private mock testing at our offices or virtually through Lessonspace. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils.
We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail.
Summer 2022 - Get Ahead Program
Book a summer package and be prepared for the start of next school year. Receive up to 4 FREE one-to-one instructional hours (expires 7/31/22).