It’s nice to visit colleges in person, but that’s not always possible, whether due to a global pandemic, the distance from home, or even just a busy schedule.
We often receive questions about how students can get to know a school when they can’t visit. Here’s our best advice for exploring Notre Dame (and other colleges) virtually!
1. Follow us on social media
I always think the best way to learn about something is to incorporate it into my day-to-day routine. If you spend a lot of time on social media, following a college on their pages can be a great way to effortlessly learn about a school.
I personally love our Instagram (@NDadmissions) which often features takeovers from our current students. Not only do they share cool events on campus, and what they’re up to, but they’re also happy to answer any questions you might have about academics or student life.
2. Sign up for a virtual information session
If you want to learn about a school, the application process, financial aid, academics, and student life, a virtual information session is the best place to start. Not only will you hear from an admissions counselor, but you’ll also get to hear from current students. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and hear the responses to questions you might not have thought to ask about.
You can sign up to attend one of our virtual information sessions here.
3. Take (or watch) a virtual tour
In addition to offering virtual information sessions, we also have virtual tours. Although you aren’t physically walking around campus, you’ll get to see campus and hear anecdotes from our tour guides.
You can sign up for a live virtual tour here. If you just want to get a quick sense of campus, you can also watch our pre-recorded tour!
4. Check out student and counselor blog posts
You can read more about Notre Dame from the student perspective here. Read tips from our counselors here. Both our current students and our admissions counselors write blog posts to provide more insight into campus resources and advice for the application process.
Be sure to check out some of the great suggestions we have for writing your application essays, and finding the right college for you.
5. Listen to our podcast/recorded sessions
We know that you’re busy and that, depending on where you live, it might be hard to find time for a live session. We have a lot of great recorded content you can access at any time. You can access on-demand sessions here.
If you’re a fan of podcasts, we also have an admissions podcast called College Bound, hosted by our admissions counselors and students. We have two seasons available, with a third on the way. You can check out the podcast via our website, or you can listen and subscribe via Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or Google Podcasts.
6. Explore our website
You should also sign up to receive emails from colleges if you haven’t done so already. College websites are great resources for learning about a college. They’re all laid out a bit differently, so take some time to click through the different pages. I would recommend researching majors that interest you, information about student life, financial aid, and the application process.
7. Contact your Admissions Counselor
Lastly, if you still have questions after exploring all of these resources, reach out to your admissions counselor. We want to help you find the answers you’re looking for, and support you as you navigate this process. You can find your Notre Dame admissions counselor here.
Maria Finan is an assistant director of admissions for the following areas: Colorado and California (excluding South Bay, Long Beach, and South/South Central LA); Hong Kong, Guangdong Province, and Macau. Learn more.