College is often a place of self-discovery for young people, or at least the very least, a place to try new things. However, what defines your college experience and the trajectory of your life is not always the actual academic institution, but the people you're surrounded by for those four imperative years. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in mandatory (and direly needed) social distancing in most states and countries around the world; as a result, incoming freshmen this year won’t be able to physically visit universities following college decisions.
Not having the ability to tour campuses is huge, as the time spent in auditoriums, lecture halls, and seeing other students (pretend to) study on a bright green law often dictates what college a qualified candidate will choose. One of the most important things for incoming freshmen to think about is whether the school’s “personality” will match their own, but with no other way to get a feel for what the next four years may be like, what can incoming freshmen do?
