An important factor when choosing a college or university is being able to identify with the campus community. Students in the United States can take a campus tour, but an international student may find it more difficult for to learn about small, important aspects of a school prior to the program starting. YouTube and YouVisit are two tools that can help you learn about campus life.

YouTube

Many students are using YouTube to learn about schools in which they are interested. A New York Times blog, The Choice on India Ink, reports that “since 2008, searches on YouTube for ‘admissions’ have risen sharply.” As a result, many schools now host informational videos on the site. Through such videos, you can learn more about what specific admissions offices are seeking. For example, in a Tufts University video, “freshmen speak to admissions officers and attempt to dispel some of the myths surrounding the admissions process.” Boston University also published a video discussing the essay that students must submit with their application. This video is useful because the personal essay is a way for a student to stand out.

The Choice says that you can also see videos that provide more information about academic life at the school or get an idea about what classes are like. Princeton University created a video that highlights the senior thesis, a big part of the school’s academic culture. Yale University posted videos so prospective students can get a feel for how their lectures are structured. Other videos will show you the social aspects of the campus, such as student organizations or Greek life, like the video  Princeton posted on campus “eating clubs.”

YouVisit

YouVisit is another video platform that can help you learn about schools, according to an Examiner.com article. YouVisit provides virtual campus tours for prospective students on behalf of colleges and universities. Each virtual tour offers “rich-media, video content and 360-degree panoramic views.” The purpose of the tours is to facilitate the U.S. school selection process and provide a “true feel” of the U.S. campus experience for prospective students. You can use YouVisit on the web, through their app, and through Facebook.

If you are not sure where to start when looking for a school, EducationUSA can help you find the right school for you. You should also make sure the school you are interested in is Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified.

Sources:

• A YouTube Introduction to U.S. Colleges, by Just Clicking Play; New York Times
• YouVisit: Virtualizing campus visits for international students; Examiner.com