Not too long ago, there weren’t many ways for high school students to get a closer look at the post-secondary schools they were considering.
You could visit the campus and take the standard guided tour—not always an option financially or geographically. You could dissect the school rankings from The Globe and Mail or Maclean’s, which can be useful, but don’t tell the whole story. Or you could collect pamphlets and other recruitment materials from the schools themselves, which often paint an overly rosy picture.
Luckily, social media now provide countless easy ways to research your potential school. Through social sites you can connect with current students and alumni, watch videos of lectures or campus tours, and discover the real deal on things like the school’s social life or political activities.
One of the greatest benefits of using social media is that you’re not just getting information from the school’s communications or recruitment office—you’re getting it from everyone. You can hear the good and bad from a whole cross-section of current and former students, and end up with a pretty clear picture of what the school is like. You want to make an informed decision, so take advantage of these tools.
Here are some ways you can scope out your potential school:
YouTube: On most school channels you will find a whole variety of videos that provide insight into the student experience. Taped lectures will give you an idea of the material taught in your program. Video tours of the campus and residences can help if you aren’t able to take an in-person tour. Interviews with faculty and students will provide those personal perspectives you want to hear.
Twitter: The majority of post-secondary institutions are very active on Twitter and regularly engage in conversations with students. Individual departments often have their own Twitter accounts as well, so you can talk to someone who has specialized knowledge of the program you’re interested in. You can also search for key terms or hashtags and see what people have said about the school or specific programs.
Facebook: Like Twitter, you can participate in conversations and see what others are saying on the school’s or faculty’s Facebook page, as well as view photos, get news and updates and find links to more content. You can also find student associations and clubs on Facebook to see what they’re up to.
LinkedIn: The professional networking site recently opened its doors to high school students so that they could network and explore post-secondary and career options. Universities now have pages that highlight key facts, including stats on alumni. You can see the top fields that alumni work in, what companies they work for and where they live. You could even search for an alumnus of your preferred program who is now working at your dream job, view their profile to see the path they took, and maybe even request a conversation with them—many people enjoy talking about their career and are happy to offer advice, as long as you act professionally and are prepared with questions.
Rate My Professors: Your professors will make a huge difference in your studies. If you score a brilliant, exciting and helpful professor, it could change your whole academic career. On the other hand, if you’re stuck with a confusing, unsupportive or grumpy professor you might find yourself unmotivated and uninspired. That’s why this site is such a useful tool—students use it to comment on and rate almost every professor on every campus. Before you make a final decision on your program, it might be helpful to look up professors in that faculty and read some reviews. Bear in mind that students wrote these reviews, so keep what they’re saying in perspective.
Unigo: Similarly, this site allows students to post ratings and comments, but about the institution itself. You can find out basic statistics like acceptance rates and number of students, but there are also ratings for things that many university guides don’t cover, such as Greek life, alcohol use, arts culture and political activity.
Reddit: If the school you’re interested in has a subreddit page, you can get an inside look into what students are discussing. You could find anything from tips on surviving your first year, to hidden gems on campus (like the best place to study or where to buy the cheapest lunch), to heated discussions on the latest student political issue. Redditors are known for giving straight, unfiltered advice, so expect the honest truth if you post a discussion question.
Blogs: On many school websites, current students and faculty speak up on what’s going on in their lives or on campus. You can find advice on things like dorm life and studying, and updates on various faculties and their research. Many schools even have a blog dedicated to prospective students.
Pinterest: Yes, some schools and departments are even on the popular picture-sharing site. For example, Carleton University has boards such as “So You Want to Eat on Campus,” “Carleton Celebrity,” “Carleton’s Past” and “What to Do in Ottawa When You’re Not at School.”
This is just a small sampling of all the ways you can connect with your potential school. While social media can’t completely replace the good old-fashioned acts of visiting the campus and meeting with faculty, they are still tremendously valuable tools that provide wider insight into one of the biggest decisions you’ll make.
