Although technology allows today’s prospective college students to investigate schools from afar, nothing replaces the value of an on-campus visit, admissions officers in in the Lynchburg, VA area.

Recently, 25 private colleges across Virginia expected to experience an influx of campus visitors for Virginia Private College Week — an annual open- house program for rising juniors and seniors. Officials at four schools near Lynchburg — Liberty University, Lynchburg College, Randolph College and Sweet Briar -- say that the campus visit is still at the forefront of recruiting efforts.

At Sweet Briar, where enrollment was about 675 students last fall, the biggest challenge is promoting the strengths of an all-female school in a landscape where co-ed colleges dominate. Once students decide to visit Sweet Briar, they get an intimate experience, which officials there said is a reflection of Sweet Briar’s culture and small size.

At Randolph College, campus visits have increased in recent years, averaging about 800 visitors annually, said Margaret Blount, RC’s associate director of admissions and director of recruitment.

“As much information as there is available on the web, nothing replaces walking on the campus, talking with the students and the faculty and gaining an understanding of what it would be like to spend four years there with your own eyes and ears,” Blount said.

Rita Detwiler, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Lynchburg College, agreed.

“Word-of-mouth marketing” remains one of the most effective ways of reaching students, Detwiler said. “Students have a good experience here and they go tell other students.”

Contrast this article with our posting last week: 6 Alternatives To A College Visit

What do you think? Are campus visits important? Even if the school is far away?

Source Article: The News & Advance