Once students get their big list of colleges from the college search sites, many do not know what their next step should be. Visiting college websites is a great next step to learn more about the colleges. College websites are a wealth of information for prospective students. By learning more about the colleges from the sources, students will be able to refine their large list. Here are seven pages prospective students should visit on college websites.

Admissions
The admissions page should be the first stop for any prospective student. Many admissions pages on college websites will make it easy to find all of the general information most prospective students are looking for, such as majors, quick facts, and admissions requirements. Students will also have the opportunity to sign up to get more information about the college.

Virtual Tour
Not all colleges offer virtual tours on their website, but many do. Virtual tours are a great way to see a college without traveling to the physical location. In addition to seeing the campus, many virtual tours introduce the viewers to campus personalities, such as professors and current students. The virtual tour can also show prospective students what is important to the college. If something is shown or highlighted in the virtual tour, it is important to the institution. Students should also take note of the things not mentioned in the video. While virtual tours are limited in their time, if a big subject is not mentioned, it could mean it is not a priority of the institution.

Financial Aid
Let’s face it. Most students will need financial assistance to attend college. The financial aid website will detail the financial aid opportunities available at the institution. In addition, students can learn how they can apply for financial aid at the college. The FAFSA is a big name in financial aid, but some colleges require other things to be considered for financial aid.

Net Price Calculator
Since 2011, each institution that participates in federal student aid programs is required to have a net price calculator (NPC) on their website. The NPC can give students an estimate on the amount of financial aid a student could receive if they are admitted to the institution.

Student Newspaper
Most everything on a college website is marketing. The primary audience for many college websites is prospective students and their families. Almost every page on the website is designed to attractive prospective students to the institution. However, student newspapers are real and will give prospective students the opportunity to learn what matters to the students on campus. Student newspapers sometimes also highlight shortcomings of an institution that the public would never know if only visiting a college website. Many of these papers also give everyone the opportunity to sign up to receive notifications every time it is published. If the college is one a student is considering, following the newspaper can give prospective students an inside look at the college.

Student Life
College is about the education students receive inside and outside of the classroom. While the classroom experience is important, the social experience is just as important. The student life pages on the website can introduce students to all of the opportunities outside the classroom, such as student organizations, activities, and sporting events.

Career Center
One of the main reasons students attend college is because they want to find a career and job after graduation. The Career Center website will give students a glimpse into the services that are available to help students and graduates with the job search. In addition, many career center websites provide facts and figures on graduates of the institution. While most colleges cannot guarantee a job, statistics and job placement information is a good indicator of a student’s chances after graduation.

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