TECH TUESDAY (WAVE) - It's that time of year for many high school seniors trying to narrow the field of possible college destinations. Years ago, students had to rely on brochures and folders for information about schools. But the Internet changed all that, and now smartphones are changing it even further, enabling virtual college visits.
Websites like ecampustours.com is one that offers free, 360 degree virtual tours, to about 13 hundred on its website.
"Schools nowadays, they realize prospective students are spending a lot of time on facebook," says Yourcampus360.com CEO Abi Mandelbaum. "They're spending a lot of time on their smart phone."
That's why yourcampus360.com offers its virtual college tours via facebook. They also have a smart phone app. That gives in person visitors to its client campuses interactive maps.
"The virtual guide will tell them more about those particular locations, share with them photos," Mandelbaum says, "videos, 360s and more information about that particular location on campus."
That includes information on where students like to study, eat, and play.
Mandelbaum says his company's research found the average high school senior visits up to four colleges before enrolling. He says the virtual visits often spur physical trips to campus.
"A lot of schools, to give you an example, have seen a 30-percent increase in physical campus visits, since implementing our virtual campus visits."
YOUniversity.com not only features tours, but also videos about career choices, and tips on how to narrow the search for the right school.
Universities are also jumping on the bandwagon, posting their own virtual tours on their individual websites.
Copyright WAVE 2011. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WAVE, a Raycom Media Station. 