It is tempting to just surf through college websites when you can, but it is important to dedicate time to focus on each college you are interested in. You are likely viewing a number of schools, and they may start blurring together. By setting aside a specific time to explore each school, you'll reduce confusion and get a better sense of the places that might be a good fit.

Typical college visits include a campus tour, an information session, and sometimes an interview with an admission counselor. You can use this same structure for your virtual visits. It will give you a baseline to judge the colleges you are considering and compare to future in-person visits.

College admission counselors are looking forward to connecting with students in any way that they can. Keep in mind that conversations are not limited to just admission counselors. Many schools have financial aid counselors, current students and professors who are eager to connect with prospective students and talk about their respective schools and experiences.

Make it a point to have a list of questions that you ask each school. The responses to these questions can help you rank schools based on their desirability as it relates to your interests and must-have features. Take notes about aspects of a school that are unique or particularly appealing or unappealing to help narrow the list of schools that you decide to apply to.