Virtual Tours of Colleges: Explore Top Universities Remotely
Students are graduating from High School and preparing for college. Traditionally, campus tours are essential for choosing a college. However, the current global pandemic and geographical distances can make in-person tours challenging for High School graduates. Virtual Tours of Colleges offer a perfect solution.
Virtual Tours are incredibly reliable and convenient. You can explore your dream schools from the comfort of your home, saving time and travel expenses. Plus, they are completely FREE – no need to budget for gas or flights.
Let’s embark on a virtual tour of four of the nation’s best colleges. Hopefully, this helps High School graduates ease their decision-making process for their home for the next four years. Here we go!
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Located in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, UCLA is renowned for its stunning campus. With its vibrant green spaces and grand architecture, UCLA makes a strong case for being one of the most beautiful colleges in the United States.
Our first stop at UCLA is Royce Hall, the iconic building often featured in student photos on social media. It houses many language and literature classes and features a main auditorium for important speeches and performances.
Next, we visit Powell Library, which boasts a unique Roman-inspired architecture. Its grand windows, hand-carved stair rails, vintage lamp, and warm-toned walls create an elegant atmosphere.
Bruins Plaza is a lively area for socializing and extracurricular activities, featuring the student union center, school store, dining options, and a gymnasium. A prominent 42 statue honors Jackie Robinson in front of the Jackie Robinson Athletics & Recreation Complex, alongside the famous Bruin bear statue.
Finally, we explore the UCLA Hall of Fame, showcasing numerous trophies. UCLA once held the record for the most championship wins among US colleges, a title now held by Stanford University.
Concluding our UCLA tour, we depart past the dorms, the Inverted Fountain, and down the Janss steps, impressed by its beauty. What’s next on our Virtual Tours of Colleges?
Harvard University
We are now heading to the prestigious Ivy League. Welcome to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for its impressive alumni, including Mark Zuckerberg, the Obamas, and Natalie Portman, Harvard’s campus is spread out with its academic buildings within a ten-mile radius. Let’s explore what makes this campus so special.
The Harvard Yards feature elegant brick architecture throughout its grounds and buildings, complemented by a large grassy quad. This historic campus exudes timeless elegance.
The iconic Memorial Library stands prominently in the center of Harvard Yards, often a subject for student photos. Across from it is the Memorial Church, with its striking red flooring, white pews, and a high balcony.
A famous statue of John Harvard, the university’s founder, presides over the Harvard Yards. Tradition dictates rubbing his feet for good luck and knowledge, which has worn down the bronze finish on his shoes. Another tradition involves urinating on the statue before graduation, so be sure to wash your hands!
The Harvard Library is a vast space with high ceilings, white marble walls, grand pillars, and a stunning chandelier. The reading room is equally impressive, featuring more pillars, bookshelves, and large windows that fill the space with natural light.
Harvard Commons, a recently renovated area, serves as an excellent study spot, featuring a modern aesthetic with red-orange couches, glass elements, and high ceilings with balconies.
Exiting campus, we enter Harvard Square, a vibrant area with shops, bars, and restaurants that maintain the campus’s brick architecture, seamlessly blending the university feel with the surrounding city.
University of Alabama
Roll tide! We’re heading south to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to explore the University of Alabama. Beyond its renowned football team, the University of Alabama boasts a beautiful campus.
Our tour begins at The Quad, unique in its division into two areas: the west side for academics, surrounded by trees and quiet spaces, and the east side for recreation, offering open fields. In the heart of The Quad stands Denny Chimes, honoring a university icon, with the President’s Mansion, a large white house with pillars, located opposite.
The Ferguson Center is a massive 300,000 square foot student union building housing the school store, an art gallery, the Ferguson Theatre, a food court, and offices for student organizations.
At the Robert E. Witt Activity Center, you’ll find a 32-foot rock climbing wall, weight rooms, basketball courts, and facilities for floor hockey and soccer across multiple floors.
The iconic Bryant Denny Stadium, the site of many events, is a short walk from campus. This domed stadium, which underwent a $93 million renovation, can accommodate thousands of students.
Outside the campus, you’ll notice large mansion houses owned by the University of Alabama’s fraternities and sororities. With 45 fraternities and 28 sororities, about 30% of students participate in Greek life, residing in these impressive homes.
This was a fantastic tour filled with great vibes. To wrap up our Virtual Tours of Colleges, we’re heading back north for our final stop.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
We’ve returned to our hometown and are on the homestretch! Our final Ivy League visit is to the University of Pennsylvania in University City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notable alumni include John Legend, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffett. UPenn offers a great campus experience you won’t want to miss.
Similar to Harvard, UPenn features extensive brick architecture. Locust Walk, on the west side, is a winding pathway leading to the end of campus, lined with student dorms, ongoing construction, and striking art installations.
On Main Campus, the iconic College Hall stands with a statue of its founder, Benjamin Franklin, in front. Nearby are a large library, a theater, and a replica of the famous LOVE statue.
Fisher Library boasts breathtaking brick architecture, both externally and internally, making it a popular spot for student photography.
Penn Commons, marked by its UPenn crest logo, leads to Franklin Field, connected to Weightman Hall. This historic venue, once home to the Philadelphia Eagles, hosts sports events, graduations, and other large gatherings, featuring a vast track.
And that concludes our Virtual Tours of Colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania! Thank you for joining us. Remember, when in doubt, take a Virtual Tour.
