Video tour from Collegiate choice or REAL tour?

highheels · 03-18-2007, 04:35 AM

I am wondering whether I should just buy some videos and watch them whether than just going there.

The videos are from http://www.collegiatechoice.com/

I will probably get the ones for UC davis, UC irvine, UCLA, and UCSD. I am going to one of these colleges in the fall and I want to see them before I choose, I am having a tough time deciding. I can also just take a week off of work ( I am a senior and work 25-30 hours/week during the schoolyear) and drive there and actually visit the campus. But I am really short on money and I am wondering if these videos are worth it (fifteen bucks each).

Anybody seen these videos before? Is it really worth it to drive there? btw, how old are these videos?

88888888 · 03-18-2007, 10:58 AM

I think its best for you to visit the colleges (maybe your 2 of the 4 you most want to go and have best chance of going, unless you've been accepted already). Good to have 1st hand experience.

dstark · 03-18-2007, 11:01 AM

I have seen the UCLA and UCSD videos. I like them a lot, but actually going to the schools is better.

I've been to all 4 schools.

What kind of atmosphere are you looking for?

How long would it take you to visit the schools?

willsmom · 03-18-2007, 02:22 PM

Our high school has a library of college videos and books in the career center. Maybe your school has something like it? Or perhaps the public library?
Also, www.theu.com has a series of short videos on a number of colleges-- be sure to check it out. You can't really get a feel for the campus, though, until you visit it in person.

ekn111 · 03-18-2007, 05:17 PM

Either way, watch the videos as supplements...definitely, definitely visit the campuses if possible.

adzuki · 03-18-2007, 05:55 PM

Yeah, an actual visit would be much better than watching a video about the school.

I never watched the videos you're talking about, but I did watch a few of the videos on theu.com and I thought they were all pretty bad. They all seemed to be really one-sided and perpetuated stereotypes about the schools, so they're not really informative or helpful at all...

ekn111 · 03-18-2007, 05:59 PM

Yes, the videos seem old so they clearly don't do the campuses justice like actual visits would.