Technology has upended the entire college application process.

The Week reports.

How technology is upending college admissions

Gone are the days of anxious college applicants awaiting the fat or thin envelope in their mailboxes. No more truckloads of transcripts and recommendation letters piling up at the admissions office. Indeed, technology has upended the entire college application process. Here are four key ways:

1. Virtual visits

Not all students can go on a college tour, and those who do are likely to miss scores of campuses that would be a great fit. That’s why many colleges are offering virtual tours, with varying degrees of sophistication. A basic “visit” involves going online to watch a video tour, often led by a student. Some are interactive, allowing the visitor to choose what to explore and how in depth. There might be 360-degree views where one can really look around. “When you think of the vibe of an on-campus visit, we’re trying to recreate that online,” Kent Rinehart, dean of admissions at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, told The Week.