With students scarce, college admissions offices get friendlier, less intimidating

Colleges are trying to transform an admissions process that has often been daunting, secretive and stressful into an experience that's open, easier — and downright friendly.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3500x2335+0+0/resize/3500x2335!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F96%2Fa9%2F95bd950e460a90001fb1918c4891%2Fhe-admissions-all-in-1.jpg' alt='Prospective students and their families participate in a campus tour at Skidmore College in New York.'/><p>Colleges are trying to transform an admissions process that has often been daunting, secretive and stressful into an experience that's open, easier — and downright friendly.</p><p>(Image credit: Oliver Parini)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6007855' />