Planning A College Road Trip

Students attending Charles Wright Academy, an independent K-12 school in Tacoma, Wash. have the benefit of a professional college counseling staff.

For this blog post, I asked Noel Blyler, Associate Director of College Counseling at Charles Wright Academy, to give students (and their families) some guidance on planning a college or university visit.

As summer approaches, many rising juniors and seniors and their families contemplate visiting colleges. When my daughter was a junior at Charles Wright, we wanted to help her understand the variety of colleges and universities she might consider, and how her experience would differ depending upon which one she chose to attend. I often describe the breadth of choices as an ice cream store with dozens of flavors, and the student has to figure out which flavor he or she likes best, and there’s a flavor for everyone. We also wanted to do this exploration inexpensively, saving more expensive trips for colleges in which she had a strong interest.

Fortunately, we live in a region where a wide variety of colleges are located making it easy for us to visit. Over a series of day trips we visited:

· Pacific Lutheran University (small, private liberal arts college)
· Cornish College of the Arts (specialized art institute)
· University of Washington (large, public research university)
· Evergreen State College (small, public college with distinctive curriculum)
· Western Washington University (medium sized public university)

The point of the trip was not for her to decide whether she wanted to apply to any of these, but rather to learn what was distinctive about each type of college or university. There are many more colleges that are within a day’s drive or less:

· University of Puget Sound
· Seattle University
· Seattle Pacific University
· St. Martin’s University

If you have time for some short road trips, the list of possible destinations gets much longer. A two or three day trip to Portland, for example, would provide plenty of time to visit a few on this list:

· Lewis & Clark College
· Reed College
· The University of Portland
· Portland State
· Willamette University
· Linfield College

A trip of similar length to Eastern Washington could include:

· Gonzaga University
· Eastern Washington
· Washington State University
· Whitman College
· Central Washington University

A few final thoughts on college visits:

Though you are not yet an applicant, you are making an impression. Admissions officers, particularly at smaller colleges, will remember you, especially if you make a good impression. Be on time, have good questions, and put your best foot forward. Even if you don’t think you’ll apply to a college, it’s a good habit to develop.

It’s preferable for students, rather than parents, to call the college to make an appointment -- colleges like the independence and self confidence that illustrates. And do make appointments. Unless a college specifically says appointments are not needed (for a large group tour, for example), you should not show up without an appointment and expect a tour or time with a member of the admissions staff.

Leave your electronic devices in our pocket -- or in the car -- while participating in tours and information sessions!

Below are some resources for planning college visits, and making the most of them once you’re there.

Charles Wright College Counseling Handbook
The handbook has information about college visits -- and much more!

The College Board: Campus Visit Guide
The College Board’s Campus Visit Guide has all sorts of useful info, including a Campus Visit Checklist.

Making the Most of a Campus Visit
This is a post on the NY Times blog The Choice: Demystifying College Admission. The post was written by the president of Macalester College, who also has college-age sons.

Noel Blyler is the Associate Director of College Counseling at Charles Wright Academy.