"College Campus Trips, What a Great Idea"

“What a great idea,” people tell me when they hear about College Campus Trips.

Yet, the percentage of students who actually visit two or more colleges is very small. Some students are just convinced they know which college they want to attend with no plans on seeing others. Some students just want to get accepted and make a list of schools without knowing much about them. Others get no encouragement from parents or counselors to take this proactive step and wind up depending on word-of-mouth and the Internet to make this important decision. But a college tour is as important as any high school course and actually fun. Here’s why:

Too Personal & Expensive
If you are going to spend four years someplace it is going to be a lot more pleasant and productive if it feels right to you. The student body, the faculty, the physical environment, and the geographical location all weigh in on the decision you will make. It is surprising how often an on-campus tour leaves a positive or negative vibe with a person.

And oh yes college is expensive, big-time, unless, of course you receive a “full ride.” Most of you wouldn’t buy expensive clothes without trying them on to make sure it fits properly. The right college needs to “fit” for four years.

Do You Really Know What You Like?
I am not trying to be facetious but if you have not compared, do you really know what you like? Is it a public university over a private one or a large college over a small one? Does an urban campus seem better to you than a rural one? These decisions are very personal and you can’t possibly make up your mind without taking a tour and comparing for yourself.

Self-Confidence
Believe it or not, a college tour is a confidence booster for students whether they're sophomores, juniors or seniors. Why? Well, I’ve been on many tours and seen the transformation. I’ve seen the look of intimidation on the faces of otherwise brazen warriors as they take their first tour. And I’ve seen students after a 4th or 5th college tour. The “aha” look of realization knowing “Hey, these guys are competing for ME” is unmistakable. The experiences of college admissions and college life are no longer just stories that a sibling or a friend has shared. It is now something they’ve experienced themselves. I firmly believe that every high school student should visit a minimum of four colleges before senior year as part of the educational process, even if the student does not plan on going to college.

I'm Ron Denaro and thanks for joining College Campus Chatter today!

Ron Denaro is the president of College Campus Trips, a tour company providing high school students with tours of college campuses, nationwide. For more information, call (954) 567-5751 or e-mail: ron@collegecampustrips.com