Spring break is almost here! What big plans have WJ juniors made for their time away from school? Relaxing at the beach? Going on a cruise? Taking a road trip with the family? Believe it or not, many juniors will be looking ahead to the next chapter of their lives after graduating from WJ and will use their time off to visit prospective colleges.

According to CollegeBoard.org, spring is a popular season to visit colleges because high school students can experience the college campus while classes are in session, possibly attending a lecture and getting a glimpse of campus life. Ms. Abby Joyce, Director of College and Career Counseling at WJ, agreed: “To get the full experience of a college, visit while in session; if you have to visit over the summer, schedule a second visit in the fall of your senior year to see the college from a different perspective.”

Ms. Joyce also gave advice on how to start the process of selecting universities to visit. “Naviance is a great tool for setting up virtual visits, especially for out-of-state schools. However, it is key to visit the college in person. Make sure to register for an in-person tour directly on the school’s admissions website,” she said.

Junior Elena Rizzo described her experience with Naviance and how the platform led her to visit Georgetown and John Carroll University. She said, “I have utilized Naviance, and it is really helpful. The tool where you select what you really want in a school helped me put into perspective what I am looking for in my future college.” Also, Elena reflected on her positive experience at John Carroll: “My tour guide, Sarah, was so welcoming, and I really loved the aspect of how John Carroll incorporates our Jesuit [tradition] into their school.”

Another junior, Zach Witkiewicz, stressed the importance of asking family for guidance on starting the college visitation process. “I selected Kent State to visit first because that is the university my father attended. I found the personal tour most helpful because a student provided their own perspective on the dorms and programs on campus,” said Zach.

Current seniors reflected on their college visits and offered guidance to juniors about getting the most benefit out of their campus tours. Kimmy Dye, a senior, spoke about her visits to two colleges far away from home in California, UCLA and Pepperdine.

Kimmy said, “When you are on campus, envision yourself living there and doing everyday things there, and if you cannot imagine yourself there next year, or even in four years, that probably isn’t the school for you. Also, take advantage of the tour guides and ask them questions because they will have answers.”

The lasting impression of her visit to Pepperdine, which Kimmy will attend next year, solidified her college selection. “When I was making my college decision, the only thing I was thinking about was the way I felt when I first visited Pepperdine. I loved the vibe of the campus and exactly how I felt in that moment on campus,” said Kimmy.

Senior Logan Griffin, who visited ten colleges, said, “Start visiting early with a detailed plan. Also, make time for your top colleges and prioritize them when planning visits.” Like Kimmy, Logan recalled his college visits when making his final decision to attend Morgan State University, noting, “The impact my college visits had on my final selection was crucial. I actually had a spreadsheet which allowed me to compare all the colleges I visited at once.”

Senior Brayden Foster chose to visit six colleges. “Go into each visit open-minded but realize that a lot can change from now until when you select a college your senior year,” he said, then added, “I learned what kind of school I was looking for by seeing so many campuses and what my standards were for my college selection. I decided I was going to my selected college right after I visited.”

Spring break is the perfect time to start visiting colleges unless you simply can’t resist the call of a beach, cruise, or road trip. After all, at WJ, juniors and seniors are permitted three excused absences per school year to visit colleges. The College and Career Counseling team of Ms. Joyce, Ms. Poston, and Mrs. Towns are always available to help answer questions and provide guidance during the college selection process.