College Tours

One of the unique features that distinguishes Stevenson School from most other private secondary schools is the opportunity for students to take part in the two college tours which are sponsored by the College Center. Juniors may register for the four-day Southern California tour of colleges which begins during Parent's Weekend in October, and/or the eight-day East Coast tour which departs directly after the last winter exam in February.

The goal of these tours is to help students learn about the various types of institutions available to them, to help them learn more about what it is like to be a college student, to learn what they like and do not like about certain types of schools, and to begin to take the year-long college application process seriously. Members of the College Counseling staff and other faculty members accompany between forty and sixty-five students on these trips, which usually involve a tour of the campuses, information sessions with admissions officers, and personal meetings with Stevenson alumni who are currently on the campuses. The majority of the group travel by bus, but there are side trips by vans to alternative sites for smaller groups of interested students. We stay in very nice hotels but there is often not enough time to enjoy the accommodations since the day is highly structured with visitations, sometimes including three institutions.

On the Southern California tour we start with Cal Poly, San Luis Obsipo and work our way through Los Angeles and San Diego by seeing schools in the UC system, mid-sized institutions like Pepperdine, and smaller liberal arts campuses like the Claremonts. For the Eastern tour we fly into Washington, D.C., move north through the Atlantic seaboard states, spend time in New York City, and travel throughout New England in two separate groups before spending the final three days in Boston. There are also side trips to Providence and Maine for those who are interested. If students attend both trips they will probably experience first-hand more than thirty campuses of the approximately fifty options.

These trips continue to be highly beneficial and spaces go quickly, but we try to accommodate all those who choose to participate. It is best to sign up as soon as possible in the College Center. Feel free to contact the staff for further information.

Registration materials are available on the Forms & Handbook page and both the Registration and Waiver forms must be returned to the College Counseling office.