If you’re a busy school counselor or AVID, TRIO or GEAR UP coordinator, we’ve got you covered!
As an educator, school counselor and/or program director, you work hard to prepare your students for a higher education.
So you know how pivotal a college visit can be. It can help motivate a young or struggling student to work harder – and it can help an older student determine which schools are best for him or her.
Explore Colleges enables you to offer this defining experience to your students as part of a well-planned, well-executed and affordable college tour package.
For what age and type of students are Explore Colleges tours most beneficial?
Our fully customizable tours are designed to inspire and assist a wide range of students:
- 12thgraders – in determining which schools to apply for and which to attend;
- 10thand 11th graders – in defining their college options and becoming motivated to study for school exams and college testing;
- 9thgraders – in focusing on their future and following a college prep curriculum;
- middle schoolers – in introducing higher education and determining their high school paths; and
- gifted athletes, musicians, artists, and scholars – in motivating and providing information about programs, facilities and scholarships.
What are the benefits of working with an Explore Colleges expert to plan and conduct my tour?
We help reduce the pressure on you to learn and handle the endless details involved in tour planning. The result is:
- you’ll spend less time researching, negotiating, scheduling and confirming transportation, accommodations, campus tours, meals, etc.;
- your students will enjoy a more organized, educational and fun experience;
- you’ll dramatically reduce paperwork related to individual payments for transportation and for each venue, hotel, restaurant, and event; and
- you can focus on your other important responsibilities at work – and on your students during the tour.
Click here to see sample one- to three-day tour itineraries.
Can I customize my tour?
Yes! Explore Colleges staff will work with you to plan the perfect tour based on your students’ interests, geographic preference, time of year and duration of the tour, budget, AVID, TRIO or GEAR-UP requirements, etc. So, just fill out an inquiry form to give us an idea of your requirements and we’ll get back to you with some great ideas!
Who leads the tours?
A friendly and experienced Explore Colleges guide will ride along on every tour, making sure everything runs like clockwork and contributing valuable insights and information about the campuses, communities and cultural sites. We work with Admissions staff and/or current college students to lead the walking tours of their campuses, pointing out the popular spots and giving the “down low” on college life! You can relax and enjoy your students and the experience — we do all the rest.
How many colleges can be toured in a single day?
Tours of 1-3 colleges per day are dependent upon the distance and driving time between each.
Can we schedule a tour on a weekend?
Tours are designed to take place during the normal school day when college campuses are the most active. Tours can be conducted on certain holidays, as long as the institution is still in session. Weekend tours can be scheduled but may vary in overall experience due to the lack of campus activity.
How many people can be accommodated on each Explore Colleges Tour?
Motorcoaches can accommodate 47-55 people depending upon the size of the coach. You can, of course, book multiple coaches to the same or multiple locations on any one day.
How many counselors can escort the group at no charge?
One counselor per motor coach can participate in the tours free of charge.
How is Explore Colleges different from other college tour companies?
There are very few college tour companies that are devoted exclusively to working with educators and program coordinators to plan and conduct fully customized group COLLEGE tours. That is all we do, so we have to do it better than anyone else! Don’t take our word for it, though – read what some of our repeat clients have to say about their Explore Colleges experiences.
I’m interested! How can I start creating my tour?
You can either contact us directly or submit an inquiry form to let us know of your specific interests. One of our Explore Colleges experts will get back to you as soon as possible! In the meantime, please be sure to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive tour package updates and special offers.
