Last week I took a college road trip with almost 40 other teens to Pennsylvania! It wasn’t my first time going to the brotherhood state, but I was still very excited. I’ve visited many colleges before, but never out of state. Although there was a lot of supervision, my parents (or any parents for that matter) weren’t allowed to attend. It was finally our chance as young adults to experience the beginning of college life on our own. I knew from the very start that this trip would be a prelude of what it will be like next year when I attend college – just “me, myself, and I.”

Before the dreaded 5 hour trip to Pennsylvania, our first stop was in Connecticut to visit Wesleyan University. I immediately noticed how “at home” it made me feel. The admissions office building looked like a one-story house. The campus was very open, and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Throughout our visit, I learned countless things about the university, including the different majors offered, the many clubs, and all about the campus Greek life. We even had the chance to sit down with one of the admissions officers to understand what Wesleyan looks for in a student’s college application.

Next stop was Lehigh University! I had Lehigh on my college list, so actually setting foot on the campus was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I must say, the campus looked absolutely gorgeous; I thought campuses like that only existed in movies. My group did a lot of walking, and because the campus was so large, we kept getting separated from our tour guide. Personally, I love being in the city. Don’t get me wrong: I love to try new things, but Lehigh University reassured me that a campus in an urban setting is where I’m most comfortable.

Other colleges we toured that week included the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr University, Villanova University, Haverford College, and Drexel University. Drexel just happened to stand out to me the most because of their co-op program (it’s almost like being an intern, but for six months). The perk of this program (that 98 percent of the students participate in) is that they provide students with access to the biggest and best companies/agencies. One of the students who majored in journalism had a paid co-op job with MTV! Cool? I think so.

I’m honestly glad I went on this college tour. There’s plenty more than how “pretty” a campus is when choosing a college: You’ll want to find out what majors they offer, if there’s any Greek life on campus, and if they offer study abroad programs. You might also want to ask – Is the student population is diverse? What’s the average class size? Is it handicap accessible? I now know what I like (and what I don’t like) in a college/university. Visit some colleges/universities, but most importantly, choose the best fit for you.

-Christina