As juniors inch closer to life after high school, they have begun to weigh their options for possible universities for the future. When the annual out-of-state college tour was announced, the Class of 2027 students raced to sign the interest form and be the first to pay the fee. Eventually, all was decided and a group of 28 students were set to travel the Southeast and visit seven colleges throughout three states. The trip from Monday, Nov. 3 to Friday, Nov. 7 was filled with valuable information, first-hand experiences and unforgettable memories with classmates, as students learned about various schools and were able to form an idea of the university they wish to attend.
Day 1: Arrival, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology
When the students arrived to Atlanta, GA, they immediately boarded their bus headed to their first stop: Emory University. They soon arrived at the campus where they ate lunch, visited the gift shop and were greeted by Gables alumn Amalia Garrido. Starting at the admissions office, students first received an informational meeting about the school, prior to the walking tour of the approximately 631-acre campus led by three university students.
Following the visit at Emory, students took the bus to Georgia Institute of Technology, where students first visited the gift shop before they received a tour of the campus. Students saw the gym, various educational hallways and college dorms throughout the campus. Cavaliers were able to experience the feeling of being immersed in a campus with a rich culture at a large university like Georgia Tech, where they were able to explore the multitude of student facilities and historic buildings. Following this visit, the tour headed to the hotel, concluding an eventful first day.
“I personally loved Georgia Tech even though they don’t have the major I’m interested in. The campus was beautiful and although I was tired from the long day, I enjoyed walking around the campus and seeing all the antique architecture. This school proved to me that I enjoy larger schools rather than smaller schools,” junior Andres Calvo said.
Day 2: University of Georgia and Clemson University
Following a memorable start to their tour, the juniors woke up early to visit two universities. They started their day with an hour and a half bus ride to Athens, GA where they would visit the University of Georgia. When visiting UGA, they were welcomed by alumn Ava Cosgrove and her roommate, who gave them an extensive tour of Georgia’s iconic campus. Students visited the famous Sanford Stadium, home to the Georgia Bulldogs, followed by their two-story tall gift shop.
Ensuing this tour, students took another hour and a half drive to Clemson, SC to visit Clemson University. Here, they stopped for lunch before receiving a tour of the campus from tour guides Jack Baylouny and Giorgio Caporaletti. Clemson, known for their athletic programs, offered students a chance to see the facilities used by the nation’s best collegiate athletes. However, not to be overlooked, the tour guides also demonstrated all of the educational portions of the school.
“Clemson really caught my attention because of the academics, the school spirit felt strong and it seemed like the school was united. Most of the schools we saw did have the major I’m interested in, but Clemson taught me that I prefer a school with strong spirit,” junior Mateo Schiffer said.
Day 3: Wake Forest University
On Wednesday, students had the chance to sleep in, allowing them to enjoy their morning before their long bus ride to Winston-Salem, NC, where they were set to visit Wake Forest University. When they arrived, students were able to decompress by playing a quick game of football and eating lunch before entering the admissions office to learn about the school. Soon after, the juniors got split up into two groups with tour guides to see the campus and receive a first-hand experience of the vibrant social life and academic-focused culture that Wake Forest proudly offers. At the end of the day, the Class of 2027 boarded the bus headed towards Durham, NC to finally visit the long-awaited Duke University.
Day 4: Duke University
On Thursday, students woke up excited to be visiting the iconic Duke University. Students stormed the bus hoping to get to Duke as quick as possible to make the most of their time there. Once they arrived, students were given yet another informational meeting regarding the university’s acceptance criteria and what students need to enter, such as target test scores and extracurriculars. After concluding the meeting, students got a walking tour of Duke from Class of 2027 president Carolina Sesin’s brother, Felix Sesin. During the tour, they were able to journey through Duke’s renowned campus, including visits to well-known buildings such as Duke Chapel. After this tour, students spent their time buying merchandise at the gift shop until their time concluded at Duke. They ended their day having dinner at a dining hall on campus, before making their way to the hotel.
“I loved Duke’s campus and on top of that having the chance to see my brother made the experience so much better. This trip really taught me how many factors there are to choosing a university and how much it will determine someones future,” junior Carolina Sesin said.
Day 5: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Departure to Miami
On the final day of the tour, students visited University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC. They received their earliest tour yet, in which they toured the campus with the little time they had left before eating lunch and eventually leaving to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The students spent three hours in the airport before boarding the plane and eventually landing in Miami.
After five unforgettable days, the 2025 out-of-state college tour had concluded. While some students were excited to return home to their regular routines, others did not want to leave and would not have minded a few extra stops to more universities. Despite this, the Class of 2027 returned home with a far more complete idea of the college that may suit them, as well as what their future in college could hold for them as they prepare to enter a new era of their lives.
“The best part of this trip was being able to see the juniors learn about all these different colleges and their ambience. They could see the hundreds of opportunities available for them outside of high school and seeing them have fun while learning made the experience that much better,” Ms. Sanz said.
