On October 18th-19th, Mineola High School Guidance Department had their annual College Road Trip and this one marks the 15th trip. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors were allowed to attend, but preference were given to seniors as they are about to start a new chapter in their lives. 

      This year, the trip was centered on visiting colleges in Connecticut which included Fairfield University, Quinnipiac University, University of Hartford, and University of Connecticut. Students who wanted to attend had to pay $140 which covers the cost for a coach bus to Connecticut and staying at a hotel in Hartford for one night where they were provided meals. Both students and chaperones enjoy these trips. These trips are designed so that students can visit colleges they are thinking about or weren’t thinking about until visiting it, and gain a better understanding of what college is all about. Ms.Joyce, a guidance counselor said, “The purpose of the trip is to have our students explore new colleges and universities. It is exciting to see different colleges and the possibilities are endless. We want students to be prepared for the college process and visiting colleges is a wonderful way to start.” 

        Students who came back from the trip are thankful for the experience and now know what they like and dislike about colleges which narrows down their college search process. Some even decided to apply to the colleges they visited because they fell in love with it. Charlotte Betz, a senior who attended the trip said, “It was a fun trip and a good way to get a feel for schools that maybe you didn’t think of applying to because they’re too far or because they’re too expensive.” This shows how this trip allows students to explore and discover colleges they never considered and all the opportunities colleges provide. Christina Peitler, also a senior said, “I loved how I was able to visit colleges and experience what it’s like, especially when we eat in the dining halls. What I loved even more was that I got to experience all of this with my friends and talk about it with them. Also, our tour guides were students so they kept it short and interesting and stayed away from superficial answers to our questions.” This shows how this trip lets students visit colleges with their friends by their side and they gain information from students who are attending the colleges which gives them access to firsthand information. 

      As you can see, the College Road Trip helps students gain information about college which helps them in figuring out what they want to do with their future. All the choices are in their hands and it is up to them to make a decision.