College Tours

One of the best ways to help choose the right college is to visit several campuses:

• What are the SolutionSkills College Tours?
• Why visit the campus?
• Why go on a tour with SolutionSkills?
• What happens when a group arrives at a campus?
• What about missing school?
• What does the student bring?
• Who conducts the tour?
• What types of tours are available?
• When is the best time in high school for a student to take a tour?
• Other important considerations…
• Available Tour Dates

What are the SolutionSkills College Tours?

One of the most exciting and innovative offerings provided by SolutionSkills is the College Tours program. It is a unique opportunity that allows high school students the chance to visit one or more colleges to gain the experience and insight that is critical for one of the biggest decisions they will ever make: Which college to attend.

Why visit the campus?

Visiting a college campus can be one of the best ways for a high school student to learn about which school is the “right” one. A glossy brochure or fancy DVD’s cannot tell the true story of what a campus "feels" like. By hearing directly from school officials, and students, a more accurate and meaningful story unfolds about what makes a college unique and special. Additionally, one can learn more about programs, services, and unique features by interacting with those in a unique position to know. Connections for the future can be established by meeting those who can help once the student enrolls.

Why go on a tour with SolutionSkills?

While visiting colleges with parents or friends can be extremely beneficial, there are specific advantages to going through this process with SolutionSkills:

1. The tour is conducted by a professional counselor who has dealt with advising high school students for over 30 years. In addition to on-going discussions, question-and-answer sessions and giving out little known facts about college admission, students receive both outstanding information and resources during the entire course of the trip.
2. Extremely motivated students tend to enroll in these tours to get an edge and learn what to do to prepare for the entire process of college admission. Interaction with other students is a very positive way of gaining valuable insight and information.
3. Tours are safe, well supervised, and professionally run. Travel is usually by van and accommodations are at major hotel chains with complete itineraries furnished before departure.
4. The SolutionSkills College Tour experience trains the student to get the most out of any future college visits.  We provide questions to ask, what to look for and how to get important information beyond what admissions offices offer.
5. These tours SAVE YOUR FAMILY MONEY! If you do the math by adding time off, hotel, transportation and hotel arrangements, you’ll find that this is a very practical and low cost option when doing the job of “college shopping.”  Once students become attracted to a particular campus, they often “can’t wait” for you to see them.
6. Last and perhaps most importantly, these tours teach the student to take responsibility for the process of choosing and applying to college. Therefore the student will take the initiative to plan and follow through with the process, and actually get excited about it rather than intimidated.

What happens when a group arrives at a campus?

The group usually begins its tour with a stop at the admissions office to meet with a member of their professional admissions staff. "Info Sessions" are usually conducted by the college either by appointment or at regularly scheduled times. During these programs, students have opportunities to ask questions, receive materials, and either pick up or drop off applications or information about special programs. A campus tour usually ensues that typically includes a walk through a portion of campus, classrooms, student unions, and residence halls. Our group will also interact with regular students on the campus not affiliated with admissions to gain real information on campus life, academics, services, and atmosphere. Many times that student is someone from Tallahassee! There is always time set aside to visit the campus bookstore and other places of interest to students.

What about missing school?

Most schools recognize the importance of college visits and have been very cooperative with our program. The Leon County School system currently counts our trips as approved field trips for attendance purposes. Other schools usually follow similar procedures. As each trip approaches, parents are given specific instructions to follow for the excusal of each student.

What does the student bring?

On short, overnight trips, students will be supplied with a binder than will contain all that is needed for visiting the specified colleges.  Students should bring at least three copies of their unofficial high school transcript, snacks, and a small amount of spending money.

Who conducts the tour?

Randall Vickers personally conducts each tour. Mr.Vickers' background in both secondary and higher education includes the following: He served as the director of guidance at Lincoln High School for 8 years, assistant director of the Florida State University Honors program for 3 years, and has been an adjunct instructor at Tallahassee Community College for four years.  He has conducted community workshops in college admissions and financial aid since 1989. He has been working with students in college advisement for over thirty years.

What types of tours are available?

In-State College Tours
These trips are usually an overnight experience while visiting one or two colleges in Florida, depending on the selection of colleges and driving distance.

Southeastern College Tours
These trips may be 2 - 5 days in length, depending on how far the group will be traveling. Schools visited on this format have included Duke, Wake Forest, Davidson, Furman, Georgia Tech, Emory, and University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

When is the best time in high school for a student to take a tour?

A student should begin to visit colleges at any time during high school, though many experts feel that the junior year is best. Early in the senior year can be a good time, but sophomores, freshmen, and even middle school students can benefit by learning about important admissions criteria before its too late.

Other important considerations...

• Many students become more motivated with a stronger sense of purpose or direction about colleges after our trips.
• Important contacts with admissions officers can be established at schools that may be in the student's future.
• program information can be easily obtained directly from each school visited such as: honors programs, placement test criteria, nationally recognized majors, "fast-track" academic programs, limited access programs, student handbooks, and important scholarship and financial information specific to the colleges visited.

Available Tour Dates

Please call the office for more details and to register for any if these tours.