Like many admission counselors and representatives, I wear many hats on campus, and one of the biggest parts of my fall is travel! Many of us “road warriors” hit the road in early September and are just now wrapping up our travel season.

This fall, the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling hosted 26 college fairs across the state between September and October. In addition to those events, colleges are invited to individual fairs, application days, college and career readiness events, financial aid nights, and more. I also spent time visiting high schools and meeting with students during my travel season.

While fall travel means a lot of time in the car, many miles on the road, and time away from home, there are so many highlights that make it all worth it. I love reconnecting with fellow admission counselors, some familiar faces from past years and some new friends along the way. It’s also rewarding to meet new students and families while reconnecting with those I’ve worked with before. Another highlight for me is building relationships with high school counselors during school visits that I don't always get to meet with. 

One of my other roles on campus is serving as the head cheer coach, which means the start of football season overlaps with admission travel. There were many days when I drove back for practice before heading out again for a college fair, or started my day with an early morning practice before hitting the road. It can be a busy season, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling to connect with high school students and families while helping college students grow as athletes, leaders, and young adults.

As we head into late fall and early winter, many schools are now focusing on college and career readiness days, application days, and financial aid nights. As my travel season winds down, I still have a few more financial aid events to attend at different high schools. During this time, the focus begins to shift, I spend more time on campus meeting with students I first connected with during the fall and continuing to support them through their next steps in the admissions process.