Curator’s statement
Planning college tours can be daunting. Visiting multiple colleges across several states requires navigation, planning, and patience. Here is how you can navigate and check off five college/university visits in four states in six days.
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Day 1: Drive to the University of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Arrive in Richmond, Virginia on a Sunday. Rent a car and drive to Charlottesville. It's about an hour and a half. Once there, many hotels are within walking distance to The University of Virginia. No need to navigate additional parking when you can walk to your University of Virginia tour. Stay at The Draftsman, The Graduate Charlottesville, or Oakhurst Inn, which are all walking distance to the university.
Day 2: Tour the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia
On Monday, visit the University Of Virginia.
From here, drive for two hours to get to Washington DC.
Check into the Georgetown Inn (walking distance to Georgetown University), The Poppy Georgetown, or Rosewood Washington DC for a night in advance of your college visit on Tuesday.
Day 3: Tour Georgetown University
Georgetown University
On Tuesday, visit Georgetown University.
Pro tip: There are several universities and colleges in the DC area, including George Washington University and American University. If planned well, you could visit several universities in one day.
From here, drive two and a half hours to Philadelphia and check into Kimpton Hotel Monaco, The Rittenhouse, or The Westin for two nights.
Day 4: Tour the University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania
Visit The University of Pennsylvania.
Downtown Philadelphia has great dining and a few iconic tourist attractions to visit for a break in college touring. The Liberty Bell, the Rocky Steps, and Reading Terminal Market are all close by and offer at least a little fun or sightseeing.
Stay overnight in Philadelphia.
Have dinner at:
Dan Dan - Amazing Taiwanese food
The Dandelion - A good old-fashioned British pub
The Love - A great all-American place for elevated burgers, salads, and pastas
Day 5: Tour Princeton University
Princeton University
On Thursday, tour Princeton University—this is drivable from Philadelphia and allows you to stay in one hotel for two nights. If a drive in city traffic would add stress, there are a few hotels within walking distance to Princeton.
Once done, drive back to Philadelphia International Airport for a direct and easy flight to Nashville, Tennessee.
From the airport in Nashville, either rent a car or grab transportation to downtown Nashville in preparation to tour Vanderbilt University. Stay at The Joseph, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, or The Graduate - Nashville.
Day 6: Tour Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
On Friday, tour Vanderbilt University.
Travel back to Nashville Airport to fly back wherever you call home!
Need to know
The goal is to see as many schools in as short of a period of time as possible. There is not much time for “fun,” but create your own by immersing yourself in the city surrounding campus.
Consider the following:
How easy was it to get a flight to where you were visiting — was it a direct flight from your hometown or were connections involved? If so, how many connections were there a day and are there alternative ways to get to and from campus should airline travel fail?
How long is your student required to stay on campus and, once that requirement has been met, are there ample apartments/housing options close by? Will a car ultimately be needed?
Are there a lot of hotel options near campus, or will you struggle to find a hotel room on move-in/move-out, graduation, parents' weekend and other times when you will visit? In some college towns, three-star hotels can run over $1000 a night during these peak periods!
Are there restaurants, shopping, movies and general amenities close by campus, or will your student have to Uber or take public transportation to get to a store to replenish detergent, snacks, shampoo and so on? Yes, I know there are options, but college students tend to run out of things, and even Prime cannot get them deodorant the same day in many towns!
Eat on campus if you can — could your student survive a year, two or three in the dorms eating in the campus dining halls?
This is an exciting and stressful time. Let me help you navigate it!
Travel Advisor
Jenny Merrithew
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