College exploration is about more than identifying schools a student might want to attend. It is also an opportunity for students to learn more about themselves.
One of the most valuable parts of the college search is watching students begin to recognize what feels right for them and why. A campus can look ideal on paper, but experiencing it in person gives students a much clearer sense of the environment, culture, pace, and level of support that may help them thrive. That is part of the purpose behind Franklin Academy’s Fall College Trip.
This year, students traveled to Portland, Maine, and visited a range of institutions, including Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Maine College of Art & Design, Thomas College, the University of New England, and Clark University. The variety gave students a chance to experience different campus sizes, academic settings, and student environments firsthand. For our students, those differences matter.
Choosing a college is not only about finding the right major or academic program. Students also need to think about class size, campus culture, social opportunities, available support, location, and the overall environment in which they learn best. Visiting different campuses helps students begin to identify what appeals to them, what does not, and what they may want to prioritize in their own search. It also gives them opportunities to practice taking a more active role in that process.
Before and during the trip, students think about what questions to ask, how to learn more about academic and student support resources, and how to engage with admissions professionals. Each campus visit becomes an opportunity to practice gathering information, asking for clarification, and advocating for what they may need.
Those skills extend well beyond college admission.
The trip also creates opportunities for students to practice independence in ways that are difficult to replicate in a classroom. Traveling for several days means managing changing schedules, keeping track of belongings, navigating unfamiliar environments, participating in group decisions, and adjusting when things do not go exactly as planned. Students also have to manage their energy, communicate with peers and adults, and take increasing responsibility for their own routines. With support from faculty, those everyday moments become opportunities to build flexibility, confidence, problem-solving, and greater independence.
For neurodivergent students, practicing those skills in a real-world setting can be especially valuable. A student may understand how to manage a routine or advocate for support in a familiar environment, but using those same skills somewhere new can feel very different. Experiences like the Fall College Trip give students the chance to practice transferring what they have learned into unfamiliar settings. That transfer is an important part of preparing for what comes next.
The goal is not for every student to return from the trip with a first-choice college.
It is for students to return knowing more about themselves: what kind of environment feels comfortable, what support they may need, what questions they want to ask, and what factors matter most to them as they begin making decisions about their future.
At Franklin Academy, we believe meaningful preparation happens when students have opportunities to practice skills in real settings, reflect on what they learn, and build confidence through experience.
The Fall College Trip is one way we bring that philosophy to life – helping students become more informed, more self-aware, and more prepared to take ownership of what comes next.
