{All In a Day} NC College Tours

Much like I did with B, I've started college tours a bit early with our girls. Just for fun, we visited Georgetown University on our trip to D.C. last month.

I like giving them lots of options...places that are familiar because they've spent a lot of time there over the years, places that are new and they just want to check out, places I know they'll absolutely love, and places I don't necessarily see them choosing, etc. I firmly believe you have to visit a few places where you definitely don't see yourself in order to fully know how to identify the ones where you do, and WHY!

I also think that visiting early gives you plenty of time to go back and visit later when you're closer to making your decision...

Sooo, with the girls off for a long election weekend, we took a day trip up to North Carolina to visit a couple of schools.

First up, Wake Forest University...

I loved the library...

This coffee shop within was so cute!

Both of the girls LOVED it...

Thank you, Wake, for a GREAT visit!

When we left Wake Forest, we headed east over to Duke University...

What an absolutely beautiful campus...

Both of the girls really liked it...

but not as much as Wake!

Thank you, Duke, for an awesome tour!

One of the things I really liked about BOTH schools is that they assign random roommates to all freshmen. I love how this takes the pressure off of finding someone to live with and eliminates that altogether, starting everyone off on a level playing field in that area...

On the recommendation from our tour guide, we grabbed dinner at student favorite, JUJU...

and it did not disappoint!

It was a great day well spent with my sweet girls!

{Beta Club Trip} Washington, D.C. - Part I

Sweet M got to go on her 8th Grade Beta Club trip to Washington, D.C., and it was such a treat. B's to New York City was unfortunately cancelled because, well, it was in 2020, and L's, also to New York City, wouldve been last year, but even more unfortunately, her class didn't show enough interest... She was BUMMED, and I was for her, as well!

But, on to the trip that DID actually happen...

Though M has been to Washington, D.C. numerous times before, as we used to go annually (pre-2020) for the Army Ten-Miler (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), I strongly believe that taking trips without parents/family is so very important and offers a whole new, and extremely valuable, level of learning/figuring things out. 

Day 1 - Wednesday, April 17 

M and her class left early in the morning and started their trek north.

Their first stop was at the North Carolina Zoo before continuing on and making a college visit stop at Duke University, where everyone purchased Duke sweatshirts!

From there, they continued on to their hotel to get some rest.

Day 2 - Thursday, April 18

After breakfast, the group headed over to Arlington Cemetery...

Though we visited back in  2015, its been almost a DECADE since M has been there... WOW...

{October 2015}

After lunch, they hit some of the Smithsonian museums...

My kids especially like to send me pictures of dead animals (because they know how much I just love loathe taxidermy)...

Also, presidential pictures (I actually do love those)...

After dinner, they took a tour of the monuments and memorials at night!

I think M got some GREAT photos!

Her favorite president...

and, back in the day...

{October 2012}

It was full day!

{Beta Club Trip} Washington, D.C. - Part II