Stagg High School plans college visits

During this school year, Stagg High School students have the opportunity to visit six different colleges and universities in the Chicago area and beyond. The Guidance Department’s fall campus visits include trips to Northern Illinois University, Loyola University, and the University of Saint Francis in Joliet. In the spring, students will be able to visit Elmhurst College and Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University (these latter two visits will take place on the same day, allowing students to see two very different schools in neighboring towns).

The visit program kicked off this year with an October visit to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Each year, the school tries to be sure that students visit at least one state university (and often two) to give students an idea about both the college offerings close to home and a potential financial fit for some families. The visit to NIU included a campus and residence hall tour and admissions presentation, as well as information from financial aid and the university honors program. Stagg students were also able to hear from a panel of current NIU students, which always helps the high school students get a real glimpse of college life.

Later in October, a group visited Loyola University. This particular visit is always extremely popular with students, as we have a high percentage of seniors either applying to the school for freshman admissions or considering it for transferring. Students who visit Loyola are often the same students who will consider other city schools (most frequently UIC and DePaul) and this visit gives them a chance to see a city school that also has a campus feel, unlike several other schools in Chicago. Students often walk away from this visit glad that they saw Loyola and saw how long it took to get to the school, as we often have students who are considering commuting there.

The final trip for the semester took place November 10, with a visit to the University of Saint Francis in Joliet. Unlike the two earlier visits, this trip has been specifically designed for students considering a nursing major. Saint Francis recently completed new nursing facilities and our students will be among the first group of future students to visit them. The school has a detailed visit planned, including an admissions presentation and campus tour, as well as a special tour of the school’s nursing simulation lab. In addition, students heard about a nursing program that they could transfer from Moraine Valley Community College into, something that is somewhat rare in this major.