The College Center Office is already receiving requests from college representatives for scheduling daytime visits to PA in September and October. These are scheduled before and after school, as well as during elective periods. Scheduled visits will be included in PA’s weekly E-Bulletin, Maia Learning, and in announcements. Dozens of colleges visited PA last fall and we anticipate a deluge this year since Minneapolis is the host city for this year’s national conference (for the National Association for College Admission Counseling). Reminders on college visit procedures will be shared with students in the first days/week of school.
NEW! PA College Counseling will host both a Jesuit Colleges Fair (September 16 at 2:25 p.m. for PA students only) and a SEC College Fair, which will be held on October 6 at 6:30 p.m. (open to the public). Details forthcoming. Contact Mrs. Hogan with any questions.
CTCL and Minnesota National College Fairs
College admission representatives from across the country visit the Twin Cities each fall to meet with students, answer questions, and promote their unique institutional offerings. In addition to visiting individual high schools, many admission reps attend college fairs that are free and open to the public. Two upcoming opportunities are the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Fair (August 9 in Bloomington) and the Minnesota National College Fair (October 5-6 in Minneapolis). Click the links above to learn more, register, and view the college participant lists.
Seniors Visiting Colleges: The annual MEA (Education MN) Weekend student holidays will be October 15 and 16. This is a great opportunity to visit or revisit colleges to which seniors plan to apply. If you plan a visit to a college campus, notify their Admission Office at least two weeks in advance so that they can make plans to schedule a worthwhile visit, including attending classes, meeting with faculty, students, and staff, etc. With many competitive colleges including a question on their application asking a student’s specific reasons for considering their institution, a visit to campus can be immensely helpful for crafting specific and compelling answers to this question that reveal a deep understanding of fit and interest. Please note that most Minnesota colleges will, for obvious reasons, welcome very large crowds of visitors during the MEA holiday. If you sense that a visit experience featuring more individual attention would be more enjoyable and productive for your family, consider visiting Minnesota campuses at another time.
College Visit Field Trip November 12 and 13: PA Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores (and Freshmen, space permitting) are invited to a PA-sponsored college trip to Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Madison, our 4th annual out-of-state college visit field trip November 12-13 (during the school holiday for parent-teacher conferences). Departure will be at approximately 8:00 a.m. on November 12 and return by approximately 6:30 p.m. on November 13. The estimated cost of $250 will include transportation, meals, and overnight accommodations in Madison. Our trip will include a special dinner with PA alumni, an excellent networking opportunity for students. All students who wish to participate will need to pay a $100 deposit, but this fee will be credited toward the full trip cost. Space is limited this year, so please respond by September 3 using this form to indicate your interest (and a $100 deposit will be charged to your student account). We will share further details with interested families once the 2026-2027 school year begins.