Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling
Director of College Counseling Elizabeth Cavallari with her cohort for the Maryland Crab Crawl Counselor Tour
A month ago, I took an early morning train to Baltimore and boarded a bus that would become both my classroom and my community for the next four days. Alongside 30 other high school and college counselors from across the country, I visited nine private colleges and universities in Maryland.
It was exhausting—full days, constant movement, and more information than I could possibly process in the moment. But it was also informative and fun.
Of course, stepping onto nine distinct campuses was a highlight. But one of the most meaningful parts of the experience didn’t happen on a campus at all.
It happened on the bus.
Ten hours on a bus might not sound like a highlight, but it absolutely was. Those hours became a space for honest, thoughtful conversation. We talked about the state of admissions, the challenges we’re seeing in our schools, and the solutions we’re trying to build. We shared insights and traded perspectives.
It was professional development in its most organic and impactful form.
And then there were the people we met on campus.
Cavallari meets the Green Terror at McDaniel College
Over the course of four days, I connected with college and university presidents, vice presidents for enrollment management, deans of admission and other admissions staff, leaders from across their campus including athletics and student life, and, of course, current students.
Sharing meals and asking questions, I built relationships with the very people who shape the student experience on their campuses. Our group even (unintentionally) crashed a reception for the opening of a new performing arts facility. And unexpected moments like these become great memories, especially when the university’s president made sure we didn’t leave.
What I gained from these conversations goes far beyond brochures or websites. I got the inside scoop on the culture and vibe of each place. I left many of these campuses clearly picturing individual students there.
We often talk to students about the importance of visiting campuses. What we don’t often say is that those visits matter just as much for college counselors.
As a college counselor, I am also constantly learning. Constantly updating my understanding. Constantly working to ensure that the guidance I provide is rooted in real, current, lived experience.
So no, the travel isn’t glamorous. It’s early mornings, long days, and a lot of time on a bus.
But it’s also one of the most meaningful ways to grow in this work: by seeing new places, meeting new people, and forging relationships grounded in shared purpose and community.
