Finding the Right Fit: How One Visit to Paul Smith’s College Opened Doors to Different College Possibilities
For many students, websites and family conversations can only go so far in finding the right college match. Sometimes, what they need is a college trip: a bus ride, fresh air, and a tour of college campuses to turn their dreams into reality.
This Spring, CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) arranged for 29 juniors and seniors from partner high schools in our network to visit Paul Smith’s College (PSC) in the Adirondacks. For one student, the visit led to a path for her future she hadn’t envisioned until now.
The Paul Smith’s College admissions team partnered with CBI to design a visit that was hands-on and reflective of campus life. Students toured the campus with fresh snow on the grounds and experienced a Woodsmen Demonstration from the collegiate timbersports program. They also took part in a student open mic night before staying overnight at a hotel, and had breakfast in the campus dining hall the next day. Each small moment helped students begin to picture themselves living and learning in these spaces.
One experience stood out in particular. At the college’s culinary center, students toured a professional kitchen and a working restaurant, and rolled up their sleeves to make pretzels from scratch. For one student, that introduction to the culinary arts changed her perspective on college.
An Aspiring Chef’s Journey to College
Chay, a senior at Juan Morel Campos Secondary School (JMC), loves food and cooking, but she hadn’t yet connected that passion to a traditional college path. “I really did not think college was for me when we started this process,” said Chay. She thought she would work in the hospitality industry immediately after high school. Tristan Wilson, Director of College Counseling at JMC, listened to her concerns without judgment. He said, “I hear you, and I got you. Come back to my office at lunch. Let’s talk about this culinary program at Paul Smith’s College.”
Chay was intrigued about how academics and cooking can fit together. She kept an open mind as she completed college applications and financial aid forms. In the meantime, Tristan reached out to his CBI colleagues to arrange a college trip with other students in the network.
The college trip was the tipping point for Chay to realize she could attend college to study culinary arts and have the experience almost entirely funded by scholarships and financial aid. “When I arrived, I just felt like this was what I was looking for,” Chay reflected. “I loved the professional kitchen and restaurant attached to the school. It’s also really peaceful here, and I can see myself spending time in nature. This was it for me.” When she called her mother to tell her she had found the right college, her mom’s reaction said it all. “She was so happy and proud.”
Why College Trips Matter in the College Application Process
College trips remove barriers, allowing our students to see possibilities in the unfamiliar. Tristan shared, “We want students to experience the commute and the environment to make better informed decisions about their options.”
Some of the students who attended the trip were admitted to Paul Smith’s College through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), a pathway designed for students who show strong academic potential and financial need to attend private colleges in New York State. HEOP, with support from PSC Admissions, partnered with CBI to make this trip possible. A campus visit and admissions interview are required steps for HEOP at Paul Smith’s. Without this trip organized by CBI, those students would not have been able to meet the admissions requirements. Additionally, high school juniors were able to get a head start on exploring their college options well before their application process began.
Making pretzels in the professional kitchen 
Exploring nature trails close to campus 
Students envision future class discussions in a college classroom
Amanda Vincent, Director of Student Success: HEOP and TRiO, is rebuilding the HEOP program at Paul Smith’s College to full capacity, and knows there is a track record of success partnering with CBI. “Connecting with CBI students this fall—first during my visit to NYC and again when they came to PSC—rekindled my passion for this work in a way I didn’t even realize I needed,” said Amanda. “Their curiosity, respect, and genuine excitement for learning were felt across campus, and they were so well-received by everyone here.”
For students like Chay, the college application process isn’t just about proximity or familiarity. It starts with honest dialogue with her DCC and keeping an open mind on a college trip to shape her future. “Watching students like Chay step into new opportunities, take risks, and trust the process reaffirms the purpose behind everything we do,” added Amanda. “I am beyond excited that Chay will be joining us!”
