Some call us “Road Warriors;” others simply “crazy.”

And so it begins; Travel Season 2K10.

Every fall and spring our admissions staff gears up for what’s simply known as ‘travel season.’  Travel season is a time when we’re traveling from state to state, town to town visiting high schools and college fairs to speak with students intrested in The University of Iowa.

Fall travel season is a bit longer, and more chaotic (I mean busier) than spring travel.  Reason for this? Fall is the prime time for you seniors to be visiting, applying to, and narrowing down your college choices so that when you apply for financial aid in January, your decision will be between a couple schools rather than many (stay tuned for a blog post containing advice on this process). Juniors, it’s a great time for you to start seeking information on institutions as well.

This week is the week I spend easing into my travel schedule. Yesterday was my first day out of the office.  I spent the morning driving to Bloomington/Normal, IL where I attended Articulation Unplugged, a college fair for high school counselors.  This event gave high school counselors a chance to ask questions about our admissions practices and policies as well as update us on trends in their individual high schools.  For me it was a great opportunity to see the high school counselors and also my other fellow “road warriors.”  Following the fair, I made the easy 3.5 hour drive back to Iowa City.

I spend another day in Champaign tomorrow before the I consider Tom Cochran’s Life is a Highway, my fall theme song.  I say this because I fly to Dallas, Texas (or as my fellow blogger Jade says “Tejas”) on Friday, and won’t be in the office much until Nov. 1st.  While I won’t be in the office much, I will be fortunate to make it back to Iowa City on most weekends to see the Hawks play and regroup/reorganize/repack for the week out.   But that’s not it; Iowa games mean returning alumni and my house = US hostel.  So, in addition to everything I hope to get done during the weekend, pile on hosting responsibilities, laundry and cleaning.  Yet that’s one reason I love Iowa City – everyone returns to see the city they love so much – luckily I live here so I get to see the people I love so much.

For a breakdown of my time out, here are my weeks and where I’ll be traveling:

(week starting) Sept 13th – IL, TX

Sept 20th – Dallas, TX

Sept 27th – Iowa/Wisconsin

Oct. 4th – Wisconsin

Oct 11th – Wisconsin

Oct. 18th – Southern Chicago, Illinois

Oct 25th – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Stay tuned for further updates – for now, cue Tommy.  Click—> Tom Cochrane – Life Is A Highway <—Click

“through all the cities and all these towns. It’s in my blood and it’s all around.”