After a year of interviewing entrepreneurs about their passions for Handshake 2.0 and other publications, I discovered I was one. Today marks the launch of SmartCollegeVisit, a web site and blog I created to help families with college-bound teens plan how to get the most out of a campus visit.

In the 16 years I spent working in, or with, college admissions offices, this one message came through loud and clear: the campus visit is very important to the college search process.

And no wonder.  With the cost of a four-year education on the rise, to “shop before you buy" makes good business sense. According to the College Board, the cost of tuition has risen 4.4% at private colleges and universities, and 6.5% at public institutions. For many parents, the total cost of putting a child through four years of college is second to purchasing a house.

In addition to making a smart financial assessment of the educational value of a degree from a specific college, visiting a campus gives the student a chance to glimpse what life would be like during the four years he or she expects to spend there. SmartCollegeVisit provides resources to help students and families make good decisions about how and when to visit.

At SmartCollegeVisit, site users will find travel planning resources, advice from parents who have thoughtfully shared stories about their experience on the road, in the air, and on college campuses, as well as contributions from admissions directors, counselors and advisors on planning and visiting and what not to miss while on campus.

As with the entrepreneurs I've interviewed, passion drives me to start my own business. I'm passionate about the importance of a college education. As parents seek the best college fit for their sons and daughters, SmartCollegeVisit helps them take a smart step forward.

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Z. Kelly Queijo is the founder of SmartCollegeVisit and a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0.