From Thomas Becher for First College Visit, a series of first college visit stories by business professionals sponsored by SmartCollegeVisit:

I got a jump on visiting college during the spring of my junior year in high school. I took a day trip from my home in Connecticut to Chicago, making my way to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. I was drawn to Northwestern because its Medill School of Journalism was tops for undergrads, and that's the profession I had my heart set on.

I was immediately attracted to the campus - the old buildings scattered with new ones, the park-like setting in the middle of a huge urban area, the monstrous library hard up against the shores of Lake Michigan. But my decision to apply - and ultimately become accepted - came during a quiet moment between tours. I walked down to the lakefront, peered to the south and saw the breathtaking Chicago skyline in the spring sun. I was hooked. For four years, I would pass that spot on my walks and jogs and remember - this is where I decided my future.

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Thomas Becher is President of tba, The Becher Agency.

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First College Visit on Handshake 2.0, a series of first college visit stories by business professionals, is sponsored by SmartCollegeVisit, a college visit portal with tools and resources for planning campus visit travel, college visit advice from parents to parents, not-to-miss college campus sites, and more. You're invited to subscribe to SmartCollegeVisit updates, to follow SmartCollegeVisit on Twitter, and to become a fan of SmartCollegeVisit on Facebook.

Smart College Visit, Inc. is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, parent company of Handshake 2.0.