Knightly News

Let’s start with a quiz (answers at the end of the article). Match each university with one of its distinct features:

1. Southern Methodist University (SMU)

2. Texas Christian University (TCU)

3. St. Edwards University

4. University of Texas at Austin

5. Trinity University

A. A 250-year-old oak tree is at the university’s spiritual center

B. Has 7 museums on campus

C. Dorm rooms feature very large walk-in closets

D. Has an on-campus dentist

E. A beach volleyball court is at the center of campus

Students who attended Episcopal's annual College Tour know the answers, having visited all five Texas universities over three days in January. Making stops in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, students toured a small liberal arts university (Trinity), a small Catholic university (St. Edward's), mid-sized private universities (SMU, TCU), and a large state flagship university (UT-Austin). Episcopal's Director of College Counseling Justin Fenske says it is important for students to tour different kinds of colleges guided by college counselors so they can learn how to approach college visits wherever they tour. In addition to visiting campuses, students ate at restaurants featuring Texas staples, Tex-Mex and barbeque.

The first stop was SMU, a private university in Dallas with approximately 7,000 undergraduate students. Despite being a foggy morning, junior Valerie O'Connor loved the campus's beauty and "natural" atmosphere, saying, "I could picture myself as a student there." Sophomore Hope Johnson appreciated that SMU is near Dallas but is far enough away to feel like its own world. Next, students took a short trip to TCU, another private university with approximately 10,500 undergraduates. Junior Sean Stewart especially liked TCU's size, which is precisely midway between the sizes of small colleges and large state universities. Sophomore Jordan Harvey noted, "The buildings look like LSU's buildings, which gave it a feeling of home." A special treat at TCU was that our tour guide, Grace Scott (' 21), is an Episcopal alum. Laying eyes on a building and getting a sense of size from walking around campus are examples of what cannot be attained by only visiting a website.

The next day, students first toured St. Edward's, a Catholic university on the outskirts of Austin that looks and feels like a small liberal arts college (approximately 3,000 students). Typically, you can see the Austin skyline from the tree-filled campus, but fog and drizzle blocked the view. Associate Director of College Counseling Alan Newton noticed the diversity of students at St. Edward's, which features a large international population. After a short drive into the city, students toured the University of Texas at Austin, by far the largest in geographical size and student population (approximately 41,000). Students were again treated to a tour by an Episcopal alum, Cooper Smither (' 21). Sophomore Carter Hernandez loved the campus's size, which he feels indicates the university's vast academic and social offerings. Finally, after an overnight trip to San Antonio, students ended the tour at Trinity University, a liberal arts institution with approximately 2,500 students. Sophomore Lauren Bradford liked going inside a Trinity dorm room and roaming around its exceptionally large walk-in closet. Everyone liked that, after two gray days, the sun shone brightly.

 In addition to the college visits and Texas-style eating, students on the tour spent much time socializing and having fun on the bus and in the hotels. Associate Director of College Counseling Julia Spaht enjoyed hearing and chatting with students about their impressions of the different universities and giving informal polls about their favorites. Notably, students listed all five institutions among their favorites. All three college counselors commented on the students' enthusiasm, engagement with tour guides, and eagerness to learn about each university. We hope to have an equally spirited group of sophomores and juniors for next year's tour (location TBD).

For guidance in making the most of college visits, we encourage parents and students not able to go on the tour to view a recording of our most recent College Counseling Coffee, "College Tours: Walking Around Campus Doesn't Count." Also, all sophomores, juniors, and their parents can learn about colleges and talk to representatives at the Episcopal College Fair and Case Studies on Sunday, March 17.

Quiz Answers: 1. D; 2. E. 3. A; 4. B; 5. C

Dr. Alan Newton hails from Alabama and received his PhD in English from the University of Kansas.  He currently serves as Assistant Director of College Counseling, AP Coordinator, and Upper School Test Coordinator.  At Episcopal, he has taught eighth grade World Geography, History of Religion, English IV, and AP English Literature. Prior to coming to Episcopal, he taught English and social studies classes and served as a college admissions consultant for more than twenty years, predominantly at college preparatory schools in the United States and South Korea.  He is also a published poet and playwright whose play, Whiteout (2001), won a national Kennedy Center award. Outside of school, he enjoys theater, running, world travel, and playing drums. He is married to Dr. Rebecca Kuhn.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.