Every student deserves to make an informed college decision
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Choosing a college is one of the biggest decisions a young person makes, but too often students arrive at that decision without the tools to evaluate their options. They tour campuses, collect brochures, and pick based on a vague feeling or a glossy website.
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I started The College Visit Journal to change that.
My mission is to equip students with practical resources that help them prepare for campus visits, capture meaningful observations, and make confident decisions about their futures.
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What began as a single journal has grown into a full suite of college readiness resources—curriculum, professional development, workshops, and more—all designed to help students (and the programs that serve them) get more from the visit portion of the college search.
Why I created The College Visit Journal
In the days and weeks following the March 2019 Operation Varsity Blues Scandal, stories of access and resources, or lack thereof, were published by both students and parents.
What struck me was while some families were spending hundreds of thousands to game the system, other students—often first-generation, low-income, or simply without access to expensive consultants—were navigating the college process with almost no guidance at all.
I realized an opportunity was apparent: Create an affordable resource for all students which guides them through a specific part of the admission process. I decided to focus on the college campus visit. The college tour is full of great information, but keeping your thoughts organized from each campus can be a challenge.
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That's how The College Visit Journal was born—a simple, affordable tool to help students show up prepared, stay engaged during campus visits, and walk away with notes they'd actually use.
Meet Danielle Marshall
My first college visit experience was when my older sister began her college search. I had to attend each campus tour because we made family road trips out of it. This time, in particular, it was to visit east coast schools - from Miami to Raleigh, North Carolina.
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I tuned out much of the process because I wasn't able to fully realize that I would repeat the same process in the coming years. Two years later, when it was my turn, I felt indifferent about the "perfect college." I didn't know where I wanted to go, or what to study. I was waiting to feel the magic just as my sister had with North Carolina at Chapel Hill - during our college tour and visit, she knew it was where she wanted to be.
For me, the magic never came.
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I attended Texas Christian University because I was drawn to its small classes and decent proximity to home (far enough, but not too far from my hometown of Houston). I don't remember my campus tour, but I remember the beautifully manicured college campus and decided it fit my needs! I didn't have a resource, reference material or guide like The College Visit Journal: Campus Visits Demystified, so what I gathered from college tours weren't level comparisons.
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Ultimately, I made the best of my decision, which led me to creating this educational services company specializing in college readiness resources. My work focuses on creating practical tools for students navigating the college search—particularly those who may not have access to private counselors or extensive support systems.
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I am proud to say that we have served more than 50 college access initiatives including TRIO programs, GEAR UP, private K-12 schools, nonprofit college readiness initiatives, and families navigating the college search independently.​
My Path:
- Texas Christian University: B.S. Advertising/ Public Relations​​
- Syracuse University: M.S. Digital Communications
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Danielle
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