It's official....!

Dear friends--

Not ONLY is it my favorite time of year-- Hello Fall, my dearest love-- BUT my Fall travel tour has been named. Wait for it... wait for it... this year's title has been named by Benjamin Witte of Chicago, Illinois. Ben is a Senior at Univ. Chicago Lab Schools and plans to study Art: Ceramics and Education. His amazing title.... wait for it.... has earned him a superb Valpo gift. Thanks so much BEN! And the title is.... Megan's Mega Midwest Montage **don't worry East coasters, when I visit you in the spring there will be a new title**

This week has been fabulous-- I met so many amazing students at the Brother Rice/Mother McAuley fair on Monday night and at the Maine South fair last night. Mad props to the students I met at Highland Park and Evanston Township High School... you guys rock and had amazing questions-- I look forward to seeing you on campus soon! Chicago's Northshore is absolutely beautiful-- venturing around Evanston's downtown area, Winnetka, and the entire north shore during this time of the year has fast become one of my favorite things to do. All of the people are great, beautiful weather-- and of course-- the amazing shopping!

Make sure to check out our website for new happenings on campus and to schedule a visit!

And as always... be legendary in your own way!

Liberal Arts night at Jones College Prep!

Dear friends,

My fall travel is off to an amazing start! First up was the Liberal Arts Fair at Jones College Prep.

For those of you unfamiliar with Jones, it is an amazing school, like many others in the City of Chicago. This fall we have 6-- yes SIX-- Freshman on campus from Jones. Two of those students accompanied me on this adventure and did an amazing job describing their love of Valpo to their former classmates. Needless to say, we had an awesome turn out at our table. When we first arrived we were greeted by high energy, warm smiles and a reserved parking space. Those of you familiar with parking downtown can appreciate the excitement we had with not having to stress about finding a close spot. Sam and Jeremie were asked to be "surprise" guests for the beginning panel and were very well received by everyone. There was even live music performed by members of the Jones College Prep band and a very nice meal.



All of the students I met were very prepared for the fair and had lots of great questions to ask. I couldn't have hoped for a better turn out. I look forward to seeing all of you Jones students again soon at both a high school visit and when you come visit campus! Let me know how I can help!

Big fall travel starts in a week-- I look forward to the many amazing experiences I will encounter while meeting you!

Don't forget to submit your suggestion for my fall travel tour name-- I have an amazing gift for the winner! (submit by midnight cst Sept 22nd)

And as always, Be legendary in your own way...

Coming to a high school near you..

Dear friends--

As promised, the highly anticipated return of your admission counselor's travel season is about to begin. Please check out the following dates to see if you will be able to stop by to get some Valpo info and say "HI" to me. My tour of Chicago will be somewhat epic as I plan to visit 50 high schools within 6 weeks plus many in the Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio areas. Do not fear, my East Coasters, I will be coming to you in the Spring months, but you can come visit me on campus, drop me an email or give me a call for some information in the meantime.

Let's get interactive-- Whomever submits the most creative and clean tour title for my fall travel schedule will win a fabulous Valpo gift. All submissions must be received by September 22nd, 2008 12AM CST. Please email me at: Megan.Marrs@valpo.edu

And now, the grand unveiling of the "to be named later" tour:

Wednesday September 10th, 2008
DeLasalle (fair)
Jones College Prep (fair)

Monday September 22^nd, 2008

Luther High School South

Morgan Park Academy

Brother Rice (Fair)

Tuesday September 23^rd, 2008

Maine South (fair)

New Trier

North Shore Country Day School

Wednesday September 24^th, 2008

Evanston Township

Highland Park

Deerfield

Thursday September 25, 2008

Maria (fair)

Curie High School

Marist (fair)

Wednesday October 1^st, 2008

Lake Forest Academy (fair)

Niles West

Niles North

Thursday October 2^nd, 2008

Lincoln Park High School

Francis W Parker

Northside College Prep

Luther North

Sunday October 5^th, 2008

Columbus, OH

Monday October 6^th, 2008

High school visits TBD

Tuesday October 7^th, 2008

Univ. Cincinnati

High school visits TBD during the day

Wednesday October 8^th, 2008

Miami University

High School visits TBD

Thursday October 9^th, 2008

High School visits TBD

Friday October 10^th, 2008

High School visits TBD

Sunday October 12^th, 2008

Ohio NACAC

**Back to Chicago**

Monday October 20^th, 2008

Flossmoore (fair)

Gwendolyn Brooks

St. Ignatius

Tuesday October 21^st, 2008

Morgan Park Academy (fair)

St. Rita

Wednesday October 22^nd, 2008

Walter Payton

Whitney Young Magnet

Thursday October 23^rd, 2008 (Happy birthday to my brother!!)

Noble Street

Latin School

Friday October 25^th, 2008

DeSales (fair)

Mt. Carmel

Univ. Chicago Lab School

Saturday October 25^th, 2008

Chicago NACAC

Wednesday October 29^th, 2008

National Hispanic Fair

Thursday October 30^th

William Taft (fair)

Saturday November 1^st, 2008

Univ. Ill @ Chicago (fair)

*disclaimer, dates may change, and if they do, there will be a post about it*

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "Wow, Megan, how do you stay so energetic and inspired while out on the road?" I will tell you-- it's because of Starbucks. I'm joking, partially, in reality it's because of the relationships developed during this time of the year. You also might be wondering what exactly I take with me while out on the road-- OK, ok, ok twist my arm, I will tell you. In my travel (non-valpo material, non-clothing suitcase) bag I will always have the following:

• Bottled water (preferable vitamin water)
  
• one regular can of Coke
  
• Powerbars
  
• trailmix
  
• First-aid kit (trust me)
  
• Extra socks
• Flip-flops (I could live in flip flops)
  
• Raincoat
• Umbrella
• cell phones, wall and car charger
• Laptop
• homework-- yes, my day time outfit is the Admission Counselor, while at night I am an MBA student here at Valpo.
  
• iPod, charger
  
• digital camera
• Ethernet cable (just in case)
• A wide selection of batteries
• flashlight
  
• Plastic bags (both of the sandwich and garbage varieties)
• Tissues and napkins
• Two hats
• Spare toilet paper (I traveled to China this summer-- it's become 2nd nature)
  
• tape, assorted rubber bands and paperclips (just in case I need to MacGyver (1) something together)
• Pens
  
• A towel
• Tylenol, Advil, Motrin and aspirin
• A lifetime supply of Tums
  (1) for those of you too young to know who MacGuyver is-- take a look
  
  

All this, plus a folder full of my travel schedule, insurance forms, contacts, reservations and any other scrap of paper necessary to make the travel season go swimmingly.

I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

And remember-- be legendary in your own way!