One of the unique features that distinguishes Stevenson School from most other private secondary schools is the opportunity for students to take part in the two optional college tours sponsored by the College Center.
The goal of these tours is to help junior students learn about the various types of institutions available to them, to help them learn more about what it is like to be a college student, to learn what they like and do not like about certain types of schools, and to begin to take the year-long college application process seriously.
Members of the college counseling staff and other faculty members accompany between 30 and 50 students on these trips, which usually involve a tour of the campuses, information sessions with admissions officers, and personal meetings with Stevenson alumni who are currently on the campuses. The group travels by bus, visiting several colleges each day.
Examples of college tours given in past years:
- Southern California College Tour: October 20–23, 2019
- May include these colleges and universities: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of California, Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, San Diego State University, University of San Diego, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University, Claremont Colleges (Claremont McKenna/Pomona/Harvey Mudd/Pitzer/Scripps)
- Mid-Atlantic/East Coast College Tour: February 22–28, 2020
- May include these colleges and universities: American University, George Washington University, Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, Lehigh University, New York University, Parsons School of Design, Wesleyan University, Trinity College, Yale University, Tufts University, Boston College, Northeastern University, Bentley College