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Gear up for your college-planning adventure at Destination College 

February 19, 2026 College & Career Planning
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We all know that getting started on a new project can be daunting. But gearing up for it? That’s the fun part!  

Destination College, our free college-planning event for high school juniors and their families, is right around the corner. Join us at Plymouth State University on Saturday, March 28, to get outfitted with tools and resources to kick off your college-planning adventure. A few lucky attendees will even go home with a new Apple MacBook Air laptop!  

Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect this year:  

Overcome fear with a clear road map 

At Destination College, you’ll get a clear overview of what’s ahead. You’ll choose from 10 different workshops covering broad subjects like the college admission process and financial aid, as well as more specific topics such as gap years and study abroad programs. You can attend workshops with your family members or divide and conquer to cover more territory. Whatever you choose, you’ll get a strong introduction into college planning. Our panelists have hundreds of years of collective experience and know the common questions families bring.  

We’ll also send you home with helpful resources to continue our journey, including our College Admissions Insider and our college planning timeline. And we’ll send follow-up information tailored to where you are in your journey.  

Many of our attendees show up feeling overwhelmed and go home feeling confident and excited.  

 “If a student really looks at it from the perspective of, ‘What do I want this to be for me? What do I want to get out of this experience?’ there can be so much joy in it and so much excitement,” said Julie Lanman, Director of Admission at Saint Anselm College and a Destination College panelist. 

Speaking of excitement, we’re giving away Apple MacBook Air laptop computers* to three high school juniors during the college fair at Destination College. By registering for Destination College, you’ll automatically be entered into the drawing, but you have to be present to win.  

Start finding your perfect match 

As you begin thinking about college, you may be wondering how to find the one that’s right for you. We’ll let you in on a little secret: With thousands of colleges in the United States alone, there are probably many colleges that will be a great fit for your needs! At Destination College, you can start finding those great-fit colleges.  

At our workshop, “Building Your College List,” you’ll learn what questions to ask yourself as you start researching colleges and gain tips and advice to guide you through the process.  

Many students and families wonder how to get started making their lists, said Brenda Poznanski, a school counselor at Bishop Guertin High School and panelist for “Building Your College List.” Her suggestion: Visit the colleges in your backyard, even if you’re not necessarily interested in attending them. “We live in a part of the country where you drive by a college campus practically every time you go somewhere,” she said. “Go see Northeastern or Suffolk or Emmanuel or Emerson. They’re all really different schools,” she said. (And don’t forget our NH colleges, either!) “It’s like when you’re first starting to shop for a car. Start test driving different cars to see what fits.”  

You’ll gather other helpful tidbits at workshops like “Making the Most of the Campus Visit” and “Attending a College Fair.” Then you can head to the college fair to put your newfound knowledge and skills to work and start learning about colleges here in New Hampshire, New England, and beyond.  

Make valuable connections 

One of the best things about Destination College is the connections you’ll make. Between the workshops and college fair, you’ll have access to dozens of experts and individuals who can advise and support you. And that includes our team! We offer a variety of services and resources for the important milestones on your journey, including personalized appointments, webinars, in-school presentations – all free of charge! We also offer a scholarship program and a private student loan to help students fund their future pathways.  

Nervous about networking? Here are some tips:  

  • Prepare your key questions. Our workshops and college fair can be crowded. When you get your chance to chat with the college reps or other individuals, know what you want to get out of it.   
  • Make a good impression. The college rep you meet at a college fair may be the same person who reads your college application down the road. Introduce yourself, make eye contact, and ask for a business card so you can follow up.   
  • Stay open-minded. While it’s great to be prepared, it’s also smart to stay flexible when approaching networking opportunities. You may learn things you didn’t even think to ask about or meet people who open doors you didn’t know about!   
     

Want more tips for college fairs? Read our blog.  

Destination College 2026 takes place at Plymouth State University on Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn more and register here!  

  

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO REGISTERED NH HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS ATTENDING DESTINATION COLLEGE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Entry for drawing begins at January 14, 2026 at 11:20 a.m. ET and ends March 27, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET, or when event is full. Three (3) Total Prizes consisting of three (3) MacBooks. For full Terms and Conditions visit [https://graniteedvance.org/find-your-direction/upcoming-events/destination-college/] Sponsor: Granite Edvance at 3 Barrell Court, Concord NH 03301. 

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