School Exploration

09. School Exploration

Tyler, ninth grade is a great time to start getting a feel for different college environments—not to “choose a school” yet, but to notice what kinds of places make you curious and energized. Since you live in Colorado and two of your early target schools are University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University–Fort Collins, you have a useful advantage: both campuses are accessible enough that you can explore them gradually over the next few years instead of rushing the process later.

The committee noted that both universities have environments that could match several directions you might explore during high school. At this stage you have listed your major as undecided, and you have not yet provided information about extracurricular activities or personal projects. That’s completely normal for a freshman. The goal of school exploration right now is to help you discover what kinds of academic communities excite you so you can start experimenting with related interests in high school.

What to Notice About CU Boulder

When you explore the University of Colorado Boulder, pay attention to the mix of outdoor culture and creative technology communities. Boulder is known for a student culture where outdoor activity and creative experimentation often overlap. Even if you are not yet sure what you want to study, this environment can be helpful for students who like blending different interests—technology, design, storytelling, games, media, or digital creativity.

As you research Boulder, look for signals of:

• Creative technology spaces where students build interactive media, games, or digital art.
• Student clubs focused on digital creation—for example game design groups, coding clubs, or media production teams.
• Collaborative project culture, where students publish games, create digital experiences, or produce media together.
• Outdoor-oriented student life, which is a defining part of Boulder’s campus environment.

You do not need to join any of these areas immediately in high school. Instead, simply notice whether the idea of students building creative technology projects together sounds exciting to you. If it does, that may hint at directions you could explore during the next few years.

What to Notice About Colorado State University

Colorado State University–Fort Collins is another excellent school to explore closely, especially because you are an in‑state student. Being local can make it easier to attend campus events, summer programs, or student showcases in the future.

When researching CSU, focus on the ways students actually build and share projects. Universities often reveal their culture through what students create outside the classroom.

For example, explore whether you see:

• Student project showcases where undergraduates demonstrate games, digital media, or software they’ve built.
• Collaborative student clubs that focus on game development, creative coding, or digital storytelling.
• Digital media labs or creative studios where students experiment with technology and art together.
• Hackathons, showcases, or build‑weekends where students prototype ideas.

These types of programs are helpful because they reveal how much a campus encourages students to experiment and build things together. If you later discover that you enjoy creative technology, media production, or game design, those communities can become important learning spaces.

Why Clubs and Student Projects Matter

One of the most useful ways to explore colleges is to look beyond majors and into student communities. Majors describe what you study; clubs and projects show how students actually spend their time.

Right now, you have not provided information about your current extracurricular activities. As you begin trying things in high school, it can be helpful to occasionally look at the kinds of communities that exist at universities you might attend. If you notice that many of the projects or clubs excite you, that’s a strong signal that the environment could fit you well later.

For example, if you discover that:

• You enjoy building small digital projects
• You like experimenting with games or interactive media
• You enjoy collaborative creative work

…then exploring universities where those student communities are active can help you imagine what your future learning environment might feel like.

On the other hand, if those communities don’t interest you, that’s useful information too. Exploration is about noticing what genuinely sparks curiosity.

Simple Ways to Explore Campuses as a Freshman

You don’t need to do formal campus tours right away. Instead, think of school exploration as small curiosity-driven activities spread over several years.

• Watch student project demos or club videos from both universities.
• Look at student organization pages to see what students are building.
• If you visit Boulder or Fort Collins for other reasons, walk around campus and observe student life.
• Attend public events, student showcases, or tech demonstrations if they are open to visitors.

Each small exposure helps you build a mental picture of the environment. By the time you reach junior year, you’ll have a much clearer sense of which type of campus community feels like a good fit.

What Information Is Still Missing

Right now, you have not provided:

• Your extracurricular activities
• Clubs or hobbies you currently enjoy
• Creative or technical projects you may have tried

Those details will become important later because they help connect your high school experiences with the kinds of communities you explore at universities. As you begin joining activities or experimenting with projects, keep track of what you enjoy most. Those interests will guide future school exploration.

Freshman-Year Exploration Calendar

Month	Exploration Actions	Outcome
September	Make a simple list of interests you want to explore in high school. Look up the student organization pages for CU Boulder and CSU.	Initial awareness of campus communities.
October	Watch videos of student projects or club demos from both universities. Note any clubs related to games, media, or creative technology.	Begin noticing which communities look exciting.
November	Explore university websites describing digital media or creative technology spaces. Write down questions about what students build there.	Better understanding of hands‑on learning environments.
December	If possible, visit either Boulder or Fort Collins and walk through campus areas. Observe student life and campus energy.	Early impressions of campus atmosphere.
January	Search for student project showcases or demo days hosted by the universities. Save examples of projects that interest you.	Exposure to real student work.
February	Compare the types of student clubs available at both schools. Notice where creative collaboration seems strongest.	Early sense of campus culture differences.
March	Attend a public campus event if available. Observe how students interact and collaborate.	Real-world observation of student communities.
April	Reflect on which campus environments seem most exciting. Record thoughts in a simple journal (see §06 Essay Strategy for reflection approach).	Early self-awareness about preferences.
May	Look again at student project pages to see new examples. Identify any themes you notice across projects.	Understanding of what students actually build.
June	If visiting either city during summer, take an informal campus walk. Notice campus layout and surrounding community.	Physical familiarity with campuses.
July	Watch recorded student talks, showcases, or demo presentations. Write down the types of projects that seem most fun.	Clearer picture of possible academic directions.
August	Reflect on what you learned about both universities. Update your exploration journal (see §06 Essay Strategy).	Personal insight going into sophomore year.

Over time, these small exploration steps help you develop a genuine sense of which environments feel inspiring. By the time you are closer to applying, you won’t just know the names of universities—you’ll understand the communities inside them and the kinds of projects you might want to build there.