Ivy League Tour 2023

A seven-day tour of some of the world's most prestigious universities!

In June and July of 2023, forty-six and forty-seven, respectively, NSHSS members visited ten spectacular universities on our seven-day Ivy League University tour. Due to interest, we extended this year's tour to a full seven days to allow for more exploration, flexible departure times, and a full final day of university visits. We visited Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brown University, Yale University, Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University!

In addition to these university visits, we explored some amazing historical and tourist attractions in the fantastic East Coast cities we visited. Some of the highlights of our sightseeing were exploring downtown Boston and Salem, MA, lunch at Chelsea Market, a Broadway show, a visit to the Twin Towers Memorial and Times Square, Washington Square Park, Independence Hall, and the National Mall! These tours were full of adventure, and many of our attendees began fantastic friendships that we hope will grow for years to come! It was a great opportunity to have a look at the areas that many of our members are planning on living in during their college years. 

Please take a look below to see a more in-depth recap of the trips and all the fun we had! Consider joining us for our next tour and be sure to sign up early to get an early enrollment discount before 2024!

June 11-17 2023 and July 9-15, 2023
Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, & Washington D.C.
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Testimonials from 2023 tour attendees

Mia A. F.
2023 Tour Attendee

"This tour was great to explore new environments and experience new things. It definitely gave me a feel for what a college campus truly was and better prepared me for the admissions process. A campus is very important when choosing a college and I am grateful to have been able to see these schools and get a feel for their campus culture. I feel much more confident about applying to schools I know I will love next year."

Luigi F.
2023 Tour Attendee

"The tour was great, and now I know which universities I am most interested in applying to. The information and resources provided were valuable. I'm grateful that I took advantage of this opportunity, and I would highly recommend it to any student who wants to make an informed decision about their future."

Jennifer B.
2023 Tour Attendee (Parent)

"Beth (EF) was a huge wealth of knowledge on our tours. She really made the history of the area we travelled in more interesting, doing that for a Math/Science person this isn’t an easy task. Jasmine and Kyra did a great job keeping up with our group of 48, dividing when needed to ensure a better college tour experience. Our schedules were very tight some days and they did a great communicating that politely while giving time limits for specific stops and activities."

Ochanya O.
2023 Tour Attendee

"This was an amazing trip and I loved meeting everyone and seeing all the amazing colleges. I loved Harvard so much and it was such a privilege to be able to see all these colleges. This was an experience of a lifetime."

Amari F.
2023 Tour Attendee

"This Ivy League tour was very insightful and interesting. I had a lot of fun and learned so much. There were so many activities and opportunities to try new things, meet new people, and see and experience new places. "

Maria O.
2023 Tour Attendee

"It was a wonderful, informational trip where I got lots of knowledge on different colleges and universities as well as made numerous amazing friends. The guides were absolutely amazing and helpful!"

MaLéna R.
2023 Tour Attendee

"Great tour all around!! Being able to tour these colleges provided a great insight to the type of college I'm looking for. I have never been to most of these cities or states and I feel we had a perfect balance between sightseeing, history, and of course, the colleges!"

Emma N.
2023 Tour Attendee

"I learned to get out of my comfort zone to create new friends on this trip and I also learned the meaning of teamwork, to make sure that everyone arrived at the correct place at the same time. Of course this was easier with the help from our tour guides: Beth, Jasmine and Kyra; who were very helpful and accommodating."

Moné T.
2023 Tour Attendee

"This trip was really fun! I got to meet new friends and everyone was really nice. We got to explore different cities and eat in different areas. Exploring the city was my favorite part, you get to experience not just the university but the surrounding area."

Cade S.
2023 Tour Attendee

"I can not fully express my gratitude for allowing me to come on this trip. I will admit I came on board with my bar of expectations set relatively low, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was an overall great experience that I will not forget. This trip gave me a vastly improved outlook upon my future, choices of college, and my anticipation for my future is now higher than ever. From great in-depth tours and explanations of prestigious Ivy League schools to amazing tips on how to fabricate an effective college application, this trip could not have been any more helpful."

The results are in

We asked our attendees what their favorite sightseeing spot was:

Times Square and the D.C. Memorial sites were the overall favorites with the Broadway show coming in a close second place!

We asked what their favorite meal was:

We had a tie between our group meal at Philly's Gourmet Steaks and having free reign at Western Market Food Hall.

And finally, we asked attendees what their top choice of school would be:

MIT and UPenn tied for first place!

See more on Instagram

For an inside look at everything travelers experienced during the 2023 Ivy League Tours, check out the Ivy Tour Highlights on the NSHSS Instagram on your mobile device!

Itinerary Recap

Met NSHSS and EF Tours Staff at Boston Logan International Airport

Guided sightseeing of Boston
A local guide introduced us to Boston's most historical sites.

Dinner and hotel check-in in Boston

Breakfast in Boston

Harvard University campus visit

Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus visit

Dinner in Boston at Tasty Burger in Harvard Square

Return to hotel

Breakfast in Boston

Transfer to Providence, RI
Brown University campus visit

Transfer to New Haven, CT
Yale University campus visit

Transfer to New York 
Dinner in Connecticut

Hotel check-in in New Jersey

Sightseeing in Manhattan - Twin Towers Memorial and the World Trade Center

New York University campus visit - Washington Square Park

Lunch at Chelsea Market

Round-trip Metro pass
We hopped on the subway for an unforgettable ride underneath Manhattan.

Columbia University campus visit

Dinner in Times Square in New York City

Broadway Show - We saw "Shucked" on our June tour and "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" on our July tour.

Return to hotel

Breakfast in New Jersey

Princeton University campus visit

Transfer to Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania campus visit

Dinner in Philadelphia at Philly's Gourmet Steaks

Sightseeing in Philadelphia
Our tour director introduced us to some of Philadelphia's historical sites, like Independence Hall and Ben Franklin's homestead.

Transfer to Baltimore, MD
Hotel check-in in Baltimore

Breakfast in Baltimore

Johns Hopkins University campus visit

Transfer to Washington, D.C.
Georgetown University campus visit

Guided sightseeing of Washington D.C.
We experienced the magic of seeing Washington's most impressive sights illuminated during our scenic evening tour downtown!

Dinner at Western Market Food in Washington D.C.

Hotel check-in in Washington D.C.

Depart for home from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport