This year, I have been sharing my enthusiasm for March Madness with one of my students, and before the women’s tournament started, we filled out brackets together. We have talked about the different teams that qualified, the high-profile players, what the rankings mean, and the many ways to try to predict which team will win the tournament. What I didn’t expect from these conversations was that, through sports, we would actually be talking about the many possible colleges my student could apply to or attend in the future.
With 68 teams in the tournament, that has meant 68 different schools she has, in turn, been researching through a basketball lens. We have talked about large public schools like UCLA and the University of South Carolina, small private schools like William and Mary, state schools like San Diego and Louisiana State, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Southern University. Besides having outstanding Division I women’s basketball teams, each school is vastly different and offers unique experiences for its students. My student and I have talked about how finding the right fit for the student is the most important thing.
After the tour, I asked them what they thought.
“I’m not sure. I’m still processing,” they said.
“That’s fine, we have plenty of time. Let’s get some lunch,” I said.
We found a Whole Foods nearby and sat down in the deli to eat. I made some light small talk.
“I really liked that the school had an Ethnic Studies Department,” they said out of the blue.
“Oh cool, could you see yourself taking Ethnic Studies classes?” I asked, surprised because I wasn’t sure if they would open up about their thoughts on the tour that day.
“Yeah, since I don’t know what I want to do after college, I like that the school values diversity and has a lot of majors that I could try. I also like that the campus is walkable. I could walk here for lunch every day!”
We talked for about 30 minutes about what they liked and didn’t like, and overall, they decided that they liked the “vibe” and could see themselves on campus someday. I was thrilled to hear that their eyes had been officially opened to a possible fit after high school.
“Do you think we could visit that other school you mentioned sometime?”
I tried to play it cool, but I knew I had a big smile on my face after they asked the question.
“Of course! Let’s schedule a tour of the University of San Francisco after Spring Break,” I said.
“That sounds great!”
March Madness became a bridge to college research and a meaningful way to support my student. It’s a reminder of how learning can happen in unexpected moments—and a memory I will always cherish.
