College fairs can help with exploring college options. Located in various venues across the country, college fairs offer students and their families the opportunity to learn about a large number of colleges and universities all in one place. Before heading to a college fair, hear our tips in order to make the most of the opportunity. Tips include learning which colleges will be at the fair, finding out which colleges fit your preferences, preparing questions for the admissions representatives, exchanging contact information for further correspondence with the school, reviewing the event map, attending additional sessions, and allowing yourself time to browse. And to learn more about college fairs, visit our article, College Fairs.
High school juniors, I’m here to tell you about a helpful resource in the college admissions process. College fairs. College fairs are events where students can learn about a large number of colleges and universities all in one place, and meet with representatives from each school. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your college fair experience.
First, before you even step foot in the room, do some research to find out which colleges will be at the fair and see if there are any that you’re interested in. If you don’t have a list of potential schools yet, consider the features of colleges that might interest you, like sports, arts, potential majors, location, size, and use a college search tool like MEFA Pathway to find schools that might fit your preferences.
If there will be colleges at the fair that you are interested in, make sure you have some questions ready to ask the admissions representative, and be ready to exchange contact information for further correspondence. That way, you’ll have a contact who can help you learn more about the college and the college will know that you’re interested in attending.
Colleges often keep track of the students who visit them at college fairs, and some colleges consider it when making admissions decisions. So remember to present your best self to the admissions representative. That person could be the same one reading your application. If you’re going to a large regional or national fair, an event map should be posted ahead of time.
Use that map to draw out your route for visiting the tables for the colleges you’re interested in first, before fatigue sets in. Check out some of the other offerings, too, like sessions on financial aid, paying for college, and college admissions tips, and finally, allow yourself some time to browse. Maybe take a look at some colleges or fields that you never thought of before.
After all, it’s not often that you have dozens of colleges all vying for your attention. Take some time and see what they have to offer. If you have any questions about applying to college, here’s where you can reach us.
