College Fairs - A Feast of Information Part Two

In this blog post I continue with advice on how to successfully negotiate a large college fair so that you come away with great information to help with your college search!

A great piece of advice is shared on the NACAC website by a director of undergraduate admissions from Florida: “Treat a college fair like a buffet dinner. There will be more there than you can possibly take in, but then again not everything is to your taste.” Therefore to maximize the value of the fair, it helps to review the list of schools attending and do some basic research about those that pique your interest before leaving home. Suggestions include visiting the college’s website, consulting books and websites featuring college information and talking with your school counselor or college consultant. Prepare a list of specific questions to ask the college representatives you meet, based on your unique interests and situation. General information can always be found in the literature. By asking the same questions at each booth, you will be able to compare results across multiple colleges. Take a checklist or notebook and a pen with you to record your impressions, while they are still fresh in your mind. A backpack or tote- bag will be indispensible for holding all of the materials you will be collecting. Stick on labels with your address and e-mail can be used if you were not able to pre-register.

The big day arrives. Upon entering the exhibit hall, be prepared to be amazed by the sheer size and the number of people. After all over 850,000 students attend college fairs each year! A good strategy is to start by examining the map of the exhibitors to create a “plan of attack.” From the list of schools you prepared, locate all the ones you must see and proceed in a logical order. Be sure to leave time to explore other schools that happen to catch your eye. You never know, you may discover the perfect college for you! In addition to the college booths there are ongoing presentations on topics such as financial aid, standardized test preparation, and other relevant topics. Families sometime find it valuable to use a team approach. Mom or dad can attend the financial aid session while the student scopes out the college booths.

I hope you take the opportunity to visit a nearby college fair this month. Remember it is a great opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with admissions representatives. They not only love to share information about their college with students, but may also be the very same individuals who read your application when the time comes!

The date for the NACAC National College Fairs in this area are April 3 and 4th at The Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford and April 28 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. April 22 NACAC holds a fair in NYC at the Jacob  K. Javits Center and on May 3 and 4 there is a fair at the Boston Convention Center.

Check http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/students-parents/Spring/Pages/defa... for more information.