Attending a College Fair

A chill is in the air, the leaves are starting to change colors and grocery stores are carrying Halloween candy. For most people, these signs signify that Fall is on its way. For college admission counselors, it is a sign that the college fair season has arrived. This week I will be representing Fort Lewis College at a variety of fairs in Colorado. I start with two high school visits in the Pueblo area and will work my way north to Fort Collins. Five nights. Five different hotels. After 1,500 miles of driving, I know I will sleep well this weekend.

For students who haven't attended a college fair, here are some pointers.

What is a college fair? A college fair is typically held at a high school or a local hotel or convention center. Smaller fairs often include colleges and universities from just your state while larger events colleges statewide as well as out-of-state colleges and universities. These events provide you with an opportunity to chat with college representatives and help you find the colleges that may be right for you.

How should I prepare for a college fair? Find out which colleges will attend your fair. You usually can find out the list of colleges from your high school counselor. Spend some time researching the schools on the internet. Several education websites have search features that can help you determine good college "matches" for you. Prepare address labels with your name and contact information (include your e-mail) so that you can spend more of your time speaking with the representatives as opposed to filling out your personal information with each college. Develop a list of questions that you want to ask (i.e., the size of the school, admission requirements, majors offered, tuition, and scholarship). Bring a pencil/pen and a notebook to take notes.

What should I do at the fair? Be sure to visit the schools that interest you, but also save time to visit with all of the schools as there might be one or two schools that you haven't heard of that are a good fit for you. Ask for a business card from each of the representatives--this will help you follow up with school once you develop a short list of schools to which you plan to apply. Be polite. Make eye contact and shake hands with the representatives. Also, be sure to dress appropriately.

Do I need to do anything after the fair? Sit down with the materials that you've picked up and sort through them. Talk with a parent or counselor about which schools you like and try to find if there are any common themes between the schools. Begin a running list of schools to which you might apply. This will become your short list of schools. Try to include a list of pros and cons for each school on your short list. Using the business cards that gathered, send thank you notes to the schools that are on your short list. If you haven't visited your short list schools, begin to schedule visits.