Mastering the College Fair
It’s college fair season!
College fairs are a great way to start your college search and expand your knowledge about schools you might not have heard of before. They can also be a little overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been to one before. As a former admissions counselor myself, I’ve gathered a bunch of “do’s” and “don’ts” to make your college fair experience impactful.
There are hundreds of colleges to explore at a NACAC college fair.
If it’s your first time attending a college fair, here’s what you can expect:
There are usually at least 30 colleges in attendance, and at national fairs, there might be more than 200 colleges.
College fairs are held in large spaces (gyms, conference centers, etc.)
There will probably be lots of people in attendance as well.
You may have to register ahead of time for the college fair.
Pro tips to make your experience at the college fair great:
You will likely not talk with every single college at the college fair. That’s okay! With a little research ahead of time, you’ll know which colleges will be there and can make a game plan of who you’d like to visit.
Bring a notebook or some way to take notes. You’ll receive A TON of college brochures and info sheets, but taking notes on the stuff you’re interested in will help you stay organized.
It will likely be very loud in the space, with hundreds of people in attendance. Plan to speak loudly so the college reps can hear your questions.
If noisy spaces or larger crowds tend to overwhelm you or overstimulate you, take lots of breaks so your brain can have a breather! College fairs are long events and there will be plenty of time to speak to the colleges you are interested in.
Think of some questions ahead of time that you’d like to ask the college reps and write them down. What’s important to you in your future college education?
If you registered for the college fair ahead of time, you might have a barcode sent to you for colleges to scan when you talk with them. Have that barcode handy, either printed out or perhaps on the lock screen on your phone.
Attend presentations that are offered before the college fair. There might be great info sessions on financial aid, the college search process, and other topics.
Bring water–stay hydrated!
A few things you SHOULDN’T do at a college fair:
Don’t ask a college rep what majors their school offers. They will not spend the time to list out all 80 majors they offer! What majors or areas are YOU interested in learning more about?
Don’t ask a college rep questions like “how is your biology program?” With a little research ahead of time, you can think of more specific and helpful questions to ask.
Don’t grab swag off a college table WITHOUT talking to the college rep. It’s just bad form, friends. If you want the cool merch, you gotta talk to the rep.
Don’t just visit colleges that you’ve heard of before. Fairs are an awesome opportunity to expand your horizons–you never know if your perfect college fit is there!
Don’t let your parents/guardians ask all the questions! They are not going to college, YOU are 🙂This is an opportunity for you to start that transition into adulthood by taking the lead on your college search.
To get you started with good questions to ask, here’s a few ideas:
Does your school offer merit and/or need-based financial aid?
What kind of support services are provided for students? (Academic, mental health, community, etc.)
What makes your college unique?
Tell me about the local area that your college is located in.
How would you describe the academic pressure and workload?
Tell me about ________ program (whatever area you’re interested in!)
What housing options do I have?
What’s YOUR favorite and least favorite thing about your school?
And finally, thank the college reps for their time. This time of year is really busy for them–college reps are traveling all over the country to meet students in their cities! A little thank you goes a long way in their books 🙂
Looking for a college fair near you? Try these handy resources:
NACAC National College Fairs: https://www.nacacnet.org/nacac-college-fairs/
CTCL (Colleges That Change Lives): https://ctcl.org/info-sessions/ (these fairs are all done for this year, but check back next year! Definitely don’t want to miss the CTCL fairs.
Music Admissions Roundtable hosts fantastic fairs for music and performing arts students: https://www.musicadmissionsroundtable.org/collegefairs
If you’re looking for something really local, just do a quick Google search for “College Fairs Near Me”.
Remember, the college research doesn’t stop once the college fair is over! Tune in next week for tips on how to wade through the masses of brochures you collected from the college fairs and how to start honing in on the schools you’re interested in.
Stressed about starting your college search? Not working with me yet? Let’s chat.
