MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT TO A
National
College Fair
Ready to take the next step in your
education? There’s no better place to
explore your options than at an NACAC
National College Fair.
Admission representatives from
schools across the country are all gathered
in one place. Their goal: To encourage
you to learn more about their institutions,
and help you sort through the
qualities you’re looking for in a college.
Take advantage of their expertise, and
make the most of your time by following
these simple steps.
Be prepared
Before the big day, visit national
collegefairs.org and scan through the list
of colleges and universities that will be
represented. Make a note of the schools
that interest you the most, and plan to
visit their booths at the fair.
Are you looking for colleges that are
close to home or those that are far
away? Are you interested in small, private
schools or large, public universities?
Which of the institutions in attendance
offer your projected major?
“Planning ahead can help you stay focused,”
said Cynthia Kaan, a Ferris State
University (Mich.) admission officer. “If
you have certain schools you know you
are interested in, don’t limit yourself, but
make learning about those schools your
priority.”
Make your
questions count
Like so many other things in life, a
successful visit to a National College Fair
is marked by quality, not quantity.
In other words: Rather than focusing
on collecting a brochure from every
college booth, make it your goal to have
in-depth conversations with a few of the
college representatives on hand.
“I encourage students to not just stop
by the table and pick up a brochure, but
rather engage the representative with a
few questions,” said Valencia Hamman,
co-director of college counseling at La
Jolla Country Day School (Calif.). “That
means you want to come into the fair
with a list of questions, so you’re ready
for that opportunity.”
Don’t waste time on softball queries,
such as “Is your nursing program good?”
“That’s not a good question because
it gets you nowhere. … No one is going
to tell you that their program is terrible
or that it is struggling,” Kaan said. “If
you’re interested in a specific program,
like nursing, ask college reps what sets
their program apart from other colleges,
or ask them to compare their nursing
program with one at another college that
you’re considering.”
Keep an open mind
Take time to do a little exploring.
Yes, it’s important to plan ahead and
select a few colleges you know you want
to visit.
But each fair draws representatives
from 175 to 400 campuses. The schools
are located throughout the U.S. and
around the globe.
You owe it to yourself to follow-up with
colleges that catch your eye.
“Do your research, but also have an
open mind,” Hamman said. “Sometimes
students take time to talk with a representative
from a school that they really
hadn’t considered before, and it becomes
a part of their list.”
Chatting with representatives from a
variety of colleges also can help you
cement your own preferences, Kaan said.
“It’s just as important to figure out
what you don’t want as it is to figure out
what is really attractive to you,” she said.
Learn about the process
What’s the deal with college entrance
tests? What do admission officers look
for in a college essay? How can I find out
if I’m eligible for financial aid?
No matter where you end up enrolling,
you’ll likely encounter at least one of
these questions during the college application
process.
Use your visit to a National College Fair
to get a head start. Check out the fair’s
education sessions, covering topics ranging
from college costs to student-athlete
eligibility and college selectivity.
Each fair also includes a counseling
center, often an invaluable resource for
students with specialized interests.
Do you love hands-on learning? Counselors
can help you pinpoint colleges
that provide research opportunities for
undergraduates.
“There are resources available, and
there are people available who can help
answer very individualized questions
about the college search process,” said
Dana Lambert, a counselor at West Milford
Township High School (N.J.). “Take
advantage of their expertise.”
Follow up
Ask college reps for their contact
information, and be sure to follow up.
“Not always, but often, the representative
that is attending the college fair is
the representative that will end up reading
your application,” Hamman said.
“Keep in touch with them. Reach out
with thoughtful, intelligent questions.
That demonstrates interest.”
For the colleges you want to know
more about, schedule campus visits.
Remember: Your trip to a college fair
is the beginning — not the end — of your
college search.
“Visiting a campus is by far the most
important aspect of looking for a college,”
Kaan said. “There’s no other experience
like it. It’s the best way to find your
perfect fit.”
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