Inside a college fair

What to expect

The college search sometimes feels a lot like dating. There will be some colleges and universities where the spark isn’t there and a few schools you’ll absolutely love. Where better to get know each other than a college fair?

A college fair is a great chance for students and even your parents to find out more about their child’s top college choices and hear from universities they might not have considered.

Attending a fair is a little like a speed dating event, says a college admission counselor. You have somewhere between 90 minutes to two hours to check out the schools and sometimes there are hundreds to choose from. Before the event, try to find a list of the colleges that will be attending and put an asterisk by the ones that interest you.

Make a game plan

Before you arrive at the fair, do your research. Which college representatives do you want to meet? What do you know about their college already, and what more do you want to know? Depending on your priorities, you might decide to focus your attention on schools that have a strong program for your intended major or look into scholarship information to help pay for college.

Speak up

Every date needs a little small talk, so come with a few questions about college, from how to get financial aid and scholarship money to admission requirements and what assistance you’ll have getting in.

If a college rep can clearly see you are interested and familiar with the school, that impression can have a huge impact. A few thoughtful, well-researched questions are best. If you can find the answer on their website, ask something else.

Here are some questions to get you started to get you started:

√ What do students like most about your school? What is the biggest complaint from students?

√ What kinds of students are happiest at your school?

√ Where do students hang out on campus? Do students mostly live on or off campus?

√ What financial aid programs does your college offer?

√ What academic programs are the most popular?

√ Do admission officers make decisions solely on numbers and stats, or do extracurricular activities truly matter at your school?

√ How would you describe the academic pressure and workload?

√ How does your career planning department compare to other colleges/universities?

√ How accessible are the faculty outside of class?

√ Is there job placement help for graduates?

√ Are you able to give me the names of a few students that I can talk to about their experience at your school?

Request more information

Of course, everyone wants to make a good impression when it comes to getting into college both the student and the admission counselor you’re visiting with. “College fairs are our way of bringing a small bit of the campus directly to you,” says admission counselor Michelle Rogers. The representatives colleges and universities send are hoping to spark your interest and make a memorable impression.

If a school feels like a fit, it might be time for a second date. Request information from colleges of interest or schedule a campus visit.

Give yourself a “fair” advantage

Admissions officers offer these tips for getting the most out of your college fair experience.

Visit at least three schools you’ve never heard of. You’re there to gather information, so gather as much as you can.

Don’t ask “how good is the (fill in the blank) major?” The answer you’re likely to get is, “great!” Will that really help you learn more about this school? If you have questions about specific curricular offerings, it’s usually best to visit the department’s website or to contact the academic programs directly.

Make sure to read the table banner! Usually, the location and type of institution (university, college, or state university) is prominently displayed.

Don’t ask for the representative to evaluate your chances based upon the quantitative information you’ll be submitting to colleges. Most schools won’t be able to answer this question.

Stay engaged while you are interacting with college representatives. You should be approaching schools that spark your interest and asking questions that are important to your college search process. If you find yourself losing interest, maybe it’s time to think about a different set of questions the ones you are truly interested in!

Don’t assume that the person standing behind the college fair table is an alumnus of the institution. College counselors are drawn to representing universities for various reasons and many will work for schools they did not attend!

If you’re looking for other ways to connect with current students or alumni, make sure to check out the school’s website. Many colleges have students and alumni that are more than happy to answer your questions during the process. Students attending a college fair with their parents, should use this as an opportunity to drive their own college search process. While it is absolutely acceptable and even expected for parents to ask questions, the students should introduce themselves and always try to ask the first question.