Tips for Attending a College Fair

Attending college fairs is one way that students can begin the process of narrowing down what schools to apply to for higher education. There are many institutions available with representatives on hand to explain the application process. This is a key step for high school students, especially those who have not yet made decisions on where they want to attend or what major they might pursue.

The Set-Up
Most college fairs are sponsored by a school or local career counseling agencies in an effort to help high school students find a career path through higher education. Many private schools and local government educational systems offer college fairs as a means to help their students excel in education and attend college. The event may be held during the school day or in the evening, depending on the location. It typically features representatives from at least dozens different colleges, universities and trade schools. The fair is usually set up in a large room, such as the cafeteria or gymnasium with separate tables for each school. At least one representative from each university - sometimes more - sits at the booth with a few empty chairs for students to sit and chat. Brochures and paraphernalia from the institution are available for visitors to take as they wish. Students walk around the room and visit each table to learn more about the schools and their programs. Most participants are from local universities that draw a large number of students from that high school or district, or would like to boost their recruiting class.

Purpose
The purpose of college fairs is two-fold. The schools want to find potential applicants that can enhance their student body. The students want to find a university that offers their major and is a good fit for earning a college degree. Students can find out more about various undergraduate scholarships for college, as well as grants and financial aid packages, by speaking to these representatives. When planned in advance, some universities will use this as an opportunity to interview potential bidders for academic scholarships and early admissions applicants.

Preparation
Students who want to make the most of the fair should do a little bit of homework beforehand. They should secure a list of attendees and determine whether any hold their interest. If the student does not know anything about the school, they might consider looking up location, school size, tuition costs and whether they offer the student's major interest or have a reputable sports program that fits the player's talents. Making a list of each university of interest is the first step. A list of questions will help to narrow down the choices for applications.

Visiting Tables
Each table will hope to have as many possible recruits visit with them as they can muster. The student should take time to visit only those tables that pique their interest. Most representatives will ask each child to fill out an interest card. This will put them on a mailing list. Kids who plan ahead will create and bring along stickers imprinted with their name, address, telephone, high school, expected graduation date, major of interest and sports or extracurricular interests. These stickers can be affixed to the interest cards, saving a lot of time and hand cramping from excessive writing.

Sessions
Some fairs will offer informational sessions or seminars about choosing the right college and familiarizing high school students with the admissions, acceptance, scholarships and financial aid processes. Those seeking more information will want to attend these free and objective events.

Author is the parent of college students who likes to research academic scholarships, like the ones found at http://www.collegeanswer.com/.