Getting the Most Out of a College Fair
College fairs—whether organized by your school, community, or an organization such as the National Association for College Admission Counseling—is a great way to gather lots of information about as many schools as possible in a short amount of time. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with admission counselors and/or alumni representatives from those colleges and universities. Here are eight suggestions for how to make the most out of these events:
Prepare ahead of time. At least a little. If you can.
We know that you’re super busy, but even one hour of prep can make a huge difference. At the very least, get the list of schools attending ahead of time and make a plan so you can talk to representatives from those schools that are definitely on your list. If you can, do preliminary research about those schools. Check that they have your program of interest and look at their basic admission requirements. If you’re a senior and your college fair is taking place after August 1, consider starting your application in case you have any specific questions about completing it.
Ask good questions.
Most admission counselors will probably agree the most common question we get asked is, “how is your psychology program?” It’s not necessarily a bad question; it just doesn’t lead to a helpful answer. We’re all going to tell you it’s good, right? But the more important matter is whether it’s good for you. We’ll always encourage you to check out the department website to learn more about classes, research, and what students are up to—to help you decide if our psychology (or whatever other) major has what you’re looking for. It’s also not uncommon for students to come to our table with a list of questions provided to them by their teachers or counselors. Please feel free to deviate from them; they’re only supposed to be a starting point. In general, avoid questions you can easily Google and ask thoughtful questions that the human being in front of you can answer. For example, you might ask, “what’s your admission philosophy?” instead of “what’s your admission rate?”. However—and this is important—do understand that we are limited as human beings. When I’m at a college fair, I have to represent over 150 majors, 250 minors, 50+ club and intramural sports, 1,000+ student organizations, and more. My brain can only hold so much information. I might not remember if we have a knitting club or all of the concentrations for our Business Administration major. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll give you my business card and ask you to follow up.
Be on your best behavior.
This is just good general life advice. You can start by making a good first impression. You certainly don’t have to show up in a suit, but maybe don’t wear pajamas either. This one’s really important: be respectful of the people around you. You might have to wait in a line to speak with a college rep. It might be frustrating. But be kind to others. Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to ear hustle. Listen to what the people in front of you are asking, because they might have the same question as you or an awesome question you didn’t even think of. Because there are others around you, college fairs are not the time to ask sensitive or personal questions. Get a business card and follow up. Also—and this is a pet peeve of mine—don’t ask college representatives to compare their school to another. We’re there to represent our institutions. Finally, be mindful of germs. Stay home if you’re sick and have a friend pick up a brochure for you. And don’t be offended if we don’t shake your hand.
Take the lead.
In general, students should take the lead in the college admission process. We admission counselor love connecting with students. It’s one of our favorite parts of the job. We’re certainly happy to answer any questions your parents have, but don’t let them do all the talking for you.
Be open-minded.
You should absolutely come in with a game plan to speak with colleges you know you’re interested in. But there’s no better time than a college fair to quickly explore other options because there are so many schools in one place. There might be a school you know little about that, after speaking with their college rep, you realize is actually a great fit.
Pick up literature.
I know; this one’s a little controversial. We should all strive to be more eco-friendly. But our brochures are designed specifically with applicants in mind. Sure, you can find lots of information about schools online, but it can be overwhelming. Our brochures are meant to provide a thoughtful summary of the college as a whole, academic offerings, and student life, as well as an overview of the admission process. Also, know that it’s totally fine to just take a brochure without talking to a representative. You can just tell us you’re browsing.
Get on our mailing list.
We want to be able to send you more information, so fill out our inquiry card, let us scan your QR code, or get your information to us however we’re collecting it. Expect us to follow up with you quite a bit via email. We’ll let you know about events, the major you’re interested in, admission details, and more!
Finally, leave with some next steps.
Perhaps the weekend after the college fair, take some time to browse through brochures. Hold on to those you want to keep. Recycle the others. Do some more research about anything that excited you. And, of course, reach out to the representative you met if you couldn’t get your initial question answered or if you have any additional questions.
With these eight things in mind, you’re bound to have a fruitful college fair experience. Looking forward to seeing you on the road!
Written by: Anne Aubert-Santelli, Associate Director – USC Office of Admission