The Ultimate Guide to Navigating College Fairs Successfully

Fall is college fair season, and high school juniors across the country will have the opportunity to explore different colleges and learn more about schools they’re interested in applying to next year. If you’re starting to think about what you want out of your college experience, college fairs are a great opportunity to get valuable information and speak directly to college representatives.

If you’re a high school junior, below are some tips for what you can do before, during, and after the college fair to maximize the experience and get the information you need to find your best-fit colleges.

Before the College Fair

You will get the most out of the college fair if you do a little planning first. Take these three steps to ensure your experience is productive and informative:

#1 Meet with Your College Counselor

Your college counselor can help with identifying majors and suggesting which colleges to visit at the fair. Make time to meet prior to the fair to go over your goals, needs, and what exactly you’re looking for in a college so your counselor can make informed recommendations.

#2 Plan Your Timeline

After receiving college suggestions from your counselor, plan which booths you’d like to visit during the fair. If your list is long, allot enough time to visit all the schools you’re interested in. Plan to visit your top-choice colleges first, then leave time to visit other schools of interest toward the end of the fair. It’s easy to get caught up in conversation and spent a lot of time at one booth — set a time limit for each stop and stick to it if you’ve gotten all the information you need from that representative.

#3 Prepare a List of Questions

College fairs are one of the best opportunities to get information on colleges straight from the source. This is important when building your balanced college list, as you can get relevant information needed to make informed decisions directly from the person who works there. Here are a few examples of questions that students should ask when speaking with a college representative at a college fair — pick the questions that are most relevant for you:

• What type(s) of students succeed at your school?
• What is the location like (urban, rural, suburbs)? How many students live on campus?
• What is the average class size? What is the student-teacher ratio? How many classes are taught by teaching assistants vs. professors?
• How diverse is the campus? How many student organizations do you have? What is the crime rate?
• What are your admission requirements? (Ask about GPA requirements, test score requirements, and portfolios, if applicable.)
• How selective is admissions? What is the male-to-female ratio of the student population?
• What are your deadlines for applications? (Ask about honors program and scholarships deadlines, if applicable.)
• Do you offer visitation/orientation programs? Do you offer study abroad programs?
• Will you meet 100% of the student’s financial need?
• What percentage of students graduate in four years?
• What’s the retention rate — how many students return after their first year?

During the Fair

It’s college fair day! As exciting as it is, you may feel overwhelmed at the amount of information you will receive. Keep these suggestions in mind to make the most efficient use of your time.

Write It Down!

Take notes as you’re talking with reps so you can keep track of who said what. Also, jot down general impressions as well as specific things you want to remember. Recalling details is impressive in follow-up conversations with that college and can come in handy when visiting or writing your application essays.

Stay in Touch!

One of the easiest ways to sign up for communications is to leave a completed interest card with reps, or come to the fair with pre-printed, self-stick address labels. Save time and spare yourself an aching hand by having a label ready — colleges appreciate being able to read them, too! Get the rep’s contact information, too, in case you have any follow-up questions.

Leave Time for Browsing

After you’ve visited with the colleges on your list, you may want to visit a few that weren’t but look interesting to you. You may find a hidden gem college or two!

Be Independent

Even if several friends plan to visit the same college booth, don’t all go together. You’ll have plenty of time to share notes later. You have your own questions to ask, and you’ll want the rep’s undivided attention.

Remember to…

• Represent yourself and your school with pride. Colleges want to see students excited about their education and their plans for the future.
• Introduce yourself using eye contact and a handshake. Tell the rep you’re from “X” High School. First impressions count! Make a good one.
• Conduct yourself as an adult. This is your chance to show you’re mature and prepared for college.
• Take your time — don’t rush through the booths. A lot of colleges will be represented, so make sure you see everything you want to see.
• Ask pertinent questions. This is your chance to get some good information straight from the source.

After the Fair

The fair is over, and now it’s time to get organized. Think about which schools made the biggest impression on you so you can do further research and start planning college visits!

Review the Information

Find time to look through all the brochures and info you collected and review your notes. Prioritize which schools you want to investigate further and which ones to put on the back burner. You can research a college effectively by consulting various sources and signing up for virtual information sessions and tours.

Follow Up

Once you know which colleges you want to pursue further, follow up via email with the rep you met. Ask any additional questions you may have and thank them for their time. This is a great way to demonstrate your interest and build a relationship with the rep who might ultimately read your application.

College fairs are an important tool in your college preparation journey, so make the most of them! For more information on researching colleges and building your balanced college list, follow our blog and sign up for our newsletter. If you need additional guidance to select best-fit colleges and prepare for the college admissions process, IvyWise is here to help!