NextStudent Adivsors

Making the Most Out of College Fairs 

Preparation Can Make Your Search for the Perfect College Easier

If you have yet to attend a college fair, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Quite simply, college fairs are comprised of numerous tables, which are staffed with representatives prepared to answer any questions you may have concerning that specific college. These representatives will then take your name and mailing address so they can send you the appropriate reading materials related to that college. 

As a general rule, it is best to prepare before attending college fairs. Not only will this make your search for the perfect college easier, it will also help you stand out among the crowd. 

Preparing for college fairs 

Primarily, you need to know exactly what your goals are as a student. Think about things such as what you want to study, or whether or not being near a big city is important. When you know what you want, eliminating colleges that are unable to meet your needs makes your decision that much easier. The more information you have will make your experience at college fairs feel less stressful. 

Questions to ask while attending college fairs 

Once you’ve honed in on the type of college you want to attend, prepare a detailed list of questions ahead of time before you speak directly with a representative. 

Some specific questions you might want to ask include: 

• Is your college a two or four-year school?
• What is the deadline for choosing a major?
• What types of financial aid do you offer?
• How easy is it to obtain a job on campus?
• Is there on-campus housing available?
• Is having a car allowed or even necessary?
• How safe is the campus?
• What type of organizations and clubs are available? 

These are just a few of the questions you might want ask a college representative. Depending on your specific needs, the questions will vary. 

Other ways to make attending college fairs a positive experience 

There are some things that could be overlooked regarding college fairs. To keep that from happening, and ensure that your experience is a good one:

Familiarize yourself with the facility hosting the fair. For example, study the fair layout and remember exactly where you parked.

• Ask for business cards from representatives of colleges that sound appealing to you.
• Print your name and address on labels. College fairs require a lot of contact information swapping. Save yourself time and energy by bringing preprinted labels for mailing cards.
• Thoroughly review your questions ahead of time, and write down the top ten to twenty colleges in which you are most interested. Even if you have your heart set on a certain school, it’s wise to have fallback schools in case you are not accepted into your ideal school. There should always be more than one possibility on your list.
• After the fair, send thank you notes to the representatives to whom you spoke. These only need to be sent to the colleges in which you truly show interest.  A simple note thanking them for their time will go a long way. 

College fairs don’t have to be a nightmare. By taking the time to prepare, you can stand out from the rest of the crowd and get the results you want.