College Fairs & Virtual Fairs
HAWAII ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING (HAWAII ACAC) EVENTS
These college fairs are free for students and their supporters to attend (as well as free parking!), and a great opportunity to learn more about colleges. By chatting with college representatives, you can sort through the qualities you’re looking for in a college and understand how the application process works.
Access ALL 2021 Archived Events HERE
Previously archived NACAC videos can be viewed below:
Applying to College During COVID (Video)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING (NACAC) EVENTS
Upcoming NACAC Virtual College Fairs
Sunday, February 18, 2024, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM -> Register HERE
Sunday, March 24, 2024, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM -> Register HERE
Sunday, April 21, 2024, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM -> Register HERE
For more than 40 years, NACAC has offered the largest and most effective in-person college fairs on Oahu at the Hawaii Convention Center and across other neighbor islands.
In response to COVID concerns, they are transitioning to Virtual College Fairs connecting high school students with institutions worldwide. High school students will have the opportunity to learn about different schools in a dynamic, digital meeting space powered by MatchMaking beginning in 2022.
What is MatchMaking? MatchMaking is all about connecting you with your best fit college or university!
During registration, you’ll be asked to choose from various college attributes you find attractive. These five attributes are:
Campus Size (small, medium, large)
Campus Setting (urban, suburban, rural)
Majors Offered (a large list of categories)
Institution Type (2 year, 4 year, private, public, etc.)
Geographic Region (varied)
During registration, colleges also select which attributes apply to their institution.
Students and colleges will be “matched” if their selected attributes match. The minimum number of matching attributes to be "matched" is three out of five.
How will I know which schools were my “best matches”?
Students will receive an email with a list of matches before the event, uncovering new opportunities they may not have realized were a good match. This helps to streamline the fair for students, driving them around the fair with purpose. The email also contains helpful questions to ask schools.
May I Opt-Out if I prefer not to share this data?
Yes. If you would prefer not to take advantage of the MatchMaking service, you can opt-out. You can find more information here.
Simply go to https://www.nacacattend.org/fairs, select the date of the fair you want to attend and with a personal email (NOT your MBTA Gmail) complete the registration.
Then attend the colleges' live and interactive Zoom sessions. Also available are informative meet-ups on finding your best college fit, paying for college, and more.
Tips for making your college fair experience productive and fun:
1) Representatives from each college will be waiting to meet you! Make sure you are ready to put your best foot forward and interact with reps when visiting college booths! Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions:
What do students like/dislike most about your school?
What kinds of students are happiest at your school?
What is the average amount of student loan debt for graduates?
If I am awarded a grant or scholarship, can I expect it to remain constant all four years (assuming my financial circumstances don’t change)?
2) Make sure to reference your MatchMaking email to connect with the schools that best align with your interests!
At the time of registration, you selected the attributes that were most important to you in a college. You then should have received an email that best matched specific colleges and universities to your criteria. Reference this email on the day of the fair to connect with your best fits!
3) Don't sweat the small stuff!
Everyone is at a different stage in their college search process. Keep an open mind and enjoy yourself. These events are all about helping you connect and learn about lots of colleges to make sure you land at your dream school by having a quick video chat with a rep, dropping in on some virtual presentations and/or sending a question through chat.
Be sure to check each fair's homepage for the fair schedule.
Sign Up for NACAC Virtual College Fairs!
Thinking about college? Here's your chance to hear firsthand from those-in-the-know at hundreds of colleges and universities nearby, across the country, and around the world.
How? Attend a NACAC Virtual College Fair!
More than 500 colleges and universities from the US and worldwide will be online to talk with high school students. Specific dates and schools are listed on the following flyers and links. Remember to change the time into HAWAII STANDARD TIME.
Each virtual fair is a free, one-day event. Attend as often as you like. Parents invited, too. Refer to the flyer for each date below to see which schools will be presenting. If you see a school you are interested in, please register and attend!
The college sessions cover topics such as how to apply, financial aid, and student life. The sessions are presented by admission staff and often feature current students, faculty, or alumni as well. Watch, learn, and get your questions answered about academics, athletics, diversity, study abroad, and much more. You can also meet one-on-one with a college's admission representative by choosing a convenient virtual meeting date and time.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, ask questions, and discover your best college fit!
NACAC Virtual College Fairs are offered by the association that has represented counselors and admission officers worldwide since 1937. NACAC and its members are dedicated to ethical and inclusive service to students as they make choices about their higher education future.
