Attending a College Fair
A college fair is a great opportunity to get more information about colleges that interest you and to ask questions of college representatives. Getting the most from a college fair takes some advanced planning, and these helpful hints will assist you in making the best use of your time.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Find out which colleges will be at the fair, and target the schools you know you want to hit. When you're done with those, then you can "wander around" and look at some other schools. Most college fairs arrange the schools in alphabetical order, so you'll know where to find Abilene Christian University vs. Youngstown State. If it's crowded (it will be crowded), you may want to approach in reverse alphabetical order. Those schools at the end of the alphabet may not be as busy, especially early in the evening. Prepare a list of questions that are important to you as an individual (cars on campus, a radio station, meal plans, internship opportunities, etc.).
PREPARE AHEAD & BRING SUPPLIES
Carry an empty knapsack. You'll acquire catalogs, view books, videos, applications, pennants, etc., and you'll want something comfortable to carry them all home in. Be sure to take notes - either handwritten or in your phone - contact names, addresses, websites, phone numbers, and answers to your specific questions.
ASK QUESTIONS
Ask those questions that you prepared earlier. They shouldn't be questions that are easily answered in the college's literature.
BRING YOUR PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S)
No, you don't have to hand out with them all night. Split up, but make sure you hit the same schools. Then you can compare notes afterwards.
MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION
The college representatives are going to see hundreds of students. If you plan on meeting with a rep at a school that you are sincerely interested in, and you plan on asking them a lot of questions, make a positive impression on them. They could be the person who reviews your application and/or the one who conducts your admissions interview. If the representative has a business card, ask for one. You can send them a note afterwards thanking them for their time.