College Rep Visits, Fairs, and Presentations

College Rep Visit Calendar

The Fairview Counseling Office has found that students need to show a demonstrated interest in ALL colleges they apply to (including safety schools). The following are examples of demonstrated interest:

• College Tour

• College Rep Vist

• College Fair

• Follow on social media

• Contact admission rep

• Visit website

• Attend webinar

• Apply early

• Contact department chair

• Read emails from school

 or use this Demonstrated Interest Checklist.

Why College Rep Visits are Important

• Typically, college reps work in the admissions office of the college or university. The rep who visits Fairview is quite often the person who reads and reviews applications from Fairview students.

• Reps actually see the environment of Fairview and gain a better understanding of the variety of programs, rigor, and student populations. These reps will advocate for the admission of qualified Fairview students with the college or university's admissions committee.

• It is important for Fairview students to meet the reps of schools to which they plan to apply. This demonstrates the student’s interest in the school and gives the rep a chance to put a face with the student's name. Many colleges keep track of any contact the student has made with the college (attending a college rep visit, visiting the college campus, emailing the rep with a follow up question...) and factor this into the admission decision because it shows that the student is serious about attending the school if admitted.

• Attending a college rep visit is also a good way for a student to gain information about a school he is potentially interested in to see if it would be a good fit for him. This is one way of building or narrowing a college list to decide which schools to visit and ultimately to which to apply.

Who May Attend College Rep Visits

After obtaining their teacher's permission, Seniors and Juniors may be excused from class to attend college rep visits. Sophomores and Freshmen may attend college rep visits during their free periods. All students attending a college rep visit must sign the blue attendance sheet. Students must arrive on time and must stay for the entire college rep visit. If a student cannot attend a college rep visit, he can stop by at the beginning or end of the visit to briefly meet the rep and pick up literature. 

Find a College Fair:

www.coloradocouncil.org/day-night-college-fairs 

https://www.nacacattend.org/23Denver

More Information:

Fairs are often well-attended and can be overwhelming, so students should go prepared by looking at the list of colleges attending beforehand, noting which ones will be of special interest, and visiting them first. These events are announced and listed on the College/Career Center website calendar and students are invited to pre-register so that college reps can scan registration codes or have students fill out information cards to keep track of names and attendance.

The College Board organization has a suggested checklist of ideas that helps students organize and document their college fair experience.

Local Events for Specific Groups of Colleges

Some smaller groups of colleges with similar interests and/or audiences, may organize their own events across the country, such as the “Colleges That Change Lives,” the NUUE (University of Notre, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, and Emory University), or another group of selective colleges; Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford. These events are often held at hotel meeting rooms and space may be limited, requiring students to register ahead of time. Notice of these events, which are also usually held in the fall or late spring, can be found on the Fairview College/Career Center website calendar and in announcements. 

College Fairs Online

Online college fairs give students a chance to communicate with colleges online during a specific scheduled timeframe. An online fair is organized in a similar way to the ones held in schools and convention centers in that students and families can exchange information with individual colleges and also virtually attend information sessions to hear speakers talk about specific campuses and other topics of interest.