There are upwards of 4,000 colleges and universities across the country. This begs the question:  How will I choose one to attend?  How can I learn enough about the different schools so that I can make an informed decision?  An important part of the college search and application process involves researching colleges.  We know that it’s cost-prohibitive to zig zag across the country, trying to visit them all, so there has to be an alternative plan.  Two great opportunities for students to learn about various institutions are College Fairs and College Tours.  This month I’ll focus on College Fairs.

College fairs take place throughout the year, vary in size and location, and may be open to all students or targeted for special groups of students, such as visual and performing arts students.  The goal for the institutions is to make available to students information about the campus, admission process, financial aid, student life, etc., and collect names of students who showed interest by visiting their tables.  For students attending, the goal should be to seek out those schools that are of interest, gather information and make a brief, personal connection with the individual representing the university.  Three great sources for information about upcoming college fairs are:  National Association for College Admission Counseling (www.nacacnet.org), Western Association for College Admission Counseling (www.wacac.org) and Regional Admission Counselors of California (www.regionaladmissions.com).

Have you ever walked into a large gym, filled with tables, college banners and tons of students, feeling totally overwhelmed and wondering where to begin?  Here are a few tips to help you navigate the fair.

• Bring your list of schools, along with a pen, paper and a bag to hold college brochures.
• Have an email address ready that you will use for all college application correspondence.
• Get a map of the fair and plan a route that will take you to the booths of all the colleges on your list. If there is no map available, do a quick survey of the room to locate your targeted colleges.
• Visit booths and ask college representatives questions (more about this later).
• Remember to complete student information cards if requested – this is one way that colleges track “demonstrated interest.”
• Take a minute to jot down any information you think is important before moving on to the next booth.

After the fair…

• Ask yourself which colleges stood out and why.
• Organize the college material you collected and review it that week while it’s fresh in your mind.
• Go over any notes you took during the fair.
• Rank the schools based on the information you received during the fair and any subsequent research.

Be thoughtful as you formulate questions to ask the college representatives.  You should be prepared to ask 2-3 questions per school, but recognize that all of your questions may not get answered.  You should ask about topics and school characteristics that resonate most with you.   Remember that this exchange is to show your interest in the school and for you to get an initial feel for the environment and culture of the institution.  And one final tip…dress appropriately and take this opportunity to interact with college representatives seriously.  Remember that first impressions DO matter!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and resident of Evergreen.   She is the founder of Educational Pathways with Antoinette Battiste, a consulting practice that provides college planning and counseling services to high school students and their parents. We focus on the individual needs and talents of students and guide them to find the best match for a great college experience.  For more information about upcoming workshops, available services and additional college planning resources, go to www.antoinettebattiste.com, email adviser@antoinettebattiste.com or call (408) 270-1930.