Do college fairs help make the transition from high school to college easier and shape the community around you? College fairs promote the best aspects of their school to potential students who may not know very much about the school. Students can learn about the wide variety of schools they might attend and help them narrow down on schools that are going to be a good fit for them. College fairs are primarily organized both in person and online by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, all across the United States.
College fairs offer students the chance to discover different academic programs they might not be aware of and gain insight into campus life. They can also connect students with administrative representatives, allowing them to learn more about admission requirements and helping them refine their list of colleges to apply to.
“Sometimes the large selection of schools can be overwhelming and confusing for students, especially if they are the first kid to go through the process or their parents have not gone through the selection process in many years,” WCHS Principal John Taylor said. “I think the overwhelming number of choices and the expectation that attending and making an impression can hurt their application, especially students who already have a school in mind and feel pressured to make a specific impression.”
College fairs allow students to understand what specific colleges are looking for in an application and what student life on campus may look like. This interaction ensures students ask trained and informed admissions officers who are eager to answer questions about details that might be difficult to answer through online resources and emails. College fairs offer a convenient and effective way to learn about a wide array of colleges in a single location, as opposed to potentially having to travel across states.
“Admissions officers at a college are in charge of the selection process for students at that university or college,” Taylor said. “They help coordinate the work of the many people who review applications, set expectations and monitor student success. Each university and college sets its own expectations and admissions requirements for students. Colleges use tools to analyze prospective students’ applications and then select students they feel will add to their school and be successful at their institution.”
College fairs focus on engaging directly with students to gain comprehensive information about a specific school. This information includes exploring academic programs and researching student services, scholarships and extracurricular activities to get involved with to help prepare students to make informed decisions about where to apply and their future academic journey.
“My direct purpose is to help students and their families navigate the admissions paperwork, deadlines and process steps for McDaniel College and then to work with them through their questions and concerns to determine if McDaniel is the right choice among their options,” McDaniel College admissions counselor Katie Ridgway said. “My larger purpose is to be a guide and resource to students working their way through a major life transition. I am here to make sure they know all of the options open to them and that I do what I can to help them pursue the direction that feels best, whether that leads them to McDaniel or not.”
Attending college fairs provides students with valuable experience in gathering information about a variety of schools. College fairs promote independent thinking and critical analysis, ultimately helping students understand their interests when choosing a future academic path. Through interactions with college representatives, students can begin to understand what kind of academic and social environment best suits their needs and interests.
“College fairs are a great one-stop shop to explore and compare and contrast a bunch of different colleges at one time,” Ridgway said. “Usually, college fairs are attended by a wide variety of schools from small liberal arts schools… to big state schools, community colleges, specialized schools, trade schools and everything in between. Generally, the people behind the tables at these college fairs are your admissions counselors at those schools, so it is also a great way to meet them in person and make a good first impression. College fairs are a perfect tool for when you are first trying to solidify a list of colleges you are interested in looking into further, but are still early in your search.”
