College fairs vary in size and scope. A small college fair may be held on a weeknight with a dozen or so participating schools at a high school gym. There are medium-size to mega college fairs (often on weekends) drawing 75 to 175 colleges in a regional convention center or auditorium.
Each attending college sends representatives who can answer questions from students and parents, along with brochures and viewbooks.
To get the most from college fairs—and to avoid feeling overwhelmed—students and parents are advised to:
- Get a list of local and regional college fairs from the student’s guidance counselor with dates and locations. Ask if there are websites or printed guides that detail what specific college fairs have to offer.
- Complete a personal inventory before attending a college fair. Knowing what's right for you is a process. Start with a list of your interests, skills, academic strengths, and personal preferences. Thinks about what types of schools are you considering and why.
- Review the list of each college fair's schools, and note which fairs and school booths you plan to visit. Visit the websites of colleges that you're considering. What concerns don't the websites answer? Make a list, and bring it to the fair.
- Many fairs offer workshops or individual counseling sessions you might like to join. Do you need to register in advance? Online or at the event?
- Show up properly equipped. Translation: wear clean casual clothes and comfortable shoes, and carry a light, roomy tote bag or back pack for all the brochures and materials you’ll pick up.
- Prepare self-stick labels with your name, address, e-mail, phone, name of your high school, graduation date, intended major(s), and extracurricular activities. When visiting their booths, college reps want you to fill out interest cards. Slapping on a sticker instead of filling out dozens of cards is a major time saver.
- Bring a notebook and pen to make notes on your impressions of schools. Don’t depend on your memory. Once home, you might forget who said what.
- Grab a floor plan of the event when you arrive. Stop and take a moment to map out which booths you need to hit and in what order.
- Talk to college reps: Don’t just wander aimlessly collecting brochures and free stuff, then go home. Each booth is staffed with admissions and financial aid representatives. Sometimes local alums offer a personal sense of what a school is like. Ask questions. Collect business cards. Take a minute to jot down what you learned.
- Pace yourself. Hit your priority schools, but leave enough time to discover another great college that you’ve never considered.
- Start reviewing your notes and impressions a day or two later. Sort through your brochures and weed out those schools that don’t interest you.
At best, a college fair will help you clarify your options, introduce you to new schools and new directions, and even help you figure out which schools can be ruled out. At the very least, a college fair gives you a vivid perspective on how many education options are available to you.
To learn more about planning and paying for college, you can download Nellie Mae's Steps to Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing and Paying for College (PDF, 1.19MB).