How to Make the Most of a College Fair
Hey everyone. It's been a while since I posted but with travel season starting again, I thought this would be a great time to talk about college fairs. I'm heading to India soon and will be representing Oberlin at more than 20 college fairs. Since these events are pretty common in the United States, it feels right to offer some tips on how to make the most of the opportunity.
What is a college fair?
A college fair is an event, typically hosted by a high school, where students can gather information from lots of colleges or universities. The institutions usually set up a table in a cafeteria or auditorium or the hallways and put out materials for students and family members to browse. Some colleges are minimalistic and only offer a basic information piece; others are over-the-top and have brochures, pens, stickers, candy, or keychains. Some students go right to the college they know and start a conversation. Others wander through all of the tables, stopping at some colleges to ask questions or just grab some swag.
Sounds overwhelming. How do I know which schools' tables to visit?
Fairs can be large, crowded, noisy, and overwhelming events. But they can also be a good opportunity to get information from multiple schools in a short time span.
Start by thinking about the type of school you want to attend. This means doing some work in advance. Do I want a big school or a small school? Do I want to be in a huge city or a small town? Urban/suburban/rural? What am I interested in studying?
Then look at the list of colleges in attendance and visit those that would meet your criteria. If you want the hustle and bustle of Chicago, you're welcome to come and speak with me about how we're not that, but we have lots to offer.
What if I don't know the schools at the fair?
No worries. It's a low-stress way to learn about them. Approach a college's table and start simple: "Can you give me the elevator pitch about your school?" You're looking for quick sound bites that help you get the basics. Oberlin's might be: "We are a rigorous academic institution that combines an excellent academic experience in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with an artistic and musical community unlike any other in this country."
There are lots of wonderful colleges, many of which you've not heard of. Just because you don't know the name does not mean that it's not a school for you. Be brave and strong and talk to representatives from some of them.
What sorts of things should I ask the representative?
That depends on whether the representative is a staff member or an alumni volunteer. If they're a staff member, you can ask more detailed questions about internships or research opportunities or post-college jobs or admissions criteria. If they're an alumni volunteer, you should ask about their experiences on campus, why they loved the school, what sorts of things they did outside the classroom.
There are some questions that might not be helpful in learning more about the school. Some of them are:
- Do you have English (or Psychology or Biology or History or...)?
- What is your best department?
- Can I study away?
- Do you have clubs?
It's not that these are bad questions; it's that the answers to these simple questions probably don't give you the information you really want. Instead of asking, "Do you have English?" you could ask "What do English majors do after graduation?" or "What sorts of research projects do English majors work on?" Asking, "Do you have clubs?" is less effective than "What do students do on the weekends?"
Wrapping it up
Now that you're an expert, find a college fair, step out of your comfort zone, and learn more about different colleges. Sign up for mailing lists and look at the things we sent you. You'll be surprised at how many wonderful schools are out there.
And if you find yourself at a fair in India or Massachusetts in September, come by and say hi.
