Ask an Expert: 5 Reasons You Should Attend A College Fair

devonbalfour

There’s a good chance that over the next few months, there will be college fairs happening near you. They may seem like they could be overwhelming, but I promise you, they are incredibly valuable to attend! Here are five reasons why you should consider going:

1. You’ll learn about new colleges and universities: There are hundreds of institutions in the United States (and beyond!), and many could be a great fit for your student. Going to a fair will help you to see past just a few brand-name schools and learn more about places you might not have known about otherwise.
   
2. You’ll get face-to-face interaction with a college representative: There’s a not-insignificant chance (especially for less highly selective schools) that the person manning the college fair booth might be the person who reads your student’s application. This gives the representative a great chance to put a face and personality to the application they’ll read. Bonus: Get their business card and have your student send a follow-up email to say thanks for talking!
   
3. You’ll demonstrate interest in the colleges you speak with: Because they want to admit students who will attend (or “yield”), some colleges consider demonstrated interested in their admissions processes. A student can demonstrate interest by visiting a campus, writing an email, making a phone call, and, you guessed it - by speaking to a representative at a fair! If the representative asks your student to fill something out indicating they stopped by the booth, make sure they do, as that is how that interest will be tracked.
   
4. You’ll get to learn about dozens of schools without traveling all over the country: It can be cost prohibitive to visit all the schools your student might be interested in, especially if you don’t know if they’ve been admitted yet. College fairs bring a little of that campus experience to your home town, saving you money and time and still allowing you to learn more.
   
5. You’ll give your student the opportunity to practice independence: This is a great chance for your student to lead their own process. Put together a list of questions you’d like to ask representatives and let your student do the asking. Representatives love when the person applying to college is the person approaching them.
   

Don’t know if there are fairs near you this fall? Check out the list of NACAC fairs happening around the country, or ask your student’s guidance counselor for suggestions.