In theory, you can choose a school, apply and get accepted without ever talking to a single soul from that school. In reality, that may not be a great idea. Taking that approach limits your chances of getting into your school of choice, and could keep you from discovering a great school you may not even come across in your internet research.
This is where college fairs come in.
These fairs are a way for students to network and learn about different colleges by taking to admissions representatives from several schools. But going to a college fair unprepared is like going to a grocery store without a list right before it is closing: You will not be able to get everything you need.
To make the college fair experience valuable, follow these three steps.
1. Conduct research before the fair
If you show up to a college fair without looking into some of the schools beforehand, you will be doing yourself a disservice. You will also waste the limited time you have with the admissions representative if you spend it asking simple questions about degrees that a Google search could answer.
2. Take good notes and use your, time well
Once you arrive to the fair, there is no time to waste. You need to get stright to work. Write down your impressions of each college and the answers their representatives gave to your questions before moving on to next table. This allows you to retain valuable information or first impressions after fair ends.
3. Take action immediately afterward
If you leave the college fair and do not take action, it was probably a waste of time to attend. You need to take a day or two to organise and then plan the next step. If you happened to get contact information from college admissions representatives at the fair, send a short thank-you e-mail a day or two later, which should also include a tidbit about your interest in the school. Keep it short, polite and professional.
Remember: A college fair is school's first impression of you (and vice versa). Make it a good one to ensure that college fair is a valuable experience. — Agencies
