The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) will be hosting a National College Fair in Atlanta on Sunday, March 16 beginning at 12:00 PM. This event will host a number of colleges and universities as well as various speakers to help parents and students understand the world of college admissions. I encourage students to participate!
Here are a few tips that will help you make the most out of your day:
1. Register! I think it is important to register online to save time. Click here to register –
2. Whose Attending? Go online to find out which colleges are attending. It is important to see if your schools of interest are going to be there as well as any others that you have been researching but have not been able to visit.
3. Prepare a List. Make a list of the schools that you hope to visit while at the fair.
4. Prepare Questions. The fair is typically very busy and packed with families. Therefore, it is important to have one or two questions for the Admissions Officer. Make these questions count! The questions should be unique to your academic interests. Don’t waste time on asking about admissions data. You can go online to find out specifics regarding acceptance rates. Ask questions about internships for your major of interest; ask about student housing; inquire about how roommates are selected; ask about first year experiences; ask what types of student services are offered, or ask about the hottest majors on campus.
5. Make Labels. Before the fair, make either personal business cards or self-adhesive labels that have your name, phone number, date of graduation, name of high school, mailing address, email, major of interest and any extracurricular activity that you are interested in. Having these labels will save you time at each table.
6. Recycled Bag. Take a recycled bag with you to help you carry all the view-books and gadgets that the colleges will be giving out.
7. Pen and Notebook. Be sure to take a pen and notebook with you so you can write down information.
8. Arrive early! The earlier you arrive, the easier it will be for you to move at a slower, relaxed pace. It will also give you time to review the map, the layout of the floor, and understand what time presentations are being given and in what room.
9. Go with a parent! This is a great place to take your parents so that they can grab information about the financial side of college admissions.
10. Read and file. After the fair, go through all your materials and read them carefully. I would recommend filing all the items of interest. If you did speak with an Admissions Officer who really helped you learn more about their campus then write him or her a nice letter.