College fairs

[Anonymous]

Worthwhile? If so, where do you find them? My DC attends a small private and is interested in schools that don't send reps to our school. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

What grade is your DC in? I'm assuming they are just beginning their college search. If so, there is a college fair at American University every spring that it intended for 11th graders. I'm sure other grades may attend, but the schools tend to only tell the 11th graders in order to keep the numbers down. If your DC attends an independent school I'm sure the school will tell you about it.

If you go my advice is to go early and move quickly because it gets very crowded. They indicate to go according to your last name (i.e. anyone with a last name beginning with "Z" is screwed if they follow the rule because no one else does...). You will be able to speak with an admissions rep, but remember they are speaking with so many students that night there is little chance they will remember your child. It also gets so crowded that you can see the admissions reps' eyes glazing over. So, if your DC only wants to get information about a school then it's fine. However, if you're thinking that it could be a way to show "demonstrated interest" it's not really the place for that.

Good luck with the search process!

[Anonymous]

If he knows which schools he's interested in you'd do just as well to contact admission offices directly and request information.

[Anonymous]

We went to the AU fair a couple of years ago and did not think it was really worthwhile. Ended up only visiting tables of schools that were on our list anyway. Had already been to most of them by that point. The popular schools are mobbed and all you can really do is fill out an info card/sign in.

[Anonymous]

I thought the "30 small colleges that can change your life" or whatever that book and fairs are called was a total PR gimmick. Waste of time.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the feedback so far!