Value of College Fairs?

[Anonymous]

There are a few college fairs coming up -- these events where several dozen, maybe even several scores, of colleges set up their booths, and high school students from the area are invited. I'd imagine these are mob scenes. Apart from picking up the pamphlets, are these at all valuable/helpful?

[Anonymous]

Nope. Mob scenes. Not helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

nope

[Anonymous]

Not helpful in the slightest. Gives the entry-level admissions people something to do.

[Anonymous]

I think they're helpful as low-risk practice for talking w admissions reps. Have your kid approach 3 reps, introduce themselves, talk about their interests, ask questions about the school, etc. If you haven't already, make sure you create a dummy email address for these and future interactions.

[Anonymous]

Zero. Go have a root canal instead.

[Anonymous]

Go if you have time. Nothing gain but wouldn't hurt to see how crazy it gets. Once is more than enough.

[Anonymous]

Not completely useless. We learned that a school of interest was discontinuing a program of interest. Very stressful.

[Anonymous]

Go to the presentation at your high school by the college representative. Skip the fair.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. I met several regional reps there with my DS. It was useful because he had already met them when they came to his school. It establishes relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I met several regional reps there with my DS. It was useful because he had already met them when they came to his school. It establishes relationship.

Only if they remember you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I met several regional reps there with my DS. It was useful because he had already met them when they came to his school. It establishes relationship.

+1

Going to a college fair with a targeted lists of tables to visit, and conversations with specific admission reps, is a good use of valuable time.

[Anonymous]

I have a very shy sophomore. I have taken her to two college fairs so she can practice talking to reps and seeking information on her own. She gets more comfortable with every table she visits.

It has also helped her eliminate a few schools on her list. One admissions rep literally mentioned that the school was really focusing on diversity right now no less than 5 times in 5 minutes. She took this to mean that a girl like her didn't stand a chance, and she immediately marked it off her list.

[Anonymous]

The reps are racing around the region for fairs that are stacked one after the other. Baltimore privates, DC privates, Tidewater privates, case study programs. It's a bit of a slog.

PP make a good point. Good for shaking off the nerves of talking to admissions reps, but essentially a place to pick up brochures along with a massive crowd.

One admissions rep literally mentioned that the school was really focusing on diversity right now no less than 5 times in 5 minutes. She took this to mean that a girl like her didn't stand a chance, and she immediately marked it off her list.

If that was an admissions counselor, I wouldn't assume they have a great handle on the institutional priorities of the college.

[Anonymous]

I liked asking the out-of-state reps, "how would a student get to your school from here?" If they aren't going to drive across the country, don't have a car. Lots of reps don't have any practical information on transportation. It's not flashy or glamorous but it's those details that keeps a school on the likely list. DD sent out-of-state. The university had a ride service. Picked up students arriving into airports 90min away, if arranged in advanced (for a fee of course) Very useful info. Many far away schools were attractive but with no major airport close by, no known transportation offered by the university, they dropped immediately from our list.