College fairs

[Ame E.]

I have 2 juniors... We were going to go tonight, but hubby was too tired..

When (what part of junior year) have you attended these?

 

Thanks

 

Ame

[Brigid in NC]

We started right where you are now -- in the fall of ds's junior year. It was really hard for us to start any earlier. There just wasn't the time and inclination. For us, it needed to be impending for it to be meaningful. So we looked for colleges that were coming to town -- some come in groups like harvard/princeton/uva and some come to private schools in waves.

[Photo Ninja]

The college fairs here are only in the fall, so if we don't go then, there is not another chance till the next fall. There is one secular college fair and one Christian college fair. So we don't have any choice to go to one later in the year. Be sure you will have that opportunity if you decide not to go tonight.

 

Junior year is a really good time to go because you don't need the info immediately and are not making decisions yet. You can gather info and get a feel for what is available without the pressure of an application deadline a month or two away. You can get on college mailing lists. Then if there are some colleges your dc are interested in, you can schedule tours later in the year or in the fall, or plan a trip the summer before senior year specifically to visit several colleges. Waiting until fall of senior year to go to a college fair can raise the stress level because decisions need to be make quickly, essays written and applications completed in a very short amount of time.

 

Two hints: Before going, print a page of Avery labels with your dc's names and address. Most college booths collect names, addresses and email addresses so they can send additional info. It is much easier to peel and stick a label than to write all that info over and over. Also, you may want to consider setting up an email account just for college emails. Gmail is free. That way college emails won't be filling your everyday email boxes. Your dc can use the same email address when they take the ACT and SAT because they will get much more email after those.

[dirty ethel rackham]

We have a junior and did go to one college fair (Colleges that Change Lives.) We had planned on going to a couple more, but, after thinking about it a bit and talking with friends, we decided to skip it. It would have been an overwhelming sea of humanity. I doubt we would have received much valuable information. Based upon ds's personality and interests, we are limiting our college search to smaller colleges that are within a 5 hour drive from home. Instead of spending our time waiting in long lines to spend 5 minutes with a rep from the college, we plan on making lots of college visits. I feel that we will get a better picture of whether or not the place would be a good fit.

[holdoll]

Two hints: Before going, print a page of Avery labels with your dc's names and address. Most college booths collect names, addresses and email addresses so they can send additional info. It is much easier to peel and stick a label than to write all that info over and over. Also, you may want to consider setting up an email account just for college emails. Gmail is free. That way college emails won't be filling your everyday email boxes. Your dc can use the same email address when they take the ACT and SAT because they will get much more email after those.

 

Dd and I are going to a college fair this weekend. Thank you for the great suggestions!

[Pam in MA]

So how do you find out when colleges fairs are held? And where?

[holdoll]

I googled "college fairs" and my nearest city.

[creekland]

We have a junior and did go to one college fair (Colleges that Change Lives.) We had planned on going to a couple more, but, after thinking about it a bit and talking with friends, we decided to skip it. It would have been an overwhelming sea of humanity. I doubt we would have received much valuable information. Based upon ds's personality and interests, we are limiting our college search to smaller colleges that are within a 5 hour drive from home. Instead of spending our time waiting in long lines to spend 5 minutes with a rep from the college, we plan on making lots of college visits. I feel that we will get a better picture of whether or not the place would be a good fit.

 

We went to one college fair and then decided to not do any more. Like you, we just didn't get any really useful info from our few minutes with the reps. It's far easier to get info from a website or e-mail and a visit.