One great way to start as you and your child are searching for colleges to apply to attend a college fair.
This will give your child a chance to talk to multiple college representatives at one time and get some of their questions answered on what they can do to increase their chances of acceptance.
Here are a few tips for you and your child to make the most of your college fair experience.
- Make a List
College fairs, especially the larger ones, can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan of attack.
Look up the schools that will be at the event beforehand, and create a list of 5-10 schools that are a priority for your child. This will ensure that you and your child don’t wander the fair aimlessly.
- Craft Your Questions
College fairs are a great opportunity to learn information about a college that goes beyond the website’s bullet points.
When meeting with a college representative, make sure your child has at least 1 or 2 questions to ask that can’t be answered with a quick internet search–i.e. “How many students go to your school?” or “Do you offer this major?”
Instead, questions should focus on what your child wants to know about the college’s application process, academics, or campus culture. Use these examples from Go To College Fairs as a starting point to help formulate questions.
- Dress to Impress
Think of a college fair as the first impression your child is going to make on a school.
You don’t want that impression to be a ratty T-shirt and dirty sneakers.
Many of the representatives at these events also act as admissions officers. Some schools even send their Deans of Admissions!
So, while your child doesn’t have to wear a multi-piece suit, he or she should aim for a casual or business casual look that is clean and professional.
- Relationship Goals
One of your child’s goals for a college fair should be to establish relationships with the schools they are most interested in.
Aside from meeting with the representative and asking thoughtful questions, your child should also provide the college with contact information and ask for the representative’s contact information.
Establishing these relationships shows your child’s interest in a college and engagement in the college application process.
Register for our webinar at www.collegeprepwebinar.com to find out how you can get scholarships and grants to attend the colleges your child wants to attend!
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