Getting the Most from College Fair and College Night
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Before the fairs, spend time determining what kind of school best suits YOU. This major process
takes time and is complete when you finally say "Yes!" to your school of choice. Remember there
is no single "right" college; there should be a number of "right" colleges. Your parents, counselor,
and career center specialist offer many resources to help in your research.
Review the list of participating colleges and with the help of your parents and counselor, decide
which schools to visit at the fair. Visit those first, then explore others. Check the Career Center
Newsletter for a link to the list of colleges.
Study the "Things to Discover in College Decision Making" on the next page. Find basic answers
in the Career Center or online. Then prepare your own personal list of questions to ask college
admissions representatives. Write these questions down so you don’t forget.
Bring a notebook and pencil or pen so you can take notes. Make notes immediately, while your
memory is fresh. Things tend to blur.
Bring preprinted labels with you to the fair showing your name address and college-related
information. Often college reps will have mailing cards at their school's table for those desiring
more information. This will save you LOTS of time, since every college will want you to give
them the same basic information. You can buy these labels in the office supply section at most
stores.
Here’s an example of what a label might look like:
Your Name
Your Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone Number; First.Last@gmail.com
Senior at W.T. Woodson HS
GPA: 3.6 SAT: 1220
ACT: 25
Major Interest: Animal biology
Other interests: music, undergraduate research.
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Familiarize yourself with the fair program and layout. Know where the schools that interest you
have displays so you can find all of them. Don't forget where you parked!
Obtain from college/university admissions representatives a personal business card or pertinent
college application materials as needed.
For College Night at Hayfield, note that several workshops are often held at the same time.
Choose 1 or 2 sessions you wish to attend and use the remainder of time to visit with college
admissions representatives. Check the Career Center Newsletter for a link to workshop
information as well as a list of colleges who will be at College Night.
After the fairs, if you are really interested in a school, write a thank you note to the representative
name you contacted at the fair. He/she will be delighted and will probably remember you.
Follow-up also includes the all important campus visits and talking with students and former
students of the colleges. They know first hand what the academic climate is like.
Finally, your goal is to find a college where you have the greatest chance of enjoying academic
achievement in a satisfying living environment. A realistic assessment of your personal abilities
and interests coupled with reliable information about your researched colleges will allow you to
apply to colleges where your are most likely to be accepted and, more importantly, be successful!
Things to Discover in College Decision-Making (from FCPS website)
Admissions:
 Where can I get an application? What is the application fee and deadline?
 What do tuition, room and board cost?
 How important are ninth, tenth and eleventh year grades? Senior year grades?
 Is it better to get an A in a regular course or a B or C in an AP/IB course?
 What are your GPA and SAT statistics?
 Are achievement tests required?
 How can high school courses count for college credit?
 Are there any other requirements? Do I need to take any special high school courses?
 How much math/science and foreign languages should I take?
 What kind of recommendations do you look for? School, community, work?
 Do you have a summer transition program?
 Are interviews required? Are there group or individual interviews and tours?
 When is it best to visit the school? Can I stay overnight in the dorm and visit classes?
Programs:
 Is your college two or four years? What degrees are offered?
 How large are classes? How easy is it to get to know faculty?
 How do you assign faculty advisors to students?
 Do I need a computer? Is there easy access to computer labs?
 What kind of academic support is available? Tutors, learning labs, writing centers?
 Are first year courses large lectures? Do professors or graduate students teach sections?
 When must I choose a major?
 What types of internships or co-op experiences are available?
Student Life:
 Is there on-campus housing? Is on-campus housing coed?
 What percentage of students lives on campus? How are roommates selected?
 What's the social atmosphere? Is it a suitcase/commuter school on weekends?
 What type of organizations and clubs are there?
 Is it easy for freshmen to get involved in activities and mix with upperclassmen?
 Can students have cars on campus? Do I need a car?
 What is the percentage of minority students? International students? Special Needs students?
 What student services are offered?
 What sports do you participate in? Intercollegiate, club, and intramural?
 What are some of the other extracurricular activities?
 How good is the dorm security? What are the campus crime statistics?
 What percentage of students study abroad?
Environment:
 How large is your school?
 How close is it to the local community?
 How large is the city or town?
 Is on campus parking available? Can freshmen have cars?
 What is the school culture?
Financial Aid:
 What types of aid do you offer? Is aid academic (merit) or need based?
 What percent of the students get aid? Merit aid? Need-based aid?
 How do I find out about grants and scholarships offered by your school?
 What is the deadline for submitting FAFSA forms?
 What else do I need to submit to be considered for all kinds of financial aid?
Do I need to file the profile or any supplemental school forms?
 Do I need to file a FAFSA to get a campus job?
 What percentage of students work? How easy is it to obtain a job on campus?