College Fairs
Stella is Ready for the NACAC College Fair
This afternoon, I chatted with a student who was thinking about attending the upcoming NACAC Seattle College Fair. He asked if I had any suggestions to make the most of heading downtown on a Saturday (aka “worth it”). I steered him toward NACAC's landing page, which provides a link for students to sign up beforehand to receive a barcode to take to the fair. I pointed out that colleges could then easily add him to their list for invitations to local events and updates from campus, and connect with him in the future.
Let’s face it, College Fairs can be intimidating for students. We tell them that there is no better way to tackle that big convention center than going in with a plan. Easy to say, but more difficult when students are faced with countless rows of alphabetically laid-out booths and boatloads of students reminding them that, yes, there are a lot of other students applying to college. We tell them that rather than getting discouraged right off the bat, going in with a plan and some focus can definitely ease the stress and make the whole process more rewarding and informational.
Saint Ignatius College Fair
As they build their college lists, students are told to look inside themselves, to reflect on what is important to them. People are constantly asking them what kind of college they want, what their major will be, and which activities are important to them. But most students don’t know where to start. They look at the universe of over 3000 colleges, and it can be overwhelming. They are told that just a little bit of self-reflection can make all the difference. How many teenagers take the time to self-reflect or know what is involved in campus life, picking a major, the social and educational culture that is right for them, and what support they might need?
Counselors know that over 85% of students change their majors—have students considered the reality of a business major or of taking Organic Chemistry as a gateway to med school? Have they considered that a huge school with fun school spirit and sports may not offer the small, hands-on classes that had such an impact in high school? Or, do they thrive in a big setting and love the opportunity to have so many choices? Watching that type of discovery for students is the fun part, as they begin to reflect on things they had never considered. But it is also the hard part, and it takes time.
Back to my student. I thought to myself, wouldn’t his Corsava Report summarizing what he decided he must have, as well as those things that would be nice in a college, be the perfect tool to prepare him for the College Fair? Taking ten minutes to complete a Corsava sort meant he had something to grab onto as we talked about his college options. We enjoyed a productive conversation about what mattered most to him, and as he put together his list, he had the opportunity to reflect on things that had never occurred to him. Along with majors he may never have considered, he had preferences for residential life, social scene, and political culture.
We pulled up the report, and I recommended he research his top college preferences, the ones he would be visiting with at the fair. I emphasized the importance of asking the admissions rep about those things that were most important to him.
Now he felt ready to take it on; he had a plan. He knew what he wanted and what to avoid. I know he’s going to have much better conversations with the reps, particularly since he can focus on unique factors that are his alone and ask questions that show real knowledge of the campus, making the conversation valuable for the student and rewarding for the representative. After all, college admissions is a two-way street.
High School Visits by Admission Reps
As the topic moved to admissions reps in town to visit his high school, I emphasized the importance of making time to meet with them. While he could be much more anonymous at the college fair, he pushed back on the high school meeting, as it just seemed so intimidating to approach the rep and start talking without knowing what to ask, especially surrounded by all his friends. I assured him that the reps are there because they want to meet you, they want to admit you (not deny you), and they want to help you discover if their college is right for you. Why not do some research on their website beforehand and let them know right off the bat what matters to you. If students know what matters most to them in a college and have done even minimal research on specifics, they can ask more targeted questions and be more deeply engaged. It could take the interview quickly to a whole new level, focusing on how student preferences align with that particular college. This is also a chance to ask about co-op opportunities or maybe have them connect you with current students from your area. As he considered this, things began to fall into place.
As I chat with admissions reps, I hear over and over that fewer students are taking the time to stop in and visit with them when they come to their high school. But what better way to connect with the people who know so much about the colleges on students’ lists, who can answer their questions face to face. This generation of students values connectedness, and relationships matter to them.
Transparency, support resources, collaboration, inclusiveness, and being heard drive much of what students want to explore in their future college environment, so doesn’t it also make sense that this time with an admissions rep can make all the difference? And if they know what type of learning environment or level of support, collaboration, and competitiveness makes them thrive, then they can see more clearly just how College A can meet their needs.
Students today make their college choices on more emotional, nontraditional criteria that are not readily available or conventionally shared by colleges. Helping students dig deep before meeting one on one with the representatives at the fair or at their school can mean the difference between missing out on a college students had never considered and finding an affordable choice that fits.