College Fairs and Rep Visits
College fairs and school rep visits are all a standard part of the college process these days. While some schools consider demonstrated interest, even for the ones that do not, it is important to have positive interactions with college representatives. Being prepared for these conversations is the best way to ensure they go smoothly.
College fairs are a great, low-stakes way to start having conversations with school representatives. These tend to be large events, providing exposure to many schools. Research when and where these are: they can be incredibly beneficial as they offer the opportunity to interact with colleges of interest and also to learn about colleges that weren’t on your radar. When you attend one of these fairs, take the time to wait on the lines and talk to the rep. Often, that rep is your regional contact at a college admissions office.
Once you get to the front of the line, there are three steps to take:
These days, most college fairs provide attendees with a QR code that individual reps scan to add you to their college’s mailing list (create an email that is specific for the college process, so you won’t get your regular inbox overloaded - but make sure you check it regularly!). For any schools that consider demonstrated interest, this is even more important, as it is the first check in that box.
The second step is to get that representative’s card, which will have their email address. Later on, if you have a question, you will then have a specific person to ask, as opposed to writing to a generic admissions email address. It is also important to keep in mind that this rep will likely have eyes on your application at some point.
The third thing to remember is that this is your time to learn more about the college and to leave a good impression. We cannot stress this enough: always have a strong question prepared beforehand. Generate your questions around your interests and make sure they are things that are not easily found on the college’s website or promotional materials. For example, you can easily find out if a college offers a major, so don’t ask about that. Instead, consider specific questions about a program within a major; if it is a larger university, can you pursue studies across different schools? Other categories to consider asking about are studying abroad, specific club interests, social structures like fraternities and sororities, internship opportunities, sports offerings beyond school teams, etc...Whatever it is, ask with confidence, maintain eye contact and be positive!
In addition to college fairs, students should attend college rep visits at their high school. Students should get the calendar of visits from their college office - this is also a great opportunity to learn more about and express interest in schools on your college list. (These are especially useful if visiting the college is not feasible before applying). Sign up for mailing lists, have a question or two prepared in advance and get the representative’s card. And if you can’t make the visit, ask a friend to grab the rep’s business card - you can then email them your questions.