College Fairs: worthwhile? Pls look at this one? Spring a better time than Fall?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>D is a 10th grader, starting to get a bit anxious about colleges but not that interested in college tours or the mailings that she's been getting. So I'm wondering about fairs and saw this one on her counselor's webpage. For those of you who have been to some of them, does this one look helpful? Or is it just too huge? </p>

<p>Link to the pdf flyer below, but I also copied and pasted the text underneath so you don't have to open the pdf:
<a href="http://www.nassaucounselors.org/pdf/2013SavetheDate.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nassaucounselors.org/pdf/2013SavetheDate.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It’s time to jumpstart your future.
42ND Annual Spring College Expo
Sponsored by the Nassau Counselors’ Association
Meet personally with representatives from over 300 colleges, universities, career schools
and military services at the spacious, conveniently located
MACK SPORTS AND EXHIBITION COMPLEX
Hofstra University
Hempstead Tpke., Hempstead, NY
TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 5:30-8:30 PM</p>

<p>In addition to speaking with school representatives, you will have an opportunity
to attend these valuable workshops: FINANCIAL AID • COLLEGE ADMISSIONS • STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS • THE “SELECTIVE COLLEGE” PROCESS
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE COLLEGE SEARCH ASSISTANCE
*Remember to register for your individual barcode at gotocollegefairs.com to make your visit
to the fair more productive!
Visit Nassau</a> Counselors' Association for additional information.
This event is offered as a FREE public service.</p>

2

<p>College fairs can be a zoo, but it’s easy enough to grab some brochures, get introduced to some colleges you might have never heard of and perhaps talk to a few reps. You may have to wait quite a while to talk with the reps of the Top-10 schools, their tables are almost always crowded.</p>

3

<p>I think they are probably good because the student can meet a few of the college reps and maybe pick up a few brochures. There is a big one by us in October that we will go to. It might also be a good opportunity to put another school on your radar. These places are usually packed and I walk out with a headache.</p>

4

<p>Have fun! College fairs are great</p>

5

<p>One of selective schools my Ds applied to considered information cards filled out at college fair to be a sign of interest…and that school tracked interest. This may not apply to many schools, but worth going. Pick up cards from school reps. Chances are they are the rep for your area.</p>

6

<p>It wasn’t the right approach for one of my kids, but was right for the other. If you have a kid who is indecisive, lacks initiative to research colleges, and has a busy schedule, college fairs work.</p>

7

<p>I attended a college fair in my community. Didn’t make much use of it, but in hindsight I think it could have been quite helpful. These are more fun if the kid goes with a group of friends.</p>