Our school is having one next week. We are busy otherwise and didn’t see much benefit attending it with our oldest and foster kid. Should I take my junior any ways?
Is the oldest/foster kid not college bound?
Will college of interest’s rep be there? If so, it would be beneficial for your kid to go to show interest. Some schools would care.
Go.
Visiting college reps or the GC talking about the process? Is the foster a 9th grader?
I just attended my fourth, yes fourth, college night given by the counselors. While it is true that I probably could give most of the presentation by now, I go into these kinds of things thinking that if I can pick up even one new piece of information it is worth the hour or two. And sure enough I did and it was helpful!
I guess if I ever go and don’t get anything out of one of these college meetings, I can just bask in the glory of knowing everything, at least in that hour, then come home and try to answer every question on CC.
I found our HS’s information night to be a waste of time. On the other hand, college fair night was quite helpful. D spent a long time talking to an adcom from a school not previously on her radar. She received a generous scholarship from this school despite not having visited or interviewed (known to be significant components of their merit awards). I’m almost certain that it was the connection she made at the fair.
if they are having lots of schools with booths go! look at schools you have never thought of/heard of before. you my find a gem. it is worth the 2 hours time. most people who go stop by the big state school, the ivy league booths and ignore the rest. that is a waste IMO! take advantage to really explore some new options!
If it has college reps it might be useful. If it’s to acquaint parents with the process you’ll get more info here.
I disagree, @Erin’s Dad. In my experience, the most valuable information given out on those nights had to do with how to work with the high school in terms of transcript requests, teacher recommendations, counselor recommendations, and the deadlines that the high school imposes on its students who are applying to college. You can’t get that information from either college reps or CC.
I agree with @Erin’s Dad I have been to many of these events as some are semi-mandatory at my kid’s school. I have learned more about the overall process here; however local events that include presentations by college reps and information booths have been very useful.
- Do the students attend with you? If so, then attend so you are showing them that college is important to you and it t helps them get in to the mode of thinking about college apps.
- You probably will not get much out of the college search process, but like others say, you will find out about how YOUR HS does the college app process…When are materials due? Do you need to create a brag sheet? etc. etc.
What would be the upside of NOT going?
Our college night is mostly for parents. Usually just one parent goes. Not much we don’t already know.
I think two items are being discussed. If it’s a College Fair – it’ll be a gathering of many college reps – usually in the gym or cafeteria with some larger presentations for schools with broad interest. This is for kids and families to learn about colleges who want to recruit them. Some people get good info (hearing about previously unknown but interesting schools), some get little due to the cattle call nature of the event.
If it’s your counselors office giving information to kids and parents about the ins and outs of the school’s application process and general info, that’s another thing entirely – these are generally valuable as it discusses how you’ll interface with the counselors office on what’s needed in the months to come.
OP has had a lot of questions on CC that suggest maybe he already relies on CC a lot, should take a step back and learn how/what the hs and GC advise.
Agree with Marian #9, the value to us was in the procedural info. I think we skipped it for DC2, just a year later.
CC is good for clarification, tips. The basics start on the home turf.
I just felt from my previous experience that college fair was mostly waste of time. We didn’t learn anything that’s not available on college websites and most of the people tending tables weren’t real adcoms, mostly alumni. All that came out of that night was getting lot of junk and dropping email to get on their listing, both of which can be achieved by visiting their websites. Many kids and parents trying to impress and score with college reps was funny though.
I attended both the school information session and college night. I found them both to be very informative. Not all high schools about business the same way. College night will introduce you to schools you never would have thought of on your own.
If you felt the previous experience was a waste of time, then I’m not sure why you needed to ask whether you should go again.
You have been through this process before and may know the ropes, but your junior has not. I would take your student and introduce him to different types of colleges and options out there. This night may also give you more insight into the types of schools he clicks with, and help direct his search.