<p>Current HS senior. Tomorrow is Columbus Day, so I don't have school. The National College Fair is in Chicago tomorrow, and five of the schools I'm looking at will be there. So, basically, tomorrow I can either go downtown and talk to reps from those five schools, or I can stay home and really make a dent in applications and essays and everything.</p>
<p>Do colleges really consider the fact that you've visited their booth at a college fair at all? Because I feel like it's one of those things that seems like a good idea to do, but I don't really know how much it matters.</p>
<p>Plan C is to skip the NCF but attend a smaller fair at my local community college, where three of my schools will be. Better idea, or no?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If you’ve never been in contact with any of the five schools before, it might help a little to go see them and make sure you fill out an information card. Some schools are a little suspicious of prospective students where the application is their first contact. Some schools, however, don’t blink, and even those that do blink don’t typically factor the level of contact into the decision. Some small privates will use the number of type of contacts as an indicator of interest level when making aid awards and deciding aid appeals. </p>
<p>All that said, time invested in a better essay will probably have equal or greater impact for you.</p>
<p>Thanks! I have already been in contact with all of them, but in more of a “hi, I’m just looking, and I like you!” kind of way. And I’m on all of the mailing lists, etc.</p>
<p>I feel like it would be better to stay home, then.</p>
<p>I would go and see if there are other schools you might not have heard of . That’s why they are good !</p>
<p>My daughter and I went a couple of weeks ago to the one in Phoenix … over 200+ colleges on hand. It was extremely crowed and you don’t get to speak with a rep very long unless their booth is slow. It really depends on the colleges and how busy you think their booths will be. If they are potentially popular schools that might attrack lots of interest from Chicago area kids then I wouldn’t go. But if you think there’s a possibility of narrowing the list down by 1-2 schools because of some meaningful conversations you might have then it would be worth the trip. Be mindful of the crowd and if there is a line forming behind you because the college rep will want to move on to the next person in line.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
<p>P.S. Big timesaving tip is to pre-register online because you can go right in. Print your bar code that has all your information on it; bigs lines at the fair of people trying to register and print their bar code.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys! I’m down to thirteen schools, so this would be more to get some extra info about schools I already really like. I was just wondering if it’s CRUCIAL to go to fairs — like I’ve seen anecdotal evidence about people introducing themselves to reps and then the reps magically remember them when they apply, that kind of thing… but I feel like, with a fair this size, that’s not going to happen! Essays it is. :)</p>