<p>(a). You go to the college's admissions event (only for itself) when they have officers visiting your area.
(b). There is a large college fair in your school and many admission representatives come.</p>
<p>What should you do, besides asking getting more information about the school? (Since almost everything the admission officer says will be from the website, such as AP Policy, clubs and organizations, or air-conditioned dorms and such, which are all easily researchable). Is it possible to increase your own chances when you meet the officer whom will be reading your application (your regional officer)? </p>
<p>Should you drop your resume? Just say hello, introduce yourself, ask an intelligent question and leave? What else?</p>
<p>we had a college fair in our area. there were close to 1000 people, I think there was no chance for any individual attention.</p>
<p>we also had university visits to our school. our counselor told us not to leave a resume or anything.</p>
<p>I personally wanted to ask a provocative question that would cause them to remember me, but I couldn't think of anything good and not offensively in any ways.</p>
<p>I'd say these events are for information only</p>
<p>It depends on how many people are at the meeting. College reps visit my school, and we have meetings with 4-15 kids. Clearly, making an impression and sucking up per se is much easier here.</p>
<p>If the event is a large college fair, it's not worth it to try to get the rep to remember you; too many people. If it's just the school, it's definitely worth trying. I do a lot of research beforehand and come up with a question that demonstrates that I know about the school. I might even know the answer to some degree, which makes the question especially easy to phrase interestingly. After the meeting is over, the reps generally stay after to answer additional questions. There's your chance. Ask, listen, then introduce. Or introduce, ask, then listen.</p>
<p>You can simply introduce yourself to the rep, tell them how much you love their school and how you hope to be admitted and thank them for attending the college fair at your school/city/local place. Later, you can email them and tell them it was nice meeting them at the college fair and remind them how excited you are about their school. They may not remember your face, but the letter is likely to go into your file and the rep may remember your name the next time he sees it when he is scheduling interviews or reading your application. Cant hurt, might help. I agree that it can be hard to think of questions that are not answered either in the brochures or on the website.</p>
<p>You know NY Democrat, this thread interests me tremendously as well. I have some reps visiting my high school in October and I will be attending one of those college events where the admissions officer comes to a city near you. </p>
<p>if anyone can make more suggestions please do so. I like the response that bessie gave but some broader suggestions would really help. </p>
<p>Like... what kind of questions should you ask besides basic college info? How can you show them that you're really passionate and interested about the possibilities of a certain college?</p>
<p>JL, ask questions that show you know your stuff. In my experience, questions that are really vague are answered generically while questions that show at least more than a superficial knowledge of the school are answered more excitingly.</p>
<p>For example, asking about Woody Woo at a Princeton meeting (its culture), or the MENU program at Northwestern, or the effects of the D-Plan on Social life at Dartmouth. Anything that's actually important to you. But instead of a generic, "tell me about study abroad," look up the program and then see if there's anything special you want clarified. That's the start; they will know you're interested.</p>
<p>After the meeting, introduce yourself. If you have visited, SAY SO. Say that you love the school, the presentation was great, whatever. As bessie said, they'll put the name with the app when they get it.</p>
<p>This is KEY: if you go to an admissions rep visit at your high school, you need to know that in most cases the person who is coming to your high school is the first person to read your application. They are NOT just people who do road shows: they are YOUR admissions officer. It is absolutely in you best interests, in this is a school you dream of, to have eye contact, shake the representative's hand, and tell them of your interest. It is also a terrific time for you to get your burning questions answered, and the reps are very happy to do so. The reps want you to be interested in their school too! It is a great opportunity for you.</p>
<p>It's a mistake to try to stand out by asking the "right" questions. You'll risk standing out by looking like you're trying hard to stand out by giving them whatever you think they are looking for.</p>
<p>Instead, thoroughly read the web site, and then go to the session and listen to what the admissions officer says. If any questions arise as a result of your looking over the website and listening to the ad officer, then ask them. Otherwise, just pay attention and learn what you can that will help you with the process.</p>
<p>Admissions officers meet lots of students at info sessions. No student is likely to stand out at such sessions unless they stand out for doing something negative. I saw a student do exactly that by asking a question designed to show what a great applicant he was. The admissions officer commented later negatively about the student, who eventually didn't get in.</p>
<p>When it comes to what I personally look for in those kind of situations (and even adults have occasion to be on the receiving side of influential people coming to give info), I use my time to find out as much as I can about the officers themselves -- what their backgrounds were, why they chose the institution, what they got out of their experience. In other words, I am very interested in hearing what they have to say: I don't try to stand out by taking over the show.</p>
<p>The more I know about the people who will be reviewing my application, the more that I know what true things about myself to highlight in my application or proposal.</p>
<p>I also suggest making sure you get the name of the admission officer so you can Google them afterward. There may be some interesting things that come up that give you some insight into their background and what would impress them. </p>
<p>N.B.: I'm not suggesting that you get involved in activities or provide misleading info about yourself in order to try to impress the admissions officer. I am suggesting that knowing something about them may help you decide which of the many aspects of yourself to accurately highlight on your app.</p>
<p>By the way, how do they keep track of names? The visits I have the following weeks will be my first college visits (from high school) so yeah I'm just wondering. Do they have those "Hello, my name is ______" Sticker tags? lol or do they usually have seating charts or something? Or do officers just try to keep track some other way??</p>
<p>Usually, the admissions officers who visit high schools pass around a sign-in sheet and then talk to students as a group. Unless a student does something that stands out a great deal, the admissions officer is unlikely to connect your name with your face. </p>
<p>When such sessions are held on college campuses, a hundred students and parents may be in attendance, so it's very unlikely the admissions officer will know who you are. They do not use nametags, etc. That's why it's best to think of such sessions as a way for you to gather useful info so you can produce the best application you're capable of. Don't expect to be able to use the session to get an in with the admissions officer.</p>
<p>Hey Northstarmom thanks for all this invaluable info. I just have one other question... what about those events in which colleges visit towns near you? Like for example, I live in Virginia and this one school I've been looking at will visit Maryland so I made an appointment to go to that event. Would you say this is somewhat similar to the high school visits? Or are they mostly just going to talk about academics? Thanks again...</p>
<p>JamesLee,
The kind of visit you describe is similar to what happens at group informational sessions at college campuses. Dozens or even 100 people may be there. The sessions are a good way to gather info about a college, but don't expect that the admissions officers will remember you. Do, however, send a follow-up thank-you note (preferably mailed and handwritten), something that's good to do after any info sessions or interviews with schools that interest you.</p>
<p>My daughter just attended her first college fair. She was nervouse about talking to admissions reps as well. She's still quite early in the whole college search process. I told her it was OK that she had not figured out her whole life plan yet (she should still be exploring) and that she should just tell reps what her current interests are and ask about options at their schools to further her knowledge in those areas. She seemed to have several satisfying discussions with reps using this approach. I also told her to introduce herself to the people she spoke with, but that apparently did not happen. Maybe next year....</p>
<p>Don't worry about your D not speaking up to the reps. Considering this was her first fair, sounds like she did a fine job. This was my D's third (and final) fair. She took complete control and was very engaged with reps she met. Other years was more of a search mission. The changes in kids between 10th and 12th grade are amazing.</p>