national keystone project: college fair readiness
TRANSCRIPT
By the end of this presentation, you will:
● Be prepared to attend a college fair
● Gain resources to better help you interact with college reps
OBJECTIVES
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● An opportunity to learn about many different colleges, all in one place
● Representatives from colleges across the country, or perhaps the world will usually have booths or tables set up
● Many fairs also offer useful session about financial aid, admissions, testing, and more!
WHAT IS A COLLEGE FAIR?
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● College Fairs can be overwhelming○ Large crowds
● Not everyone knows how to maximize their time at a college fair○ Workshops in session○ Lack of engagement between
college reps and prospective students
WHY FUTURE READINESS?
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● Research different schools online
● College Fair Checklist○ List of Schools attending○ Questions to ask college
representatives○ Writing Utensil○ Notebook○ Bag to hold brochures
and/or flyers
BEFORE THE FAIR
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● Locate the colleges you decided you wanted to learn more about and plan a route
● Visit the booths and ask college reps your list of questions conversationally
● Take notes as you engage with college representatives
● Make unexpected drop-ins with new, prospective colleges
● Attend academic enrichment
workshops if available
AT THE FAIR
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Before asking any questions, why not be bold and introduce yourself? Practice introducing yourself to the person next to you:
Hi! My name is (your name). I am interested in going to college because I want to…
study (a certain subject)pursue (a certain job or career)
explore my options for what I want to study and do with my life
I really have no idea about your school and what it has to offer; will you please tell me a little about it?
*Be sure to shake hands, make eye contact, and smile!
AT THE FAIR - INTRODUCTIONS
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● What is your college known for? What makes your school unique?
● How many freshmen return for their sophomore year?
● How safe is the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods?
● Where is your college located?
● What is the ethnic breakdown of your students?
● Do most students graduate within 4 years?
AT THE FAIR - QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPS
● What are fun things to do around campus?
● Are intramurals, clubs, and/or varsity sports offered?
● How are the sports facilities?
● Do students get free admission to athletic events?
● Is public transportation provided if students do not have a car?
You can ask more specific questions like:
8Most importantly, ask questions that YOU care about!
● Before you go to the college fair, you will receive a handout that has questions relating to admissions, financial aid, student life, and more!
● Have college reps sign off on your
handout as you ask questions
AT THE FAIR - QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPS
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● Reflect on which schools stood out
● Organize your notes
● Recycle schools you’ve ruled out to minimize clutter
● Keep researching the colleges you really liked
● Discuss your experience with parents/guardian/guidance counselors/teachers
AFTER THE FAIR
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● Keep an open mind
● Make your questions count
● Get contact info from college reps to follow-up with any questions
REMEMBER!
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