Who should go......what is the purpose? College & Career Fairs

How do I tell him I don’t think I want to go to his and Mom’s college? September 24, 2012 6:00-8:30 p.m. Pennington Student Activity Center on SLU’s campus in Hammond So, Dad, this year’s college fair is coming up. I am a junior now and I think it’s time for me to seriously consider what’s next after high school. Can we go? Uh...sure Are my ears playing tricks on me?! Did she really say she’s ready to explore colleges?! How do I tell him I don’t think I want to go to his and Mom’s college?

A friend never lets a friend miss a college fair! She said: Hey....I’m going to the college fair tonight. Are you going? He said: I can’t think of a reason to...Why? Are you going? She said: Are you kidding? It’s like a one stop shopping for colleges kind of thing. Recruiters from a lot of universities come and you can go to ask them questions, pick up view books, meet our area admissions rep....... He said: But you know I plan to go in the military... She said: Sooooo, what if I told you the different branches of the military will be there? And military academies? You could ask about ROTC scholarships.... He said: Well, I'm still not sure. Isn’t it just a bunch of people who are going to big universities? She said : Stop! You really have never been to one of these have you/ There are community colleges, public and private universities, out of state colleges, career training and technical programs.... He said, OK! OK! OK! YOU STOP!!!! I think I am beginning to get the picture....so there’s lots of stuff I never knew going on! But I still don’t know what I would do once I got there......

College & Career Fairs, what to do, what to do, what to do?! Think about what kind of college would best suit you Print out address labels: (name, address, phone #, email address, your high school and year of graduation) Bring them , spend your time talking to the reps, not filling out contact cards. Make a list of your most important questions to ask Have a plan.... Maybe visit colleges you already know of and are interested in first, then browse other tables see if they have the program in which you are interested or what their most popular majors are..... B/4 U Go... Make the most of your time

What’s next? Use the list of schools you made before arriving and find their location on the program Ready (to start?! Smile! Be prepared to introduce yourself) Set (a time limit for yourself so you get to all of the ones on your list) Come on in, it’s FREE!!.....please take a program! GO!!!!!!

If I am supposed to ask questions, what am I supposed to ask about If I am supposed to ask questions, what am I supposed to ask about? Perhaps begin with these.... Admissions When are your deadlines for admissions, scholarships, financial aid...? Is the application for admissions and scholarships the same? Which GPA and ACT (or SAT) score is used in admissions and is it the same for scholarships? What is the last ACT score you accept for scholarships? Academics What are the largest freshman courses at your campus? Is undergraduate research available? Is there an Honors college or program? What percentage of courses is taught by teaching assistants or graduate assistants? What is your medical (law, dental, etc) school admit rate? Campus life Do you have sororities and fraternities? What % of students join? Are freshmen required to live on campus? What are the most popular student life activities? Is there a job placement service for graduates?

One down, more to go? Repeat the process, as needed! Make notes for yourself about the information you received and your impressions while it is fresh in your mind Ask if there are any special campus events for high school students planned, such as a Preview Day More points to consider... Get a business card from each recruiter you speak with (this will make follow up communications much easier!) A college fair is your chance to ask questions that are unique to you. Think of your special interests, talents, etc. that you want to know how it may fit in at the university. This could include scholarships for drama, music, leadership, athletics, etc!

Optional time saving tip! The Louisiana LACRAO (LA Assoc. of College Recruiters and Admissions Officers) fairs offer the option to pre-register a student’s information, print out and bring their bar code and avoid spending time filling out cards at many universities. Register for LACRAO’s Louisiana College Day/Night Events at Gotocollegefairs.com NOTE: There is not a way to print bar codes at the event. Please remember to bring yours! (NEW! Fall 2012-bar codes should be able to be scanned from your smart phone screen) While this saves a lot of time, only those universities and colleges who purchase the scanners will participate. Consider bringing a page of pre-printed address labels for the other universities in which you are interested.