In this part of the Education Now website, visitors can review strategies that are certain to be useful as they explore educational options and make application for admission and financial aid. Each tip is reflective of the larger, more detailed message contained in the Bound-For-College Guidebook.    

Topic: Making the Most of College Fairs and College Day/Night Programs

College Fairs and College Day/Night programs come in various sizes and formats. The smallest events are often held by a high school or group of high schools and can attract anywhere from 10-30 colleges. Larger fairs are often sponsored by a school district and held in a location central to the audience being served. The biggest fairs, attracting hundreds of colleges, are those sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Fairs provide the student exploring college options with a unique opportunity to talk directly with admission officers or counselors or with alumni or student representatives who assist the college in its admission efforts. Much can be learned about the colleges themselves, including the procedures that must be followed to make application for admission and financial aid.

Preparing in advance to interact with fair representatives will add to the certainty that the fair will be a positive experience and students should consider the following eight tips:

1. Do your college fair homework. Study the list of participating colleges and prepare a list of questions. Review their literature and visit their website in advance of the fair. Take your questions to the fair and don't be shy about asking them.

2. Be prepared to complete lots of student inquiry cards. To expedite this process, you can prepare preaddressed labels that can be affixed to the college's card or cards with your name and contact information. You may wish to jot down your area of academic interest and any desired information (e.g., viewbook or application request, scholarship criteria, etc.) on the card you leave with the representative.

3. Allow sufficient time to talk with as many college representatives as possible. If you are undecided about where to apply, use the fair to continue your exploration. While many colleges will be familiar to you, others will not. If you have narrowed your list of colleges, the fair will permit you lead a more vigorous information quest with those institutions. You should, however allow time to examine some colleges that are not currently on your consideration list. Be open to new information and interaction. It's part of the discovery process.

4. Participate in any admission and financial aid seminars that may be offered as part of the fair program. Presented by experts in the field, these seminars offer valuable guidance to aid you in the decision-making and application processes.

5. Bring pencils, paper or a notebook and take time to jot down the answers to your questions and other information that you deem important. Carry a shoulder bag or knapsack as many of the colleges will have information that they wish to leave with you.

6. Note the name of the admission representative with whom you spoke and take some time after the fair to write follow-up notes or letters to those colleges for which you have special questions. Targeted letters get faster responses than the "to whom it may concern" variety.

7. Talk with your friends and fellow students after the fair and compare notes regarding the information you received and the impressions that were created. Comparing your insights and experiences with others may generate perspectives that were not apparent before. Your counselor can also help you to digest all of the information you have acquired.

8. Present yourself in the best possible manner. The college fair is an opportunity for you to interact face-to-face with college admission representatives, individuals might eventually be involved in reviewing your application and contributing to the admission decision. Make a strong first impression with this individual. Just like you jotted down a few points on your inquiry card, the admission representative may have made a few notes about you after you walked away.

College fairs offer the college-bound student a base of information greater than that contained in publications and posted on websites and will help the explorer narrow the list of institutions he or she may wish to visit. Make the most of the college fair experience!

From: Bound-For-College Guidebook by Frank Burtnett. Published by Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2009.

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 Topic: How Colleges Make Admission Decisions

Admission officers are charged with the responsibility of selecting students who will meet the challenges of the college or university classroom while contributing to the academic, cultural and social climate of the institution. Different institutions place varying emphases on the criteria they employ to admit students, but the vast majority of colleges consider all or most of the following factors:

Achievement in college preparatory studies - A strong academic record in challenging courses throughout the high school experience will be the factor most likely to influence an admission decision in your favor. Your cumulative grade point average (GPA) and class rank (if computed by your school) will be viewed in light of the breadth and difficulty of the courses on your transcript and regarded as the best predictor of the kind of success you are likely to have in college.

ACT, SAT and related test scores - As a rule, admission tests scores alone are not likely to result in either your acceptance or rejection. Admission officers may view scores as a "snapshot" of the more complete person. One exception, however, is the large university that uses test scores to reduce large numbers of applications down to a manageable number for a more thorough review. Test scores may also be used for placement in some freshman classes or to award college credit for course work considered the equivalent of the college experience.

Service learning, extracurricular activities and work - These experiences present a picture of the student outside of the classroom, a facet of the individual that is very important to some colleges. Activities that show the applicant participating in a volunteer or service learning experiences are highly regarded by admission officers. and experiences that have an academic component (e.g., writing for the school paper) are often viewed more positively than those that are purely recreational or social  (e.g., drill team).

Teacher and counselor recommendations - These firsthand observations by educators who have worked with you during your high school experience can go a long way in emphasizing your abilities, aptitudes and interests. They often allow the writer to present information about your personality, motivation for learning or personal philosophy that may not become known in any other way.

Essays and writing sample - The colleges that require a student essay consider this creative work to be an important ingredient in their admission decision. Good admission essays result from careful planning and allowing adequate time for writing and editing.

Interview - Some colleges require or recommend a personal interview. The staff member or alumni representative conducting the interview will prepare a report that becomes an official part of the admission folder. Successful interviews require that you be yourself and display genuine interest in the college.

Special talents and characteristics - If you have a particular talent (e.g., athletic, musical), that ability can be influential in your gaining admission to a college. You will need, however, to showcase or present those special skills to the professors, coaches or admission officers responsible for evaluating your talents. A portfolio of your artwork or tape of your performances can be used for this purpose. Colleges may also give added consideration to members of a particular ethnic group, children of alumni or individuals with the personal traits and characteristics they hope to attract in their quest to build a diverse enrollment.

The college or university in making its admission decision may consider each of these criteria. Just how much weight will be placed on a particular factor will vary from college to college. Ask an admission counselor at the colleges you're interested in attending to tell you how they make their decisions. Obtain the most recent freshman class profile and compare your more quantifiable features (e.g., GPA, test scores) with those of admitted students. Remember, too, factors such as demographics, number of applications and other things totally outside your control may be influential in the college's decision-making.

From: Bound-For-College Guidebook by Frank Burtnett. Published by Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2009.

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Posted: 01/02/12