Admissions representatives from approximately 60 colleges and universities spoke with interested high school students at the first College Fair of the academic year, held in the RHS Commons on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
RHS seniors agreed that they benefited from events like this one. “I think the College Fair is an overall really good experience for everybody because it opens your eyes to so many other colleges that exist,” senior Thomas Draghi said. “If you have expectations or knowledge about certain colleges, you can see how the colleges either meet or don’t meet your expectations.”
With representation ranging from colleges as far north as Maine all the way south to Florida, students were able to gain insight into many different schools and regions, strengthen their potential application lists. They had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from some of their top choices and get new information about the schools.
Some of the most popular schools whose display tables students were drawn to included Rutgers University New Brunswick, Boston University, Coastal Carolina, University of Florida, University of Rhode Island and New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Students also flocked to Binghamton University, Drexel University, Emerson College, George Washington University, Montclair State University, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University and University of Maryland College Park.
College representatives said they welcomed questions from the students at their tables, as they were eager to showcase their schools’ strengths to potential new applicants. “I love connecting with students and their families, knowing the work I do will help their families in the future,” said Martha Echevarria, the William Patterson representative. She noted that she enjoys meeting with anyone, even those who are not prospective William Patterson students.
The college fair was not just for seniors; attending the fair was a valuable way for students of all grade levels to learn more about the colleges. “If you are a sophomore or junior, the college fair is a good starting point for a lot of students who want to learn more about schools,” said Zach Mower, a High Point University representative.
Jennifer Huey, the college and career specialist at RHS, noted that she has hosted mini college fairs like these for the last decade, and they have been helpful for students at all grade levels. “For seniors, they can connect with the admissions counselors and ask questions that can help finalize their list,” she said. “Juniors who are starting to look can talk with colleges that offer potential majors and programs. And for our underclassmen, the College Fair is the perfect place to start window shopping. It is an opportunity to see what is out there and what colleges have to offer.”
Students who missed this college fair can check out the next one, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12. Colleges that have signed up to participate include Rutgers University Newark, University of Massachusetts Boston, Central Connecticut State University and many more.
