Attending College Fairs Early Is Best

Our daughter's high school and several other schools are going together to have a college fair next month. Our daughter is only a freshman. Is it too soon for her to go to a college fair? Should we go with her? What booths should we visit? -- College Bound
Answer: According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the earlier students and their parents attend a college fair, the better. In fact, students can attend these events in middle school. It is a great first step in learning about the college admission process. Younger students will get more out of a fair if they attend with their parents. And it also will clue parents in to how the admission process works.
If there are workshops on financial aid at a college fair, students should attend one -- and so should parents, if they go to the fair. It will take the mystery out of applying for financial aid. At many college fairs, there are likely to be other workshops that describe the admission process. Some even offer the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a counselor who can help students develop a list of colleges at the fair that might interest them. Younger students will benefit most from getting an idea of the admission process, while older ones will want to talk to college representatives at many of the booths.
Before the fair, students should think about the type of college they want to attend. Is it one close to home? How big should it be? Should it offer a particular extracurricular activity (sports, art, drama)? What programs should it offer? At a small fair, students may be able to visit each college. Before attending a large fair, students should discuss their list of possible schools with counselors at their school or use Web sites like www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org to find schools that match their interests.