More than 145 colleges are registered to participate in Darlington's Annual College Fair for students in grades 9-12 on Monday, Sept. 9, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Johnson Field House of the Huffman Athletic Center.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time at the College Fair:
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Create your profile with Strive Scan strivefair.com. Save your QR code to your phone and bring your phone to the fair. Colleges will scan your code to collect your information - no more filling out paper contact cards by hand!
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Look at the list of colleges attending the fair in advance. (See the last page.) Make a list of those you want to be sure to visit.
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Prepare a question or two that you would like to ask every college. If you ask every college the same question(s), you can compare their answers on topics important to you. For examples of great questions to ask, check out A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College, which is a free publication produced by the NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) Institute.
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Bring a pen! Yes, the colleges will have some, but they won’t have enough for everyone, and you will want to make notes on the answers to all of those great questions you asked.
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Seniors ONLY: Wear your grey uniform polo shirt! The colleges know that the seniors will be wearing grey shirts, so they will keep a special eye out for you since you are currently applying!
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Keep an open mind. There will likely be many colleges at the fair with which you are unfamiliar. Just because you aren’t familiar with them doesn’t mean they aren’t great institutions! One of them might be just right for you! Explore all of your options. Remember that the college process is about finding the right fit. Ultimately, you want to select a college where you can be successful and happy. Where will you thrive?
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Don’t be nervous or shy. College admission representatives are known for being cheerful, outgoing people. They are eager to talk to you! It will be easy to strike up a conversation with them, so don’t hesitate to approach them.
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Introduce yourself. Offer a firm handshake. Look the representative in the eyes. (Manners matter!)
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Listen. You have come prepared with questions to ask, and that’s great. So have your classmates. The questions they ask might be something you have not considered. Listen to the questions others pose and the answers they receive. Their inquiries might just help you in your search!
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Thank the representative for coming and for the information you received. They came all the way to Rome, Georgia, just to see you!
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If you see a representative alone at a table without anyone talking to them, approach them and ask about their college. Be hospitable. You will make a good impression of yourself and Darlington. (Yes, representatives from many colleges travel together or see each other throughout their travel season. They often talk to one another. You just never know when the kindness you showed to a school you were not interested in gets passed along as a compliment of your behavior to your first-choice college.)
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Collect information and brochures to review at home with your family. Make notes on any pertinent information the representative told you.
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Ask for the representative’s business card. Write the representative a thank you note for spending time with you at the fair. (Hand-written thank you notes are preferable to emails.) You can also follow up with the representative if you or your parents have questions later.
The College Fair is a wonderful opportunity for you to connect with many unique institutions from across the country and around the world. Use the hour to the fullest extent!
Click here to see photos from last year's College Fair and here to learn more about college guidance at Darlington.
