One Stop Shopping for 350+ Colleges Worldwide

Where should students start the information gathering process in their search to find the perfect college? The answer may be very close to home. 

Hillsborough High School is hosting its 13th annual College Fair this Monday, April 16th, from 6:30- 8:00 pm.  Representatives from more than 60 colleges and universities, mostly in the NY/NJ/PA area, will be hosting tables filled with materials and will be available to answer individual questions on any college-related topic. All local and neighboring high school students and parents are welcome to attend.

The following week, Mercer County Community College will hold a similar fair on Tuesday, April 24th from 6:00-8:00 pm.  Typically, more than 200 colleges and universities are represented at this regional fair.    

On a larger scale, the Meadowlands in Secaucus will host a National College Fair on Wednesday, April 25th from 9:00 am to noon and 5:00-8:00 pm. Admission officials from more than 350 colleges and universities worldwide will be present to encourage prospective students to learn more about their institutions. Colleges in 32 states, the District of Columbia, 8 countries (Italy, China, England, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Spain and Canada) and Australia will be represented. So, too, will branches of the military and some 50 art institutes.  

The best news is that admission to all of these fairs is free, so students and parents have the perfect opportunity for “one stop shopping” to gather answers to all of their college-related questions.

To make the most of this opportunity, students should do their homework in advance.  They should make a list of the colleges in which they are specifically interested, and questions to which they are seeking answers. Then, while talking to each college representative, students should ask for a business card.  Once home, students should email the reps of colleges in which they are particularly interested, thanking them for their time and information and expressing interest in their school.  This is the basis of establishing a relationship with the college rep, who is often the same person who will be making the decision as to who is accepted or rejected to the school.

Attending a college fair is likewise the perfect opportunity for parents to get answers regarding their concerns – often related to financing a college education.

There is nothing like touring the grounds of a college campus and experiencing, first hand, what the school has to offer.  But with more than 3,500 colleges in the U.S., and more than 800 colleges within 300 miles of central New Jersey, students should narrow down their search to potential “good fit colleges” before embarking on their road trips. A local, regional, or national college fair can provide the much-needed information to start a productive college search. 

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.