News from the 2012 College Reception Circuit

Harvard University will be represented at Exploring College Options

Many colleges and universities hit the road this time of year to begin a recruitment process that actually gets into full swing in the fall.

Short of actually visiting a campus, these presentations offer opportunities for you to get basic information about a school as well as make yourself known to area representatives.

Although these sessions are usually open to the public, it’s generally a good idea to pre-register if the opportunity is offered. Otherwise, how are the folks running the event going to know how many folding chairs to set up?

The following are some of the more popular spring events:

• Exploring College Options: This is a special recruitment program sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices of Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford. The tour has three stops in the DC area, with the first scheduled for Sunday, May 13th, at the Tysons Corner Marriott, at 7:30 p.m. Two additional sessions will be held on May 14th at the Washington Marriott Metro Center and May 15th at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel.
  
  
• Colleges That Change Lives: This year, CTCL will visit the Washington DC area on Sunday, May 20, at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center. Plan to attend one of two programs scheduled (11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.). Each program begins with a 30-minute information session followed immediately by the college fair.
  
  
• The Claremont Colleges:   Harvey Mudd and three of the other Claremont Colleges will hold a local information session on on Sunday, May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Pooks Hill Bethesda Marriott.
  
  
• The Five College Consortium:  Admissions directors from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and U Mass Amherst will host a reception for high school students and their parents at Woodrow Wilson High School on May 21.  Registration is highly encouraged but not required.
  
  
• Exploring Educational Excellence:  Join Brown, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, and Rice for an information session targeted to prospective students and families. Sessions include an overview of each institution, information on admissions and financial aid, as well as a chance to speak informally with admissions representatives. The tour hits DC on May 24th, at the Tysons Corner Marriott. You must register to attend.
  
  
• 8 of the Best Colleges: Claremont McKenna, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Grinnell, Haverford, Kenyon, Macalester, and Sarah Lawrence invite students and families to learn more about these eight nationally recognized liberal arts colleges. Six programs remain for the year.
  
  
• Coast to Coast Tour:  Dartmouth, Northwestern, Princeton, UC Berkeley, and Vanderbilt visit nine cities in eight states.  The evening includes a brief information session about each school and time to interact with admissions representatives in a college fair format.  Keep this one in mind for next year.
  
  
• Case Western Reserve University, Brandeis, and University of Rochester:  Several remaining joint information sessions are scheduled for the coming weeks. 
  
  
• Boston College:  Scheduled for May 15 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, this informational program is designed to provide prospective students with an “Eagle Overview.”
  
  
• Carnegie Mellon University:  Admissions counselors will present a general information session to high school students who may be in the early stages of their college search. You can register now for the event scheduled for Sunday, June 3, at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel.
  
  
• Northwestern University:  Scheduled for May 31^st, at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel, this session is open to students and their families but advance registration is required.
  
  
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro:  Two "First Look" sessions will be held in the DC area.  The first will take place on May 21, in Rockville, and the second is scheduled for May 22, at the Tysons Corner Marriott.  Online registration will require you to open a SpartanLink account.

Note that you're much more likely to receive advance notice of these events if you've registered for information or otherwise demonstrated interest to colleges on your search list.