Colleges Hit the Road for Spring 2013 Fairs

The Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Fair

Once 2013 decisions are signed, sealed, and delivered, admissions staff will hardly have a moment to breathe before they’re expected to hit the road again for college fairs scheduled all over the country. Here are a few of the more popular local events:

• Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) Annual College Fair
  Scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 2013, the AACS Annual College Fair is open to the public and all students. The fair will take place at the Kilby Athletic Center in Severn, MD, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  
  
• Colleges That Change Lives
  Since 1998, the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL)—forty colleges and universities dedicated to the support of student-centered college search processes—have been traveling together to meet directly with students and families. This year, CTCL will visit the Washington DC area on Sunday, May 19, at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center, at 1:00 p.m.  The program begins with a 30-minute information session followed immediately by the college fair.
  
  
• Career GPS Expo (formerly known as the Diversity Fair)
  Organized by Loudon County Public Schools, this event provides opportunities to meet with college and other postsecondary school representatives as well as to interact with organizations and employers representing a variety of career options. The 2013 Career GPS Expo will take place on Wednesday, March 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Dominion High School in Sterling VA. Students and parents do not need to register for this event.
  
  
• Frederick County Spring College Fair
  Join more than 100 colleges and universities from across the country on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Hood College Athletic Center.
  
  
• IB-MA College Fair
  The IB Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools is hosting a free college fair on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from noon until 4:00 p.m, at Gar-Field High School, in Woodbridge, VA. This is a large event attracting many colleges interested in recruiting IB students and others.
  
  
• NACAC National College Fairs (NCF)
  Free and open to the public, NACAC’s fairs annually attract more than 850,000 high school students to forums designed to encourage student and family interaction with representatives from a wide range of postsecondary institutions. This year, NACAC has scheduled two local fairs spanning several days. The Montgomery County NCF will take place on April 17 (evening hours included) and 18 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, in Gaithersburg. The Prince George’s County NCF will immediately follow on April 19 at the Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.
  
  
• National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) Health Professional Recruitment Fair
  Organized in partnership with the George Washington School of Medicine and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), this fair will include opportunities to meet with medical school representatives and admissions staff. In addition, students are invited to attend workshops—one targeted specifically to high school students—on how to get ready for the challenges of medical school, the application process, and how to finance a medical education. The workshops and the fair are scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm., at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Registration in advance is encouraged.
  
  
• Northern Virginia Regional College Fair
  Scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, this fair usually attracts 200 colleges and universities, in the Patriot Center Arena on the campus of George Mason University. No registration is required and doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with free parking in Lots A or L across from the Patriot Center.

Remember that some fairs offer pre-registration options, but most are walk-in events. You can prepare for the fair by reviewing a list of participating colleges and noting those in which you are interested. It’s a good idea to print out some “mailing” labels with your name, mailing address, phone number, month and year of high school graduation, and email address. These can be quickly applied to information request cards. And bring a backpack or something similar for carrying all the materials you will collect.

Here’s a tip: In addition to admissions information, exhibitors often come equipped with materials introducing summer enrichment opportunities. Be sure to ask about the availability of summer classes, camps, or other similar programs.