Colleges Hit the Road for Spring 2015 Fairs

Southwestern University travels with the Colleges That Change Lives

Once 2015 decisions are signed, sealed, and delivered, admissions staff will hardly have a moment to catch a breath before they’re expected to hit the road again for college fairs scheduled in every corner of the county.   

Here are a few local events to which the public is invited:

• Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) Annual College Fair
  Scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2015, 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 pm to 8:30 pm.
  
  
• Colleges That Change Lives
  Since 1998, the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL)—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, 42 CTCL members will visit the Washington DC area on Sunday, May 17, at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. The program begins at 1:00 pm with a 30-minute information session followed immediately by the college fair.
  
  
• Exploring College Options
  Exploring College Options is a special recruitment program (not exactly a college fair) sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices of Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford.  This year, events are scheduled in Alexandria (May 4), Bethesda (May 5), and Baltimore (May 6).  Details are available on the Exploring College Options website.
  
  
• Good Counsel High School College Fair
  Sponsored by the Catholic Standard, this event will take place on Monday, March 30, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, in the GC’s Alumni Gallery, located in Olney, Maryland. 
  
  
• IB-MA College Fair
  The IB Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools is hosting a free college fair on Saturday, April18 2015, from noon until 3:00 pm, at Gar-Field High School, in Woodbridge, VA. This is a large event attracting many colleges interested in recruiting IB students and others.
  
  
• Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) Post-Secondary Education Fair
  In-school and out-of-school youth are invited to explore higher education options with representatives from over 20 colleges, universities, and technical schools.  In addition, staff will be available to help with FAFSA completion.  This event is scheduled for Friday, March 27, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, in the Community room at LAYC, 1419 Columbia Road, Washington DC.
  
  
• 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 21 (evening hours included) and 22, at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, in Gaithersburg. The Prince George’s County NCF will follow on April 24 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 Health Sciences 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 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, March 28, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm., at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Registration in advance is encouraged.
  
  
• Northern Virginia Regional College Fair
  Scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, this fair usually attracts over 170 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.
  
  
• Sherwood High School College Fair
  This free neighborhood fair is open to the public and will feature approximately 60 to 70 colleges.  All are invited for Monday, April 20, 2015, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Sherwood High School in Olney, Maryland.

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.