August 5, 2006
Posted by Sam Jackson
College Fairs: use them effectively
I've been to one college fair at school so far, and it wasn't the exciting experience the college counselling office made it out to be. Sure, it was a little bit interesting, but it was an overwhelming introduction to the dizzying depth and breadth we'd be faced with when as we formally dove into the college admissions process. About.com has a good list of questions that you might want to ask a college rep when they arrive at your school bearing glossies and business cards. Well, actually, the questions aren't so helpful. The point is that they do remind us to think ahead a little bit in considering college fairs.
At this college fair we had this past spring, I spent my time grabbing good-looking promotional material from schools I already had on my (then even lengthier) list while pausing to exchange playful banter with the reps from schools I did not and would not consider attending--the University of Texas, for example. How could I help myself--the rep and I shared the same last name! I will say that retrospectively it was perhaps in poor taste to make jokes about the recent construction-related deaths over at Emerson with the Emerson rep; she was good humored about it but apparently doesn't share my attitude that laughter heals all wounds, even those inflicted by several stories of scaffolding and masonry.
What I should have been doing, rather than having quite so much fun, was trying to hear more from the people at each school I was legitimately interested in. The trouble was that these tables were busy because I didn't want to go anywhere unpopular. The people from smaller colleges looked so lonely, and I felt that in the large hall full of so many schools, giving them a little attention--however false--was simply a courtesy, after some of them came from so far away. In some cases, I did learn useful information from places I hadn't known about. I didn't know much about any of the Santa Clara colleges, and so a rep there revealed a good deal of information. I still wasn't interested in going to school there, but at least I was better informed.
I'm currently a rising senior at Yale University and I've been blogging about college admissions and higher education marketing trends since I began my college application process in 2005. I now also write about my experience here at Yale.
3 Comments
August 9, 2006
Sam, if you want to get an honest and frank opinion of a school, don't talk to the recruiters! They're sales people in disguise! You should try to talk to alumni and current students.
August 11, 2006
I disagree with you Nien and that's not just because I work in college admissions. It is important to understand that college admissions is a professsion based in higher education. Those of us who choose admissions do so because we are committed to the tennants of helping young people select, apply and attend college. Because we care about or actons overall, we have a national governing body (NACAC - National Association for College Admision Counseling) in place to ensure that our behavor is ethical and in the best interest of you the student.
I am sorry if it seems as though I am coming down on you. I know the college process is demanding and even confusing at times. That is all the more reason to use admissions professionals as a resource. Ultimately the decision will be yours. Good Luck!
The Nance Effect
August 11, 2006
Nance,
I feel obliged to say something about the MIT admissions inasmuch as I
have interacted with it and its staff: it is one of a very few schools
which appears sincere in its statements and beliefs and which has
convinced me of its sincerity and authenticity. MIT was actually the
first school I visited, so I wondered if that glow would fade as I
adjusted my tour / information / admissions expectations over the coming
weeks and months, but that hasn't happened. I also wondered if some of
it was just stark contrast: I visited a noteworthy institutional
neighbor in Cambridge later that week in March and found the treatment
my friend and I received shameful--we really felt we were just being
propositioned for an application to bring selectivity up. After 8 more
college visits, I don't think that's it that contrast which rendered MIT
so clean either.
I don't think its necessary to wax romantic and sing praises of MIT
admissions too much, but I just though you'd like to know how lasting
that good impression has been. In this turbulent, cynical sea of
admissions, it has just been touching to have a few places--MIT among
them--that I can think back to to assure myself that there are still
some institutions that are more concerned about their students than
their marketing. And if it sweetens that feel-good pot: my neighbor and
best friend who went with me feels the same way, so that's double the
satisfaction.
Thanks so much for reading,
Sam Jackson
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