Did you know that Darlington will host its annual College Fair in the Huffman Athletic Center on Monday, Aug. 25? Did you know that well over 100 colleges and universities will have representatives here in person to speak with our students? Finally, did you know that all of our students, freshmen through seniors, will attend the College Fair and have opportunities to speak with these representatives?
Darlington provides a number of advantages when it comes to helping our students find the right college fit. Training ten faculty members through internal and external professional development to specialize in advising juniors and seniors through the process is a big one. However, hosting a college fair on our campus with this many schools is a privilege worth noting.
Why we provide this for juniors and seniors is obvious, but you may find yourself asking why we include sophomores and freshmen. So let's discuss how all of our students can take full advantage of this opportunity.
First, no matter what grade our students are in, this is a great opportunity for them to practice some of those age-old skills of looking people in the eyes, giving firm hand shakes and active listening. They should come with a couple of questions to ask any school and a pen and notebook with which they can jot down a few notes.
Freshmen and sophomores should use this as a learning tool for junior and senior year. What questions are the upperclassmen asking, and what can you learn about the type of college you may want to attend – a large research institution, or a smaller, more intimate school? What are the schools looking for in students who apply, and what does that mean for them right now as an underclassman at Darlington? Odds are that there may be some long lines at some of the schools that are more popular among our student population. This may be a great opportunity for them to listen to the representatives answer others' questions and then speak to a few schools that you know very little about. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know.
Juniors, if you haven’t taken this seriously before it’s time to do so now. Within a year's time, you will be filling out applications and taking visits to schools, and this can be a great way to help you narrow down your list or expand it. At this point, you may have an idea of what you would like to study. If that's the case, then you can begin to ask some more pointed questions. Consider asking questions about living in dorms, study abroad opportunities and ways to get involved on campus. As mentioned with the underclassmen, it's not too late to research schools that haven't been on your radar. Don't be afraid to speak to the representative for the college that has no one in line.
Seniors, this is your time. More than ever, it’s important to have a game plan going in. Look at the list of schools that will be there. Plan to speak with the schools to which you plan to apply. Have a couple of go to questions that you can ask schools that will allow you to compare them later. Remember that when a school comes to our campus, just like when you go to their campus, you need to make sure they know you visited them. The scan system we use makes this very easy to do, but don't forget to use it when you visit their table. If you are on the edge of acceptance, you certainly want the school to know that you are interested in them, and records of you speaking with their representative when they come to our campus can be one of the ways they can gauge that interest.
Ultimately, no matter what grade they are in, the College Fair is a chance for our students to step out of their comfort zones, learn a few things about colleges from around the country and to take ownership of their future plans.
