Walking into a college fair can feel like entering a big academic version of Comic-Con – minus the cosplay (unless you count mascots) and with way more brochures. But here’s the thing: If you know how to navigate it, a college fair can be a game-changer for your college search (and your sticker collection, TBH; bring a tote bag for all the promo materials you’re about to get).
Whether you’re on a mission to find your dream school or just tagging along because your mom promised Starbucks afterward, here are eight ways to make your college fair experience great, plus some bonus tips from USF’s director of undergraduate recruitment, Derek Nettingham.
Before you go to the fair, it’s important to take a look at all the schools that will be there – especially if it’s at your high school and you have a limited amount of time to explore.
“Sometimes it’s a chaotic environment. Students come in looking like a deer in headlights,” Nettingham said. “They’re trying to figure out where the university they really want is at and before you know it, the bell rings.”
Sit down with your college counselor and make a game plan to maximize your fair experience. They’ll know who’s going to be there and the general layout of the fair.
If it’s a local fair or a larger one put on by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), check the list of vendors and jot down the top 5-10 schools you want to talk to. Once you know which schools to target, you can try to plan out your time.
“You can be standing in those lines, depending on the fair, for upwards of 30-45 minutes. When you’re standing there that long, sometimes you’re missing opportunities to speak with other college reps,” Nettingham said.
In other words, it’s important to set your priorities beforehand. As you pick your schools, you should also research them. Take time to find out what makes each one unique and create a list of reasons why you want to go there.
“We love the student who seems like they’ve done their research,” Nettingham said. “It just makes the conversation way more fluid. We’re just chatting now… Those interactions are the best because now, I can really get to the brass tacks of how I can get you in.”
It’s also a great way to ensure you stand out to recruiters. Nettingham recounted a time when a student came up to him at a fair, armed with all kinds of information about the school. It was a great conversation and when that student’s application came in, Nettingham instantly remembered him.
Listen, I get that talking to strangers at a table can be awkward. Here’s a cheat code, though: Come prepared with a list of questions to ask your chosen schools. This is where your research pays off because, now that you know lots about the school, it’s going to be easier to come up with more unique questions besides, “Do you have a good psychology program?”
Instead of asking the same things as everyone else, try questions like:
Recruiters love these types of questions. They make you seem thoughtful and really invested in the school, not someone just walking around collecting pens like Pokémon cards.
If you’re having trouble coming up with questions on your own, we’ve got you. Check out our list of questions below, print them out, and bring them with you to the fair.
Right now, you think you’ll totally remember the differences between all the colleges you talked to. Trust me: Two days later, it’s all going to be a blur of lanyards and course catalogs. Bring something with you to take notes while you’re there. Notes are your ride or die at a college fair, whether you use a dedicated Google Doc, your Notes app, or go old-school with a pen and paper.
Jot down the things that stand out about each school, like:
“A lot of times, reps will be dropping nuggets [of information] for you, and in that moment it’s really fast,” Nettingham said. “We may provide you with a resource that could get you a scholarship and if you’re trying to think on the fly, that’s not going to help.”
So, taking notes helps you later on when you’re trying to figure out where to apply – and when your family asks what you learned, you can say more than, “They had really good candy.”
Yes, you should snag the college promo materials (they might help with that whole note-taking process, too). They'll give you a ton of info that you'll need when you're deciding where to apply. But also, don’t let a pretty landscape in a brochure define your decision-making process.
A campus with a beach is cool. But a major scholarship or a program that gets you to your dream career is definitely cooler.
It’s tempting to only visit the booths for big-name schools or the ones already on your list. But college fairs are full of hidden treasures, just like your FYP when the algorithm is finally working.
That school with no line might be your perfect fit.
Or, the rep who asks, “Hey, do you want a cookie and a campus map?” Maybe they’re offering both hospitality and an awesome nursing program.
Keep an open mind. You might discover a school that feels more like you than the one you thought you “had to” like. (And if that school happens to be located in sunny Tampa, with palm trees and a Chick-fil-A on campus… that sounds pretty sweet, in my completely unbiased opinion.)
If you’re not sure whether your stats make you a great fit, stop by anyway, Nettingham says.
“We’re here to discover and work with you. We’re not here to judge; we want to have a conversation and be honest.”
If you don’t want to talk about all of that with your peers surrounding you, ask the rep if you could schedule a follow-up conversation after the fair. Recruiters can walk you through any alternate avenues to admission, like the FUSE program at USF. Even if you don’t fit the ideal student profile, it never hurts to at least try for a reach school.
College fairs can be overwhelming: lots of people, lots of pressure, lots of decisions. But remember this: You’re the main character in your college journey.
That means:
Don’t let the pressure turn you into a background character in your own life. If you need a break, take one. If you want to circle back to a school, do it. You’re the one driving the plot here.
Make sure you present yourself in a professional way, though. The last thing you want is to walk up in a shirt that says something sketchy, only to find out later you were talking to the actual director of admissions (yes, they do attend fairs sometimes).
You should also maintain a certain level of decorum when talking to college reps. Don’t be the “cool kid” who comes up to steal things off the table.
“When you’re at a fair, don’t be a jerk,” Nettingham said. “It doesn’t make you look cool, and it actually hurts in the long run because we absolutely do remember you. That brief moment is not worth ruining something that is supposed to be an investment in your future.”
Some students may not be comfortable asking questions – and that’s okay. If your kid is an introvert, and they want you to get the information for them, no worries.
“The thing that becomes challenging is when the student is trying to talk and the parent is cutting them off,” Nettingham said. “To me, that distracts from the opportunity to really dive in with the student.”
Try to step back and see what your student is happy with at the fair. I’m 100% speaking to myself here, too. I have a child about to be in 11th grade, so I’m right there with the rest of y’all. It’s hard to let go of that control, am I right?
Reps are happy to answer your questions about campus safety and specific info you saw in a parent forum on Facebook, but maybe you could follow up with them later on, giving your student a chance to shine.
Did you vibe with a school rep? Did someone tell you about an honors program, scholarship, or major that made you do a little happy dance inside?
Follow up. Send a quick email to the recruiter. Mention something you talked about, thank them for their time, and let them know you’re interested.
“Put your first and last name, the high school you went to, and say, ‘Hey, we met at the college fair,’” Nettingham said. “Say that you wanted to touch base with them and have a specific ask or touch point of what you’re emailing for. Maybe circle back on a question about residency.”
It’s just a nice thing to do. And nice people get good things — like scholarships, and recommendations, and maybe free pizza at an admitted students event.
But a follow-up isn’t just polite; it shows maturity and helps you stay on their radar. Some colleges track “demonstrated interest,” which is a fancy way of saying, “We like when students show they’re into us.”
You might feel pressured to love a school because it’s prestigious, or your cousin goes there, or an influencer you follow online said it’s a super sweet place to be.
But here’s the deal: The right school is the one that feels like home, while challenging you and supporting you, not just the one with the best social media presence.
When you find that school — one where the people are welcoming, the programs fit your goals, and you can see yourself thriving — that’s the one to pay attention to.
At USF, we’ve got all that and more. We’re talking research opportunities, a top-tier honors college, beach sunsets, and hundreds of on-campus organizations where you can find your fit. At the end of the day, though, what matters is your unique goals and the best way you know to get there.
College fairs don’t have to be stressful. Think of them as a preview of the next chapter of your life — and a chance to meet the people who might help you write it.
“Come to the event and have a conversation with us!” Nettingham said. “We don’t bite, and we would love to have a good time and talk with you.”
So, the next time you’re at a College-Con:
And if a green-and-gold table catches your eye? That’s us.
Whether you’re headed to a national college expo or a local high school event, remember: You’ve got this. And USF is cheering you on every step of the way.
Did you see us at a college fair recently? Reach out to your recruiter at admissions@usf.edu. If you’re ready to apply, click that button below!