College Rep Visits, Fairs, and Presentations
College Rep Visits
Each year, representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities from around the U.S. and Canada visit Fairview during the school day to give presentations about their schools and to meet Fairview students and answer their questions.
- These visits are held in the College/Career Center (Post Grad) located in the counseling office and in other locations as needed.
- The visits last for a full period on regular days and for the first half a period on block days.
- Most of these visits take place during September and October around the time of the college fairs, but there are some visits throughout the year.
When viewing the calendar click on the college name below to see if the visit is virtual or in person. To join a virtual rep visit, click the college name on the calendar below, then click on the "more details" for the link.
Juniors and Seniors may be excused from class with teacher permission.
The Fairview Counseling Office has found that students need to show a demonstrated interest in ALL colleges they apply to (including safety schools). The following are examples of demonstrated interest:
- College Tour
- College Rep Vist
- College Fair
- Follow on social media
- Contact admission rep
- Visit website
- Attend webinar
- Apply early
- Contact department chair
- Read emails from school
or use this Demonstrated Interest Checklist.
Why College Rep Visits are Important
- Typically, college reps work in the admissions office of the college or university. The rep who visits Fairview is quite often the person who reads and reviews applications from Fairview students.
- Reps actually see the environment of Fairview and gain a better understanding of the variety of programs, rigor, and student populations. These reps will advocate for the admission of qualified Fairview students with the college or university's admissions committee.
- It is important for Fairview students to meet the reps of schools to which they plan to apply. This demonstrates the student’s interest in the school and gives the rep a chance to put a face with the student's name. Many colleges keep track of any contact the student has made with the college (attending a college rep visit, visiting the college campus, emailing the rep with a follow up question...) and factor this into the admission decision because it shows that the student is serious about attending the school if admitted.
- Attending a college rep visit is also a good way for a student to gain information about a school he is potentially interested in to see if it would be a good fit for him. This is one way of building or narrowing a college list to decide which schools to visit and ultimately to which to apply.
Who May Attend College Rep Visits
After obtaining their teacher's permission, Seniors and Juniors may be excused from class to attend college rep visits. Sophomores and Freshmen may attend college rep visits during their free periods. All students attending a college rep visit must sign the blue attendance sheet. Students must arrive on time and must stay for the entire college rep visit. If a student cannot attend a college rep visit, he can stop by at the beginning or end of the visit to briefly meet the rep and pick up literature.
Note these visits are for students only.
Questions to ask during a college rep visit
Admissions
- Do you accept Advanced Placement courses (or IB credits)?
- When must I choose a major?
- Do you offer Early Decision or Early Admission?
- What percentage of your freshman class is filled with ED/EA applicants?
- What percentage of ED/EA applications are accepted? Deferred?
- For D1 schools, what percent of ED/EA accepted applications are athletes, music, or other “special” admits?
Academics
- What’s the likelihood that I will graduate in 4 years?
- Is it possible to graduate in less than 4 years?
- How easy is it for freshmen to get the classes that they want?
- Do you have to declare a major when you apply?
- What types of internships are available?
- How do you assign faculty advisors to students, especially those who are undecided about their majors?
- What additional academic services are offered to students (tutoring, career counseling, study skills workshops, etc.)?
- Are you on a semester or quarter (or some other) system?
Financial Aid and Scholarships
- When is the priority deadline for financial aid applications?
- How many students typically receive financial aid?
- If my financial situation doesn’t change from year to year, will my financial aid stay the same from one year to the next?
- What types of merit or other types scholarships are available?
Campus Life
- Are there fraternities and sororities? How strong are they on campus? What percentage of the student body participates in the Greek system? When is rush (fall, spring…)?
- Is there transportation on and off campus? Is it easy to get to town and/or home?
- Are students required to live on campus? For how many years? Do you offer guaranteed housing for more than the first year?
- How are roommates selected?
College Fairs
A college fair is an organized event that is usually held in a high school gym or local conference center. Colleges send representatives to give information about their campuses to prospective students, and the students have a chance to introduce themselves to the reps as well.
There are in-state and out-of-state college fairs in Boulder and the Denver metro area, held mostly in the fall and usually in October. These are good opportunities for students, including freshman and sophomores, to introduce them to the variety and number of colleges that are available, and as a chance to meet the representatives who will likely be reading applications and corresponding with local students.
Often, a college fair may offer concurrent seminars in subjects like writing a college essay, or understanding financial aid.
Find a College Fair:
More Information:
Fairs are often well-attended and can be overwhelming, so students should go prepared by looking at the list of colleges attending beforehand, noting which ones will be of special interest, and visiting them first. These events are announced and listed on the College/Career Center website calendar and students are invited to pre-register so that college reps can scan registration codes or have students fill out information cards to keep track of names and attendance.
The College Board organization has a suggested checklist of ideas that helps students organize and document their college fair experience.
Local Events for Specific Groups of Colleges
Some smaller groups of colleges with similar interests and/or audiences, may organize their own events across the country, such as the “Colleges That Change Lives,” the NUUE (University of Notre, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, and Emory University), or another group of selective colleges; Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford. These events are often held at hotel meeting rooms and space may be limited, requiring students to register ahead of time. Notice of these events, which are also usually held in the fall or late spring, can be found on the Fairview College/Career Center website calendar and in announcements.
College Fairs Online
Online college fairs give students a chance to communicate with colleges online during a specific scheduled timeframe. An online fair is organized in a similar way to the ones held in schools and convention centers in that students and families can exchange information with individual colleges and also virtually attend information sessions to hear speakers talk about specific campuses and other topics of interest.
College Planning Night Presentations
Each year, the Fairview Counseling Department gives talks to students and their parents to help them apply to college.
The College Application Night for Seniors is usually held in September and reviews the timeline and process for college applications.
The College Planning Night for Juniors is usually held in January and reviews FHS graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, and the Junior year timeline and checklist for the college application process.