You and your teen may have different agendas at these fairs. You can work the fair separately or together, comparing impressions later. However, you each need to have a plan before attending the fair.
The first step is to find out which schools are attending. The majority of schools will be from your region of the country. Some of the schools on the published list will not show up. However, you should each make a list of the colleges you are most interested in talking to. Arrive early, before the busloads of kids show up, and get a map of the fair. Immediately visit the booths of the colleges at the top of your list. Later, there will be too many people and you will not be able to ask as many questions. Afterwards, you can wander the fair in a more systematic way.
Have your teen come prepared with questions to ask about the school. Although she can certainly ask about clubs, most recruiters told me it was a pleasure to talk to my daughter because she asked about academics instead of proximity to the beach. You never know when the reputation you make will matter.
Some questions your teen might want to ask include: Do you have a program in my major? Is the focus for my major theoretical or practical? What support is offered freshmen? How competitive is admission? How popular is my major? How large is this college? How large are freshman classes? Who teaches freshmen classes? (In most schools they are taught by graduate students.) Tell me about the dorms. (Co-ed? Special dorms for serious students? Choose your roommate?)
If your child is part of a special population, ask about the schools attitudes and policies toward them. For instance, we asked what the admission requirements were for homeschoolers. (If they didn’t know, we considered that a bad sign.) How many homeschoolers attended the school? How well did they do? Students with special needs must find out what services are available to them and how welcome they will be.
Gather literature at each booth of interesting schools. Sign the list to receive additional information. (I noticed some bright parents who created stamps with their child’s name and address or who brought address labels. It saved them a great deal of writing.)
