College Fairs
College fairs are sponsored by local high schools to expose students to a variety of colleges and universities; sometimes the state’s Association of Secondary School and College Admission Counselors host them. Carnegie Mellon is invited to attend hundreds of these events throughout the United States and even in some foreign countries. CMAC members attend the vast majority of the fairs at which Carnegie Mellon is represented.
Most college fairs are held in either the cafeteria or gymnasium of the hosting high school. Each college representative is assigned to a table where she/he can display literature and meet with students. High school students visit the tables of the colleges that interest them. They ask questions, sign up for the colleges’ mailing lists and collect literature. Most college fairs are from two to three hours in length.
Participating in College Fairs
Your CMAC Area Chairperson may notify you when there is a college fair in your area. However, most of the time you will receive an invitation from the Office of Admission. A yellow reply card will be included that you will need to return as soon as you are able to determine if the proposed fair will fit into your schedule. We ask that you return this card within two to three weeks after receiving it. We want to respond promptly to the schools so that they know how many colleges and universities to expect.
The following details your course of action once you decide to attend the college fair:
- Return the reply card to the Office of Admission, checking the appropriate boxes.
- Notify the high school at which you plan to represent Carnegie Mellon. Some high schools supply a form so you can reply by mail; others ask you to call.
- Many schools require a fee to attend the college fair. If possible, our preference is to have you enclose the fee with the fair registration form. This will allow for a more efficient process among the school, our office and you. However, if you are unable to pay the fee at that time, please indicate so on the reply card and the Office of Admission will send a check directly to the school. (In order to be reimbursed for any fee over $25, please include a copy of the cancelled check or copy of the check along with the yellow reply card.)
If you cannot participate in a college fair, simply check the appropriate box on the reply card and return it to us. We still ask that you notify the high school that you cannot attend. If you know of another CMAC member in the area that may be able to attend for us, feel free to contact them before telling the school that Carnegie Mellon is unable to attend! Be sure that she/he tell us that they are attending.
Procedure
First and foremost, you are there to provide students with information. Make sure they fill out the green information cards to receive more information from the university.
The general format of a college fair is simple. The students wander from table to table, usually asking questions and picking up the available literature. Some students will stop and ask questions, while others simply want to be placed on the mailing list.
When you first arrive, you may need to sign in or check in with the sponsors of the college fair and they then will show you to your table. Set up your designated table along with the other colleges and universities attending.
Publications
We will mail you the necessary materials to you a few weeks before the college fair. Please contact us if you do not receive your publications one week prior to the fair.
- 100 Green Information Cards - used to add students’ names to our mailing list)
- 75 General University Fact Sheets
- 25 “Consider Us” Travel Pieces - glossy brochure with general information on almost every important topic in the college search process (including admission requirements and financial aid information)
- 50 College/School Specific Information Sheets
- 5 Pre-College brochures
- 1 Viewbook
- 1 Carnegie Mellon poster with insert card listing the degree programs
- 1 return reply envelope
- 1 comment sheet
- 1 table cloth
Many students will ask if you have applications and/or course catalogs. Please inform them that by filling out the green cards, they will receive the application book in the mail along with invitations to Carnegie Mellon programs and Admission information. We will send every applicant a copy of the course catalog on CD. The Undergraduate Catalog may also be found on the Undergraduate Admission Web site.
Important Reminders
- Be prepared with up-to-date information. However, do not be afraid to admit that you don’t know the answer to a question. Jot it down and contact the Office of Admission.
- Be friendly and accessible to the students. Remember some of the kids are going to be frightened by this whole process, and will be rather shy.
- Encourage the students to fill out the green cards so they can be placed on our mailing list.
- Be aware that the guidelines set forth by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) require that ALL college representatives remain behind their table and allow students to “come to them.”