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
- Susan, our CMAC Assistant, will contact you directly via email regarding a fair that will be held in your area.
- Several alumni may be contacted in a specific area in hopes that someone's schedule will permit them to attend the fair.
- If you agree to do the fair, the Office of Admission will contact the fair sponsors directly. If additional information is recieved, it will be forwarded on to you immediately.
- If you can't attend the fair, please respond to Susan's email letting us know that you're not available, so we can look for another alumni in the area.
- Prior to the college fair, you will receive a box of information that you can distribute to any interested students and families.
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 Connect 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.”