College and Counselor Fairs

Content TBA.

• Business cards - lots of them! 
• A few high school profiles or university brochures to display on your table.
• A school calendar and agenda - colleges may want to book visits.
• Table banner representing your school/institution
  • Bring a smaller banner as you will be sharing the table with a colleague from another institution. Smaller table banners are so much less weight, too!
• Don't bring: Banners, books, big brochures, and anything bulky or heavy. Conference attendees like to pack light. 

Helpful Hint: Some schools bring a little “swag” to display on their tables (for example: chocolates from Belgium or dates from Dubai). Feel free to bring something fun or unique from your high school or university, but know this is not required! Please do not bring alcoholic beverages for distribution at the fairs.

• Your conference lanyard! It must be worn to be admitted to the fair.
• Comfortable shoes. Plan to walk and stand a lot.
• A jacket or sweater. The temperature inside the venue may be too warm or too chilly for your comfort.

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow yourself time to locate and set up your table.
• Come to the fairs with a list of high schools or universities you want to find. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, so having a targeted list can help. You will receive a map of institutions grouped by region to help you navigate.
• Do not be afraid to talk to people! This is a friendly and casual conference, full of collegial and interesting people. 

Questions that counselors can ask university representatives:

• What are the popular majors at your university?
• What kind of financial aid and scholarships are available to students from my country?
• What are the housing options for students, and how do you help match students?
• What kind of career services and internships does your university offer to students?
• What support services are available for students?
• Does your institution provide any distinctive or niche academic programs that may not be well known?
• Can you tell me about the alumni network at the institution and how it can support students after they graduate?
• Are there any opportunities for students to work directly with faculty or participate in research projects outside of the classroom?
• What is the general profile of a student who is accepted and flourishes at your university?

Questions that university representatives can ask high school representatives:

• What nationalities does your student population consist of? Primarily from the country the school is based in, or do you have populations of students from other countries?
• If you support international students, are they boarding at your school or staying with host families?
• In what countries/regions do many of your students apply and enroll? 
• What type of curriculum do you offer (IB, AP, Cambridge, BTEC, etc)?
• Does your school offer specialty programs, such as an arts academy, STEM magnet, support group for students with learning differences?
• Does your school organize opportunities for internships/work experience/volunteer work?
• What are the top 3 preferences for your students when picking a university?

• There will be no students at any of the fairs. They are purely meant for networking between peers.
• This event, like the rest of the Annual Conference, is relatively informal. Be professional, but don't expect to see suits and ties.
• As most people are traveling from far distances, they will want to travel light! Don't expect to give out hundreds of pennants, and don't be offended if someone does not want to take something you offer.
• All conference attendees are invited to participate, so expect anywhere from 500-700 attendees for each fair.