Student Guide For Attending College and University Fairs
It’s fair season (and we don’t mean the kind with cotton candy and rollercoasters)! It’s the time of year when students looking to attend post-secondary school visit college and university fairs. Although it’s okay to just “show up” to these fairs, you will get the most out of them if you come prepared with a list of questions.
The Ontario Universities’ Fair (http://www.ouf.ca) has put together a great list of questions to ask yourself before going. If you plan on attending OUF, look for the studentawards.com booth!
Ask yourself the following questions before you come to the Fair:
- What programs or courses interest me?
- Which subject(s) am I good at?
- How many years do I plan to be at university?
- How will I pay for university?
- How early should I start saving for university?
- Is living at home a possibility/preference?
- Can I afford to live away from home?
- Do I want to live away from home?
- Do I want to attend a small, medium or large university?
- Is the look and feel of the campus I choose important to me?
Visiting the Ontario Universities’ Fair will give you a chance to speak to university representatives, alumni and current students. The following questions will help you find out more about the universities that interest you.
Admission Requirements:
- What courses are required in order to be admitted into the programs that interest me?
- Are there additional requirements for admission to the program I am interested in?
- Can I go right into education/teaching, law school, optometry, pharmacy, medicine or any other professional program directly from high school?
- Do you accept courses that have been taken through night school, summer school and correspondence?
Program:
- What is an undergraduate degree?
- Does your university have a program that interests me?
- What is the difference between a professional program and a master’s degree?
- Where can I get more information about a particular program?
- Can I look at your course calendar or visit your website for more information?
Finances:
- What are the costs involved in attending your university for one year?
- Do you award scholarships automatically or do I need to apply?
Lifestyle:
- How do I apply for residence?
- Is residence guaranteed?
- What varsity sports are available?
- Can I still play sports if I’m not on a varsity team?
- Are there campus support services offered especially for new students?
- What are the first-year class sizes like at your university?
- Do class sizes vary according to the program I choose?
- Will there be special events throughout the year that will be geared towards the younger students who will be admitted this year?
Next Steps:
- When are your campus tours available?
- Are you offering any special open houses during the fall?
- What can I expect from the information sessions?
- Do I have to be in my last year of high school if I plan to attend the information sessions or to take a campus tour?