By David Copeland
Staff Writer
Over 140 colleges participated in the college fair, hosted by Redondo Union High School on Oct. 5.
The fair included a wide variety of schools, ranging from Harvard to the Air Force Academy. The purpose of the fair was to give Mira Costa and Redondo students the opportunity to ask questions to representatives that are not included in informational brochures.
“The fair gives students ideas about colleges other than high profile ones and it’s good for students to get acquainted with what different campuses have to offer. The college fair makes choosing the right college much easier for students,” College and Career Center Director and College Fair Coordinator Karen Morris said.
Not only are college fairs informative to students, they also help college admittance counselors find out what students want to know about their universities.
“The questions that students ask us each year give us a heads up on the concerns of the students and they help us gauge the interest in our college. It tells us what topics to address when we need to know what students desire in a college,” Loyola Marymount University Admissions Counselor Thomas Gutto said.
The college fair is a way for students to learn more about a college other than just their numbers. Often, questions that admission counselors get relate to the “feel” of a college.
“There is only so much information on our website. I feel something at Oregon, a passion that I feel every day, and it is my job to relay that feeling to these students,” University of Oregon admissions counselor Dave Morrin said.
Since there were over 100 schools and a countless number of students packed into the gym, the college fair was busy and crowded.
“The downside to having this many schools here at the same time is that this place is very full. Part of the draw for the schools is that they want to see the top students in the country, but because there are so many of them and so many students, the kids can’t get the attention that they deserve,” Principal Ben Dale said.
Some students find that having 140 colleges all trying to recruit and answer their questions at the same time, in a confined space, can be hectic. Even though college fairs are meant to be busy, the students can get overwhelmed with everything happening at once.
“This place is crazy. All of the decision-making regarding which college to attend is overwhelming, and this fair isn’t making it easier,” Senior Andy Deemer said.
Next year’s college fair will be held at Mira Costa, and it is unlikely that there will be much changes in the line-up of colleges that were included this year. However, the college fair remains a highly-recommended way to find out about different colleges.
“I suggest next year’s seniors to go to the fair. I think if you know which schools you really want to focus on and have a good conversation with the representatives, then it’s definitely worth it. It’s always nice to talk to alumni and representatives and get a personal view of the school rather than just the information that is provided online,” Senior Emily Reinstein said.
The college fair was helpful to students because it aides them in choosing the right college based on a multitude of different interests. It also helps students choose a college that is a good match for them.
“The fair was a great opportunity to communicate with knowledgeable representatives from each university,” senior Levi Schoenfeld said.
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