By Ari Gevov
Staff Writer
Mira Costa’s College and Career Center held its annual College Fair in the Fisher Gym and small gyms on Oct. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m., with 138 college representatives attending.
At the College Fair, students could talk to college representatives, pick up brochures and sign up for university mailing lists.
“It was really busy,” junior Lily Hubbard said. “Everyone had brochures and was running around talking to representatives. But even with so many people, the fair helped me figure out which colleges I should think about.”
Mira Costa and Redondo Union High School alternate hosting the College Fair every year.
“The reason behind having a fair is so kids can see where they might fit,” Costa CCC counselor Katherine Folkman said. “Students look at schools they have never even heard of to understand the application process.”
At 7 p.m. Costa and Redondo seniors were allowed to enter the fair, followed by the rest of the student body at 7:30 p.m. Costa parents were let through the doors at 8 p.m. so they could pick up pamphlets with their children.
“I think the College Fair is really great,” senior Payton Buckley said. “It allows you to look around at all the different types of colleges out there.”
Before the College Fair began, the CCC held a dinner in the cafeteria for representatives and set up booths. Student Government and the maintenance staff helped with preparations.
“If it weren’t for the maintenance staff, we wouldn’t be able to go through with the fair,” said Folkman. “They are so friendly.”
Student Government members helped direct people around the fair and passed out flyers and bags for brochures.
“I had to set and clean up the college booths and help while talking with college representatives,” Student Government sophomore-class President Joe Luck said. “At the beginning it was difficult, but it ended up going very smoothly. The College Fair was busy, but it was well organized.”
Parent volunteers helped to place each college in the gyms and make programs.
Space was still an issue this year, but the Costa CCC counselors felt that overall the College Fair was successful.
“This is the first year that we had to turn colleges away,” Folkman said.
There is an invite list that is sent out to hundreds of colleges and universities months in advance.
Every year the College Fair is planned for the same week in October and is coordinated in conjunction with the El Camino College Fair, ensuring that college representatives that attend the El Camino College Fair will be in town for the high school fair.
“Basically we plan the fair the May prior,” Folkman said.
All the guidance counselors, volunteers, administration members and CCC counselors made sure everything went as planned by going back and forth between the gyms.
According to various university and college representatives, the College Fair was a success and attracted many students.
“I think the College Fair is fabulous. There are so many kids interested in college,” Temple University representative Greg Royston. “What you want is to see kids get excited, and these kids are excited.”
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