Connetquot HS: College Fairs / On-site Admissions

(Update: 9/6/23) 

Upcoming College Fairs:

Connetquot HS/ Sayville HS College Fair

• Tuesday, September 26, 2023
• Sayville HS- 20 Brooke St, West Sayville, NY 11796
• 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
  

SUNY College Fair Long Island

• Saturday, October 1, 2023
• Farmingdale State College, Nold Athletic Complex
• 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, & 3:30 PM* 
• *Pre-registration required.  Click HERE to register.

Long Island Fall College Expo

• Tuesday, October 3, 2023
• Adelphi University, Garden City
• 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

NACAC VIRTUAL College Fairs

• Sunday, September 10, 2023*
• Sunday, October 15, 2023*
• Sunday, November 12, 2023*
• *Pre-registration required.  Click HERE to register.

Tips for a great College Fair experience:

1. Have a plan.  Do your research as much as possible before going to a college fair.  Make a list of schools you'd like to see, majors you're interested in, and information you'd like to gather, such as scholarship opportunities and housing options.
2. Dress for success.  This will often be your first introduction to a college/university and they take note you're level of interest and how seriously you take the process.  Dress neatly in shoes that you can walk for a while in.  Remember to smile, shake hands, and make good eye contact when meeting with a rep!
3. Come prepared with questions.  A college rep is more than happy to give you general information about their school, but they most enjoy answering specific questions you may have.  Information about majors, retention rates, and housing can often be found on school websites, so try to think of questions that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get answers to, other than to talk to someone or to visit.  This also shows your level of interest in them and their school, which can only help in your admissions process.  Below, you will find some sample questions to help you along the way.
   
4. Follow up.  Ask for contact information from a representative if you are interested in their school.  It helps so that you can send an email with follow up questions if needed.  It's also a great idea to reach out to the rep to let them know if and when you'll be visiting their school.  If you decide to apply to their school, make another contact to let them know you're applying as well as once you've submitted your application.  Making this type of contact expresses your level of interest.  Remember- colleges want to admit students that want to be at their school!
5. Don't be afraid to check out new and different schools.  Yes, you need a plan.  Yes, you should have schools you want to talk to.  This does not mean you should limit yourself.  College fairs can be overwhelming due to the number of schools represented and amount of attendees.  If you see something that catches your eye, even if you don't know anything about the school at all, walk over and strike up a conversation.  Starting with asking then for general information and popular majors is a great start.  Don't be afraid to tell them you don't know about their school- YET!  You never know where you'll find your perfect fit, so take a chance and see where it can lead you.

Sample College Fair Questions:

• What would a student say they like most about your school? Are there any complaints that students typically have?
  
• Where do students hang out on campus? Is there a dining option that's better than than the others?  What type of meal plans does your school have?
• What's the best place to live on campus?  How easy is it to secure housing if I need it?
• What financial aid programs does your college offer?  What percent of your students receive merit based scholarships?  What type of grant opportunities does your school offer?
• What academic programs are most popular at your school?
• What criteria do you look at when deciding to admit a student or not?  Do you consider student extracurricular activities and essays, or focus primarily on GPA and standardized test scores?
• Is your school test optional?  If so, is that for all programs, or do some programs require an SAT or ACT for admission?
• Do students have assigned academic advisors?  Will this be the same person for all four years?  How easy is it to make appointments with them if needed?
• What type of career planning is available?  Is there a career office to help secure internships?  What job placement opportunities are there for students who are graduating?
• What if I want to go to grad school?  Who would help me in that process?
• Are classes taught be teaching assistants?
• If I visit the school, can will I be able to visit classes?  Am I able to do an overnight visit to meet and spend time with students?
• Do you have a business card with your contact information so that I can reach out if I have any further questions?  Will you be the person to read my application if/when I apply?

Connetquot HS On-site Admissions

(Update: 9/6/23) 

"On-Site Admissions" refers to the application process in which students complete applications, meet face to face with admissions representatives, and leave with an immediate admissions decisions! 

Admissions officers schedule days to visit CHS with the goal of admitting our wonderful, eligible seniors to their colleges/universities.  Students have the opportunity to meet with admissions officers, ask questions about their university, let admissions officers get to know them, and also express what they are interested in studying.  Very often, admissions application fees are waived by participating in an On-Site Admissions interview.  In addition to receiving an admissions decision, eligible students can also leave their meetings with scholarship award amounts. 

Check back for more information as On-Site Admissions sessions are scheduled!