This past weekend, the students of the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School experienced a college fair unlike any other held at their respective high schools.
After perusing colleges and talking with representatives in the spacious Form of 1952 Gymnasium, students and their parents also had the opportunity to meet with three schools of their choosing during information sessions. Each session lasted for thirty minutes and gave more detailed information about the college.
Many students felt that certain qualities helped to keep them interested in the college representative’s informational sessions.
“It helped when the college representative was enthusiastic about their college,” said Jeff Asselin.
“Being personable and having the representative want to get to know you [was helpful],” said Keanyn Blaisdell.
“[When the representative] told you something that was unique to their school [it helped keep me interested],” said Carolynn Johnson.
“It was nice to talk to alumni [who recently graduated] rather than a representative,” said Emily Dionne.
Several students felt that this college fair was better than previous ones that they attended.
“This college fair was better because the schools were better. When you talked to the representatives they were more helpful and not just trying to sell the school,” said Macy Day.
“Good colleges showed up; I have never been to a college fair before and it helped me find more schools and ask questions,” said David White.
Not only did students learn about the colleges that they had been previously been interested in but they also discovered schools that they might not have previously looked at.
“I found a couple of new colleges that I may be interested in [attending],” said Spencer Goossens.
College representatives were also thrilled to be included in the St. Paul’s College Day.
“(Our) institution has been coming [to St. Paul’s College Day] for a long time. The quality of the students is real high and here you get the most bang for your buck,” said Lauren Dennis of Wellesley College.
College representatives said that “[the students this year were] prepared with questions,” according to Jaime Caryl-Klika, one of two College Counselors at the ASP. She added that they were also ready to learn more about the different schools.
Chris Moses, the Forbidden Fictions Master Teacher and also a College Counselor at the ASP, said that over two hundred schools receive invitations to participate in the college fair. A lot of the schools that are represented at the fair are “regulars.”
However, one parent was not as pleased with College Day as others. The parent, who only agreed to comment on the condition of anonymity, said that “it was not as intensive as they described it to us early on. I felt that there should have been even more schools." She did add, though, that she felt that "the informational sessions were very helpful.”
Overall, College Day was a pleasant and educational experience for the students of the ASP.
“I always try to reach out to a few new schools each year and encourage them to attend, and to follow up when regulars can't attend or there's a particular school that has been of interest to a number of students,” said Mr. Moses.
He also mentioned that students often acquire information about colleges that they later attend through this particular fair.
“It's possible that they would likely go there anyway, but especially for places farther away, students can make a really valuable connection, find encouragement to visit or apply, and to try out a place they might not have known about before,” said Mr. Moses.
“There's a strong correlation between schools at the fair and places students attend,” said Mr. Moses.
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