College Counselling

College Fairs How to's

Questions to Ask University Representatives

When you meet an Admission officer, you want to make sure that you take full advantage of the opportunity, and ask questions that will help you decide if that university is a good match for you. Avoid asking questions you can find answers to on the university’s website. Some examples of questions you could ask are:

Admissions

  • When is your deadline for applying? Can I avoid paying the application fee if I apply by a certain date?
  • What is the average high school grade of the entering freshman class?
  • Is the ACT or SAT required? What types of scores are you looking for?
  • What can I do to increase my chances of being admitted to your university?
  • Will I need to declare my major when I start my studies at your university or will I have time to choose a specific major later on?
  • What if I don’t meet the admissions requirements?

Academics

  • Do you have the major/field I am interested in?
  • What is the average number of students per classroom at your university?
  • What additional academic services are offered to students (tutoring, career counseling, study skills workshops)?
  • What types of work internships are available?
  • Are there study abroad opportunities?
  • What do students do after they graduate from your university? Where are they working now?

Financial Aid & Scholarships

  • What kind of financial aid is available?How many students received financial aid?
  • When is the deadline for financial aid applications and how do I apply?
  • What types of scholarships are available?

Campus Life

  • Is your university located in a city or in the country side?
  • What is the climate during the school year? Is it mostly warm or cold during the year?
  • What is the total number of students who study at your university? Size of Freshman class?
  • What is the percentage of international students at your campus? Are there students from the Middle East?
  • What types of extra‐curricular activities are there on campus? (Sports, art, music, drama, clubs and student associations, community service opportunities?)
  • What do students do in their free time?
  • Is there transportation on and off campus?
  • Are students required to live on campus?
  • Is housing guaranteed? For how long?
  • How are roommates selected?
  • How does the meal plan work?

How to Get the Most out of Visiting a College Fair (Information retrieved from EducationUSA Advising Center Doha)

BEFORE YOU GO

• Look at the list of colleges which are going to be attending

• Create a short list of the schools which interest you the most

• If you have time, do some research and visit their websites

• Prepare a short list of questions in advance. Don’t ask the obvious!

• To save valuable time filling out the same information over and over again, create labels with the following details:

    • Name
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Email address
    • High school and year of graduation
    • Intended majors and extracurricular activities

AT THE FAIR

• Bring along the following supplies:

    • Small notebook with your list of colleges and questions you want to ask
    • Pen or pencil
    • Backpack or tote-bag to carry all the information you collect
    • Your address stickers

• Look for a map of where each college is located and map out your route.

• Check to see if there are any information sessions, when & where they are taking place

• Decide whether to go it alone, or team up with a friend or teacher

• Be polite, engaged and friendly when talking to the college representatives

• Ask the same ‘core’ questions at each table, so you can compare colleges easily

• After you leave a table, make sure to jot down your impressions of the college and the answers to your questions, while your impressions are still fresh

• Leave time for browsing, to discovering a school you might not have been considering

AFTER THE FAIR

• Look carefully through your notes and brochures

• Reevaluate and decide which colleges interest you the most

• Take action!

    • Fill out an information card
    • Schedule a college visit
    • Contact the admissions department

Questions Students Should Ask at a College Fair (Information retrieved from EducationUSA Advising Center Doha)

At a college fair, there will be lots of information available, in the form of brochures, leaflets, and college course books. The greatest resource, however, is the college representative. They will know everything there is to know about studying at their institution, and they will be eager to share their knowledge with you! Feel free to ask basic questions, but remember this is a rare opportunity to talk to one-to-one with someone who knows the school and admissions policies from an insider perspective. Be sure to ask about things that aren’t easily found on websites and in brochures, and will help you gain a deeper insight into what being a student is like at their institution. Here are a few questions you might want to consider asking.

  1. How would you describe the student body’s personality?
  2. How is your school distinctive?
  3. How many students transfer to another school during or after their first year?
  4. How would you describe students’ relationships with professors?
  5. What kind of students do you like to attract?
  6. What is the best way to prepare for your school?
  7. Who succeeds here?
  8. What is the goal of your school’s education?
  9. What do you wish students knew about your school?
  10. What is the safety history of the campus and the surrounding town?
  11. How are admission decisions made, and what weight do they give to each requirement?
  12. What is the food like on campus? Is Halal food offered?