by Edward Lam
10
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Go to the College Fair (At Least Not Yet)
A blue sheet appears before a WMHS student. The
student is elated as they read the joyous words of “WOBURN HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
VISIT PERMISSION FORM”. Then again, perhaps “elated” is a strong word. In many
cases, opposed to those that simply treat the opportunity as an excused absence
from school, there are students that see this as a real chance to figure out
the college that is right for you. The question then becomes whether such a
college fair is the right one to go to.1. There Are More College Fairs
College fairs are abundant. Just because there is a set day does not mean it’s the only one that will ever pass by. The opportunity of a college fair will always be present as they are stationed throughout the nation as well as locally to those willing to look. It is just up to you whether you will truly seize such an opportunity. While the condition of missing a school day is indeed appealing, it is up to you as the student to responsibly realize that college fairs are to gain information about, you guessed it, college. As a junior, this concept is easy to forget as much of the potential information can be ignored in the excitement of no school. Instead, a college fair should be appreciated with plenty being offered during vacation to allow for the proper time to enjoy a fair without the worry of school the next day (or even prom).
2.
Everything is Digital
The world is entering a generation of technology and
colleges are following suit. While college fairs are convenient congregations
of potential colleges to keep in mind, a college fair is simply that. Research
online can be just as, if not more, beneficial as much of the information being
offered is at your disposal and really up to your interpretation. College reps
are there to provide information in short bursts, but much of the convincing is
up to you. Their job is not to bad mouth peer institutions and much of the
comparison falls upon taking the time to look up desired colleges. Colleges
that you may already be interested in may not even be at the college fair which
is why one should always research if such a college fair is even worth your
time.
3.
Prioritizing School
While there is no harm in thinking about the future,
one should always keep in mind of the present (especially when it could
actually impact the future far more than preparing for a college fair). April
is a delicate time of the year considering it becomes the last real month to
prepare for any AP classes (on top of any scheduled SAT, ACT, or even Subject
Tests). Everyday becomes essential especially when realizing how much time has
been lost to the cold breath of Mother Nature. By going to the college fair
during the school day, what is lost is not only that day’s potential lesson,
but really the teacher’s purpose for the day as having a class of 2-5 students
is not really worth it as it will eventually have to be retaught with those
that went to the college fair anyway.
4.
Crowds
While it can already be an anxiety filled experience
when realizing that a college fair could have the place that you will spend
four years of your adult life in, imagine having to shift through numbers of
the very same nervous teenagers. With incoming students from every which way,
trying to do exactly what you are doing, the experience can feel very much
rushed and confusing. Especially if you are traveling among a pack of friends,
the need to group up can be tedious and overall, harmful to the knowledge that
could actually be gained from a college fair.
5.
Let’s Be Honest…
Some refer to this day as Junior Skip Day. Unless
your teacher actually assigns a project surrounding the college, it is easy to
see how a student might not take the college fair too seriously. There is no
doubt that a person should be able to enjoy themselves at a college fair, but
the risk lies in when this enjoyment becomes just a care-free time due to going
with friends. While the day may initially begin with “checking out” the college
fair, a shocking discovery is revealed that the time given off to students may
be dedicated toward more recreational activities rather than educational.
6.
No One-on-One Opportunities
You are not special; at least not in the eyes’ of
the college fair (of course, by reading this blog, you will always hold a
special place in the hearts of the Bull’s Eye staff). The truth is that you are
but a single entity in a mass of students and/or their parents. College fairs
are not where you make an impression especially when a desired college is
there. There is simply not enough time and the ten minutes that a college rep
may hold with you is more than likely ten minutes that he or she spent with
another student. While we would like to believe that these people would remain
faithful to us, such an expectation is just not possible.
7.
Dealing with Transportation in Boston
“Ugh.” said the flustered mother who grimaced as she
searched for a parking spot. “*#$%!”
said the impatient father caught in traffic with his shirt slightly untucked
due to being rushed in the morning. “Your taste in music is awful.” grumbled
the teen as he carpooled with his friend. With the college fair being offered
both during the school day and the late afternoon, simply getting to the
college fair is a sufficient effort. Whether it is by car or the T, commuting
through Boston as a suburb native can be frustrating enough to ruin an evening.
8.
Abandoning Those Who Didn’t Go
While slightly biased as I chose to attend school,
number 8 on this list mainly exists as a Katniss salute to those that were left
behind.
9.
Being Bombarded with the Reality of College
The thought of college is scary. Sometimes to the
point where you just want to cry and curl up in the fetal position with a pint
of Ben & Jerry’s that whispers “It’s going to be okay” as the fear of
college slowly consumes your sanity. Or maybe that’s just me. Even so, college
fairs can be overwhelming as numerous colleges try to gain your interest. With
so many choices, a junior becomes a kid in an overpriced candy store with only
enough pocket change to lick a small morsel over and over for the next four
years. So do you go for the Godiva of a private school or the less exclusive
but no less delicious Skittle of a state school? The pressure is real, but stay
vigilant as relief of choosing is that much sweeter. While some are able to
determine what they want from the get go, the college fair is very much a
see-but-don’t-touch kind of deal for those that are not as decisive.
10.
Free Pens
If there’s anything to take away from this list, it
is this. Beware of the pens. They are but a trap; seducing students with their
ballpoint goodness. As a high-schooler, these college reps know that pens are a
resource that is diminished everyday within a student’s life. So like a coyote on
an injured gazelle, they pounce as timid juniors fall into their hands and
leave with a new pen. While it may be us who believe that we walked away with
this precious resource unscathed, little do you realize of the smirks these
reps share as their institutions’ name becomes subconsciously integrated in our
lives with each written word.
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