The fairs are free to attend and I would encourage you to go online and register so that you can get your very own bar code. College counselors will have contact cards that you would fill out to request more information; yet after filling out several of these, it gets tiring. Thanks though to lovely technology, you have the opportunity of signing up ahead of time online and receive a bar code that you would print out and bring to the fair. Now College Counselors just need to scan your bar code and will get all of the information you would have filled on the card instantly!  It is beneficial for you because you will have more time to talk with the College Counselors!

The Locations, Dates and Times of all four NACAC National College Fair Circuits are as follows:

Boise: Boise Centre on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 9:30am-2:30pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Seattle: Washington State Convention Center (Hall 4 E) on Friday, November 4, 2011 at 9:00am-12:00pm and Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:00pm-4:00pm.

Portland: Oregon Convention Center (Hall D) on Sunday, November 6, 2011 from 1:00pm-5:00pm and Monday, November 7, 2011 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Spokane: Spokane Convention Center (Hall A) on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 from 9:00am-12:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm.

I hope you all have a great time at your local NACAC National College Fair and be sure to visit Oregon State University!

BM

From the OSU Alumni Association:

Saturday May 22 is a day for Beavers to get together and get busy helping. Alumni, students and friends of OSU will work together in more than a dozen cities during the annual OSUAA day of service.

Beaver alumni will be helping out in 13 cities around the U.S. including Boise (painting at the Boys & Girls Club), Honolulu (removal of invasive species at Sand Island), New York City, San Francisco (park clean up at Golden Gate Park), Seattle (wetland restoration in Magnuson Park) and Portland (painting park benches in the Park Blocks). So if you see them out in their ‘Powered By Orange’ shirts, honk, wave or say, “Thanks”.

-bv

Before you step into your very first college fair, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for a successful experience.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself before attending the fair:

• Do you want to attend a two- or four-year institution?
• What size school do you want to attend?
• What programs of study are you considering?
• How far from home do you want to go?
• Do you wish to participate in any specific extra-curricular activities or athletics?
• Do you want to attend a school in an urban, suburban or rural environment?
• Do you require any special services (i.e. tutoring, note takers, readers, TDD or interpreters)?

Ask for help and do your homework:

• Discuss your college plans with your guidance counselor, family, teachers and friends.
• Research your colleges of interest on the Internet and in your guidance office/library.
• Check dates and registration deadlines for college entrance examinations.
• See if pre-registration is available at the college fair near you. Register before heading to the fair!

After you have prepared and know what you are looking for in your college experience, it is time to go to the college fair.  While at the fair you should:

• Pick up a bag and a fair directory.
• Visit with colleges and universities which you feel meet your criteria.
• Talk with a college counselor at the Counseling Center if you have any questions or need help with your college search.
• If available, attend an information session.

Once you are home, go through all the materials that you have gathered from the institutions that you are interested in attending.  Review the admission requirements and meet with your high school counselor to help plan ways to achieve admittance into your top schools.

Oregon State University will be attending the following Regional College Fair in March:

Boise, ID PNACAC Fair

Check out where Oregon State University will be next.

Thanks for reading the blog!
-CYN