It’s that time of year that you start considering colleges to attend. What better way to start than with a visit to a college table at a fair! Check out the lists below of college fairs throughout the nation. This will most likely be one of two installments I post to my blog regarding college fairs listed. As a college recruiter, I tend to conduct extensive research on all college fairs available. So, here I am providing them to you!
A mega awesome list…
The National Association for College Admissions and Counseling (NACAC) publishes a list of college fairs throughout the nation, including a list of college fairs specifically for performing and visual arts interested students. Stay tuned as I search for more college fairs. but if you know of a college fair in your area, send me a message so I can post it!
BIRMINGHAM Sunday, September 19 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, AL
BATON ROUGE Thursday, September 23 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., Baton Rouge River Center, Baton Rouge, LA
GREATER PHOENIX Sunday, September 26 11:00a.m. – 3:30p.m. Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ
CINCINNATI, Sunday, October 3, 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. Duke Energy Center, Cincinnati, OH
LONG ISLAND, Sunday, October 3, 11:00a.m. – 4:00p.m., Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
MINNESOTA, Wednesday, October 6, 9:00a.m. – 12:30p.m. & 4:30p.m. – 8:00p.m. as well as Thursday, October 7 9:00a.m. – 12:30p.m., Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
GREATER WASHINGTON, DC, Tuesday, October 12, 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
JACKSONVILLE, Saturday, October 16, 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m., Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville, FL
PHILADELPHIA, Sunday, October 17, 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
SAINT LOUIS, Sunday, October 17, 12:00p.m. – 3:00p.m., Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO
BALTIMORE, Monday, October 18, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. as well as Tuesday, October 19, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
ATLANTIC CITY, Thursday, October 21, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:30p.m., Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
CHICAGO, Saturday, October 23, 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m., Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
MILWAUKEE, Sunday, October 24, 12:00p.m. – 3:30p.m. Frontier Airlines Center (Formally Midwest), Milwaukee, WI
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, October 26, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN
GREATER FT. LAUDERDALE, Thursday, November 4, 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. & 5:00p.m. – 8:30p.m., Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
SPOKANE, Wednesday, November 10, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, WA
PORTLAND, Friday, November 12, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. as well as Saturday, November 13, 1:00p.m. – 5:00p.m., Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
SEATTLE, Sunday, November 14, 12:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. as well as Monday, November 15, 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, WA
BOISE, Wednesday, November 17, 9:30a.m. – 2:30p.m. & 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., Boise Centre, Boise, ID
Visual and Performing Arts College Fairs…
DALLAS, Tuesday, September 28, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Southern Methodist University, Owen Fine Arts Center
HOUSTON, Wednesday, September 29, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Rice University, Alice Pratt Brown Hall
TAMPA, Tuesday, October 5, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., The University of South Florida, Marshall Student Center Ballroom
ATLANTA, Wednesday, October 6, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts- Pebblebrook High School
CHICAGO, Saturday, October 9, 2:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Roosevelt University- Chicago College of Performing Arts- Auditorium Building
INTERLOCHEN, Sunday, October 10, 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Interlochen Center for the Arts,
CIINCINNATI, Tuesday, October 12, 7:00p.m.-9p.m. University of Cincinnati- Tangeman University Center
DENVER, Monday, October 18, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., The Denver Center for the Performing Arts
MINNEAPOLIS, Tuesday, October 19, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities- Coffman Memorial Union
SAN FRANCISCO, Saturday, October 23, 3:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Nob Hill Masonic Center,
LOS ANGELES, Sunday, October 24, 1:00p.m.-3:30p.m., University of California, Los Angeles- Ackerman Union
LAS VEGAS, Monday, October 25, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Las Vegas Academy of International Studies Performing & Visual Arts
SEATTLE, Tuesday, October 26, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center
PORTLAND, Wednesday, October 27, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Portland State University- Smith Memorial Union
WASHINGTON DC , Sunday, October 31, 1:00p.m.-3:30p.m. Walter E. Washington Convention Center
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 1, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m., Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
NEW YORK, Tuesday, November 2, 7:00p.m.-9:30p.m., Riverside Church
BOSTON, Wednesday, November 3, 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Boston Center for the Arts, Cyclorama
# NEACAC Fair at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth Tripp Athletic and Fitness Center, North Dartmouth, MA, Sunday, September 12, 2010- 2:00pm-4:30pm
# NEACAC Fair at Saint Michael’s College, The Tarrant Student Recreation Center, Colchester, VT, Wednesday, September 15, 2010 – 6:30pm-9:00pm & Thursday, September 16, 2010 – 9:00am – 11:00am
# NEACAC Fair at Western New England College, Alumni Healthful Living Center, Springfield, MA, Sunday, September 19, 2010 – 4:00- 6:00pm
# NEACAC Fair at University of New Haven, Charger Gymnasium, North Campus, West Haven, CT, Monday, September 20, 2010 – 9:00am-11:30am
# NEACAC Fair at Mount Wachusett Community College, Fitness and Wellness Center, Gardner, MA Tuesday, September 21, 2010 – 9:00am-11:30am
# NEACAC Fair at Berkshire Community College, Paterson Field House, Pittsfield, MA, Thursday, September 23, 2010 – 9:00am-11:30am
# NEACAC Fair at University of New Hampshire, Lundholm Gymnasium; Field House, Durham, NH, Thursday, September 23, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm & Friday, September 24, 2010 – 9:00am-11:00am
# NEACAC Fair at University of Southern Maine, Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, ME, Sunday, September 26, 2010 – 1:00pm-3:00pm
# NEACAC Fair at University of Maine, Fieldhouse, Orono, ME, Monday, September 27, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm & Tuesday, September 28, 2010 – 9:00am-11am
# NEACAC Fair at Northern Essex Community College, Sport and Fitness Center, Haverhill, MA, Sunday, October 3, 2010 – 1:00pm-3:00pm
# NEACAC Fair at Southern New Hampshire University, Fieldhouse, Manchester, NH, Monday, October 4, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm & Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – 9:00am-11:30am
There are so many college fairs that occur in the fall season. The prime time for seniors to talk to different colleges, and apply.
Take note to visiting guidance offices, public libraries, local websites, high school libraries/career centers/student services centers, etc to search for upcoming college fairs. Most of the time these fairs are held by community, or county depending on the area. If it’s a big city, you might find several college fairs, or an area that has a large public school system. They might have individual high schools or community colleges sponsoring college fairs. It’s not like you have to attend a college fair, but it does give you a chance to talk with several different colleges and make some pretty good choices based on those visits.
Get the information…
Don’t shy away from a lot of mail. It will stop eventually, but you have to have the info to make the right choices. Get catalogs and brochures and free stuff. Then put it all in a bag and take it home with you. Then when you get a chance and are clear-headed and then separate all your school stuff into piles, and then objectively check them all out. Perform a process of elimination by getting rid of the schools that are “no” for sure
Again, if you know of any national, statewide or local college fairs, let me know and I’ll be sure to post it. I love to share!
Your Success is my Success,
Keith Lipke
Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college.
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