Ferris Wheels, Fun Houses, and Other Encounters at a College Fair

At the last fair I attended, bright lights, wild laughter and the smell of funnel cakes filled the night air. I watched nervously as young children hopped excitedly onto the ferris wheel and were whisked into the sky. I chose to keep my feet on the ground as a spectator even though I knew that I may actually enjoy the ride. The fear of the unknown and the inability to get off of the ride if I didn’t like it were enough to keep me away. Similarly, thousands of students will attend the 2018 Upstate South Carolina National College Fair on March 15 from 5 pm - 8 pm hosted at Timmons Arena - Furman University. As over 100 colleges share information regarding their campus, majors, and scholarships, some students may feel overwhelmed and may consider whether or not this is a ride they’re even willing to consider. Parents may share these feelings as the thought of paying for college creates a pit in the bottom of their stomachs. The college search process and sometimes college fairs themselves have the ability to confuse us (much like a fun house). There’s a lot of information out there, and the college process rapidly changes. In some cases, there may be drastic changes in what students should expect from year to year. In my job, I constantly work to reassure students that college admission professionals are available to help students and families through the process. Their hope is that you will eventually enroll at their school ​if ​ that’s the best fit. And if it’s not the best fit, that’s ok too. The point is that admission representatives are approachable, helpful, and good listeners so use them to your advantage in this process. A college fair is the perfect place to find 100 willing participants to help you in your college search process!

Specifically, the Upstate South Carolina National College Fair aims to demystify some of the process. In addition to access to over 100 college admission professionals, students and families will be able to choose from three information sessions that will cover topics ranging from gap year programs, how to apply to college, and how to understand general college admission lingo. High school counselors from across the upstate will be on hand to answer individual questions and to help point students in the right direction.

The Local Arrangements Committee which has helped to plan the National College Fair includes representatives from Clemson University, Christ Church Episcopal School, Eastside High School, Furman University, Greenville County Schools, Presbyterian College, Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg Methodist College, St. Joseph’s Catholic School, the University of South Carolina, and Wofford College, and we are all committed to the higher education success of students in the Upstate.

There are many reasons why a high school student may find it difficult to pursue higher education. It’s a confusing process with many possible options. Our goal is to remove barriers, both real and perceived, in the hopes of enabling students to find their appropriate path towards college (and even have a little fun along the way).

Bartley Sides is the Associate Director of College Counseling at CCES and co-chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the National College Fair. He can be reached at sidesb@cces.org.