Tips for Counselors Attending a College Fair

​General Tips:

  • Review the guidance counselor checklist to prepare for the National College Fairs.

  • Encourage students to register online for the National College Fairs and Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs.

  • Encourage students to register via smart phone.  Exhibitors can scan a student's barcode directly from their smart phone.

  • View the list of schools attending each fair, workshop and busing information, go to the National College Fair schedule and Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs schedule, select a fair and click for 'More Information'.

  • Download NCF promotional publications and PVA promotional publications. Publications are available in English and Spanish.

  • Share registration information on your school’s bulletin board and listserve.

  • Make sure you are on NACAC’s mailing list.  NACAC sends posters, newsletters, and email reminders leading up to the fair.  Contact 800/822-6285 to make sure your school is on our list or to request additional marketing materials.

  • Watch our video on how to prepare for the fair.

  • Get involved! Join your local planning committee or find out how to volunteer on fair day. Not only will you help plan a great college fair, you will be guaranteed to know all the details.

  • Contact local chairs to suggest relevant workshop topics.

  • Make sure to bring plenty of business cards!  While at the fair, walk around and meet with admissions representatives.

  • Bring an adequate number of chaperones to monitor your students.

  • Need more information? Email us.

 Registration Tips:

  • Counselor registration is available online for National College Fairs and Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs. Counselors will need to create their log in credentials and choose the high school for which they want to monitor student registrations. Once created, you will have access to your high school student registration report.

  • Bulk student registration is available for your students.

  • Schedule time in your schools’ computer lab for students to register for the fair. Naviance training is a great time to do this.

  • Make registration a competition at your school. See which homeroom can have the most registered students.

  • If you are busing your students to the fair, make the barcode a “bus pass.” Students are not allowed on the bus unless they have their barcode in hand.

  • If students are unable to register on a computer, encourage them to bring premade labels with their information.