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How To Prepare for College Visits and Fairs

The return to school is near. And for some, that might mean college applications are too. As a part of your due diligence, you might be trying to take advantage of college visits and fairs where you can talk to admissions teams and even college students themselves about what their institution has to offer.

But before you get to pulling your hair out and going on a Threads rant, we’ve gone ahead and thought of some questions that will hopefully make it easier to figure out what to ask so that you can narrow down which colleges and universities you want to apply to. Take a look at the questions that’ll take you from a short-list of 22 colleges and universities to something just a bit 🤏 more manageable...

When going into these conversations, it’s important to know what you’re seeking to get out of your college experience. While getting into a dynamic accounting program might definitely be at the top, college is not all about academics. Figure out what you want your on campus and professional life to be like. Having this in the back of your mind, will help you curate your questions better and analyze whether or not the answers meet your needs.

Academics🎓

Ensure you’re going to be set up for a successful accounting education.

What is unique about your school's accounting department?

You’re typically going to be in a room with a bunch of other curious students, so try to avoid asking questions that already are available in their pamphlets or website. This is your opportunity to talk to the source, so be intentional.

While the general admissions team might know the answers to these questions, see if you can attend an accounting department information session or speak to an accounting major or professor.

How accessible are accounting professors and additional support services for students that need academic help?

On Campus Life 🏫

Compare the accounting program and academic support at each school.

In what ways does your school demonstrate its dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion?

What kind of non-academic support staff are available?

Career 💼

See how they will support your path towards having a successful career in accounting.

What kind of support services are available to help students find internships?

Fun fact: a lot of schools offer mentorship programs specifically for first-generation, low-income, and/or students of color. If not found in the career services department, it might be within the multicultural center on campus.

Remember: the key to professionally leveling up quickly is networking, networking, networking. Make sure the schools you decide to apply to help facilitate opportunities for you to network easily.

Are there opportunities for on campus recruitment by accounting firms or companies seeking to hire students?

Financial Aid 💸

Find out which schools place an emphasis on affordability.

When making admissions decisions, do you take into consideration whether a student has applied for financial aid?

Does your institution accept appeals from students if the financial aid offered is inadequate?

Admissions 📇

If you decide their previous answers are sounding like music to your ears, consider the following:

Tailor your application to meet what they are looking to see.

What do admissions readers pay close attention to when evaluating applications?

Visiting colleges across the country can be expensive 👉 check out fly-in programs. A lot of higher institutions host events where you can get flown out for free and experience an on campus visit. These typically occur in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year and they prioritize students from diverse backgrounds. Submit an application today, catch an all expense paid flight to check out the (potential) college of your dreams in a few months.