The Upper Campus of Ojai Valley School hosted its first-ever college fair on Thursday, with 23 representatives from colleges and universities across the United States filling the Lecture Hall to meet with prospective students.
Representatives ventured to OVS from colleges across the United States, ranging from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles to Villanova University in Philadelphia.
College counselor Judy Oberlander arranged for the representatives, organized by Linden Educational Services, to spend the morning at the Upper Campus.
“I think it has been very, very successful,” Ms. Oberlander said as the excited hum of student-college representative interactions filled the Lecture Hall.
The vast majority of students at the high school attended the fair, moving from one college representative to the next, asking a series of questions developed by Ms. Oberlander designed to help them acquire opinions about prospective schools.
“I think it is a good way to look at multiple colleges,” said sophomore Evelyn Brokering. “You can compare over twenty colleges at once!”
One major benefit of hosting a college fair is that gave students, who are deciding where to apply to college, the ability to ask more individual questions about their own situations, whether that be financial, academic, or social.
“This has been a great experience to get more information about planning my future,” junior Gavin Floyd said.
Although the college fair was new to the Upper Campus, students have had many opportunities to attended similar fairs elsewhere. English teacher Terry Wilson has chaperoned some of those, noting that they are important for college-bound students.
“It’s a great opportunity for you to learn how to present yourself to colleges, so that when you actually go to a college for an interview you won’t be so nervous,” Mrs. Wilson said. “Most importantly though is actually asking questions to the representatives.”
