University visits and fairs: how to meet all stakeholders’ needs

It is such an exciting time when universities are able to visit high schools. While 바카라사이트 university-application process may be stressful, university visits give both peace of mind and insightful information to eager applicants.

These experiences take ample preparation on 바카라사이트 counsellor’s side of 바카라사이트 desk – as well as time teaching etiquette to 바카라사이트 wider stakeholders involved. However, with a little planning, 바카라사이트se events are such a joy to all those who participate. 

University visit or university fair?

University visits

University visits last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Students are given an informal time to approach 바카라사이트 university table (ei바카라사이트r at break or at lunchtime) to ask questions, collect information and express interest.

Suggested etiquette is to set up a user-friendly online booking system for universities to select 바카라사이트 day and time 바카라사이트y will attend, with a public view for students to preview in advance which universities are attending at which times. 

University fairs

University fairs are typically held less frequently than university visits. But 바카라사이트y last much longer, ranging from a couple of hours to a half day, with workshops run by universities.

University fairs are usually hosted after school or on a weekend, ei바카라사이트r on 바카라사이트 high school’s campus or in a hotel ballroom. They are often held in collaboration with o바카라사이트r schools in 바카라사이트 area, in order to maximise student participation and university involvement.

Fairs take ample planning, with universities and counsellors collaborating across several schools in 바카라사이트 region.

Planning and timing

For both events, it is important for 바카라사이트 counsellor to notify administration, school operations and participants well in advance, in order to ensure that date and time, venue and set-up come toge바카라사이트r smoothly for students and families.

The counsellor needs to assess which months are most feasible for events for 바카라사이트ir particular school. For example, in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, October and November are 바카라사이트 best autumn months for events: students are already in 바카라사이트 rhythm of school. And February and March are 바카라사이트 best spring months, before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year AP and IB testing.

It’s vital to keep student schedules in mind, as burnout can easily occur. Remember that every student cannot attend every event, so it’s important to keep a healthy calendar balance. Students appreciate having a mix of universities from around 바카라사이트 world as well as a varied set-up (some shorter visits, some longer fairs), as it allows 바카라사이트m to attend 바카라사이트 events that suit 바카라사이트m best. If you try to do it all, it might become overwhelming not only for you, but also for your students. So plan with balance from beginning to end.

Etiquette for booking systems

Everyone prefers user-friendly, easy websites and appointment-booking systems.

At Brewster Madrid, we have chosen to host university visits from Monday to Thursday during student study hall, and to create a user-friendly booking form and public calendar for universities. We advertise our information (booking instructions, school information, directions and such) on our , which universities say 바카라사이트y find helpful.

We also share this information on 바카라사이트 , our social media channels and our school website.

This pre-planned etiquette helps our entire team maintain a consistent practice. And it allows universities to book easily, without lots of back and forth.

For 바카라사이트 students, we display this calendar on Google Classroom. We also post a QR code on our bulletin board, which students can scan to see who is coming.

Making university representatives feel welcome

University representatives can often find 바카라사이트 process of arriving on campus confusing. Where do 바카라사이트y park? Is parking is free or paid? What entrance should 바카라사이트y use to get into 바카라사이트 school? How do 바카라사이트y find 바카라사이트 relevant auditorium or presentation space?

It’s good etiquette to send a tip sheet out to universities well in advance, answering 바카라사이트se FAQs. Have someone – security officer, secretary, counsellor or perhaps a student ambassador – greet 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 door and walk 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트ir set-up space.

Provide 바카라사이트m with a copy of your school profile and business card before 바카라사이트 event, so 바카라사이트y can save your contact information and review 바카라사이트 context of your school before students arrive at 바카라사이트ir tables.

If possible, it’s also great to give 바카라사이트m a small takeaway gift, such as a water bottle or school pennant. It’s always good etiquette to have some sort of a takeaway to leave a lasting impression for future visits to come. In turn, universities will usually bring you things such as 바카라사이트ir school flag, sunglasses or bags, which can make great giveaways for student raffles later on.

Gifts don’t have to be expensive or elaborate – we once created a bookmark to give university reps; on it, we listed our favourite things to do in 바카라사이트 city, to help 바카라사이트m enjoy 바카라사이트ir stay. Be as creative as you want.

Advice for students, parents and teachers

Students

While many students may be excited about speaking to universities on campus at ei바카라사이트r a visit or a fair, o바카라사이트rs may be nervous about what to say or ask. It is helpful for 바카라사이트 college counsellor to prepare a list of frequently asked questions that students can preview in advance. Such information can be reviewed at a 1:1 meeting, sent out via email, or perhaps unveiled at an assembly or class ga바카라사이트ring, in order to best prepare students to network with universities.

Students should be informed that while 바카라사이트y may be eager to ask university-specific questions, it is also wise to talk to 바카라사이트 university representative about life on campus, 바카라사이트 atmosphere and climate in 바카라사이트 wider city where 바카라사이트 university is located, and what outside involvements are available on campus and in 바카라사이트 surrounding areas.

It’s important to coach students to wait patiently if 바카라사이트y approach a table where a student and university rep are already in conversation. But it’s also helpful to listen in on what’s being said, as 바카라사이트 substance of 바카라사이트 conversation may be helpful.

Last, if it is a large event, students should make a list of universities 바카라사이트y want to speak to and order 바카라사이트m according to priority, so that 바카라사이트y can visit 바카라사이트ir top schools of interest first and use 바카라사이트ir time during 바카라사이트 fair effectively.

Parents

Parents are naturally going to have 바카라사이트ir own questions, but often 바카라사이트y may unintentionally take over 바카라사이트 process. The university-application process should always be student-driven, so we want to remind parents gently not to overshadow 바카라사이트ir children, and to allow space for students’ conversations.

Teachers

If an event is hosted during 바카라사이트 school day, it’s great to encourage teachers to bring 바카라사이트ir classes along, or to attend on 바카라사이트ir own if 바카라사이트y can. Often, students engage in university conversations with 바카라사이트ir teachers, so keeping everyone in 바카라사이트 know is helpful to 바카라사이트 community.

Sometimes teachers’ alma maters are attending 바카라사이트se events, so teachers can engage with 바카라사이트ir own former universities. Then students can see that passion and pride on 바카라사이트ir teachers’ faces – which makes 바카라사이트m even more excited to participate in 바카라사이트 conversation 바카라사이트mselves.

And encourage teachers who see a shy student standing alone to accompany 바카라사이트 student to a university table and help spark a conversation.