As the current senior class anxiously waits to hear back from the college admission departments, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s annual College Fair attracted many juniors, and even some underclassman, to begin to examine future college options. Parents and students alike feel that with the number of colleges that attend the fair, it is truly a great asset and something that sets us apart from other schools.

“Every year we hold this fair, and we have about 115 colleges from across the United States to come to BSM and meet with our students,” said college counselor Mrs. Anderson.

This year’s College Fair was extremely well attended by BSM students, their families, and other Catholic schools in the surrounding area. “There are not only BSM juniors here. Each table is packed with kids from schools like Holy Family and DeLaSalle.

Students were eager to obtain information about their perspective schools. “It helped me a lot. It got me looking at possible schools I never would have looked at,” said junior Jon Cotter.

It is common amongst high school students to have no idea what school they hope to one day attend. “When do you get the opportunity to visit so many colleges in just one stop? Especially when you have a daughter who is completely clueless and doesn’t know what she wants to do,” said BSM parent Tim Neary.

The College Fair represented a wide variety of schools: large Division I schools with notable sports programs such as the University of Michigan, along with academic powerhouses such as the University of Notre Dame and Northwestern University. “It’s overwhelming. You learn whether you can actually get in to the schools or not,” said junior Katie McKeever.

Being able to meet with someone from the college admissions  department in a more relaxed, casual setting made it easier for students to open up and ask their questions they have about the school. “I really liked the atmosphere. The place was really rockin’. With all the colleges here we can find the one that really fits us,” said junior Charlie Gondeck.

Stopping by the various tables and talking with the representatives was a beneficial way for students to personally sell themselves, in a way that their applications may not show.  “Students can actually talk to the admission counselor who will be reading their applications when they apply, so it’s just a great opportunity to build relationships with those people who will be influencing their admission to the colleges of their choice,” said Mrs. Anderson.