Students from Phillips Academy and the Andover area lined up to meet with College Admission representatives at the college fair in Snyder Center.
Snyder Center buzzed with energy across the rows of stands during Andover’s Fall College Fair on September 23. Welcoming representatives from over 100 institutions, the biannual event provided students from Andover and nearby public high schools the chance to explore a diverse range of colleges, offering insight into the numerous possible college pathways available after Andover.
Representatives at each college booth answered students’ questions and provided brochures and promotional materials. Meghan Monaco, the Vice President of Enrollment at Endicott College, noted how college fairs give students the chance to investigate how their interests will align with the opportunities present in different colleges. Monaco shared advice for high schoolers new to the college process.
“Make sure you’re thinking about size, location, and academic program. Those are the three main things that are really easy to capture in a college fair. Then again, some students are looking for something very specific, and it’s easy to go ask about a specific program or major… We, as college [representatives], tend to remember the genuine conversations that we have with students, so the more authentic and genuine you can be in the college fair experience, the more we’re going to remember who you are,” said Monaco.
In the past year, the structure of Andover’s college fairs has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from multiple smaller events to two major fairs held annually. Karina Hernandez-Guarniz, Associate Director of College Counseling, highlighted the rationale of the change.
“We found that the smaller fairs did not allow us to host as many colleges that wanted to be there, so it made sense to switch to two big fairs, one in the spring and one in the fall. It gives students a chance to do some research over the summer and maybe connect or reconnect with colleges that were not on their radar last spring,” said Hernandez-Guarniz.
The early application deadline for most colleges approaches around late October and November. Hernandez-Guarniz pointed out how the fall fair served as an accessible chance for Seniors to familiarize themselves with schools they hadn’t been able to explore in depth yet.
“For Seniors, it’s an opportunity to do some last minute research for schools if they aren’t able to visit or if it’s just not feasible for their families because of their work schedules. This is a great opportunity to connect to over 100 colleges in here that they may not have been able to get to physically and visit campus. For the younger students, it’s an opportunity to get to know a wide range of schools before they really get into the college process,” said Hernandez-Guarniz.
As students all navigate their college search journeys differently and at different times, their grade can greatly influence their approach to the college fair. Alex Giarnese ’25 reflected on his evolving experience from being an Upper to a Senior.
“My first college fair was in the fall of Upper year, so I was just starting to look at schools. I just wanted to come and get a sense of what schools were in my area and what places I knew the names of and wanted to investigate further… Now I’m here as a Senior with a finalized list to go to all the schools that are here on my list, speak with an admissions counselor, put a face to the name, and make sure that these schools are definitely 100 percent places where I want to go,” said Giarnese.
Although the colleges at the fair displayed a variety of majors across humanities and STEM fields, the participating schools were largely domestic, with only a few notable exceptions, such as St. Andrew’s College and the University of British Columbia. Talia Ivory ’25 mentioned a few suggestions for next year’s fair.
“[I would like] more varied colleges. I know we definitely have a good spread here, but there are a ton of U.S. schools, which makes sense since a lot of people come [to the U.S.] for education. Seeing a few more schools that are overseas or have different vocational programs for those who feel they might not want to go to college might be a good idea. And for those who come to Andover, maybe some are looking for even more of a challenge, like going to a different country or moving someplace new,” said Ivory.
