127 colleges set up booths in Snyder Center, allowing students from Andover and beyond to ask questions and learn more about the respective schools.
A total of 127 colleges set up booths in Snyder Center for this year’s college fair, transforming the center into a maze of banners, brochures, and conversation on April 28. The event allowed for both spontaneous discovery and targeted research for all students, including lowerclassmen who are yet to begin the college application process.
The fair aimed to make the abstract process of college selection feel more tangible and approachable. While some students might have found the college fair overwhelming, Miklosh Frusztajer ’26 explained that it was stress-free for him. He shared how the organization of the booths helped him feel more comfortable about researching colleges.
“These interactions are another benchmark. They slightly altered my perception, but not a complete overhaul, since I came prepared. It’s uncovering another layer,” said Frusztajer. “Going to booths with friends, we piggybacked off each other, had memorable conversations, and it was a fresh break from the grind… It’s good fun and gives you a chance to explore and imagine yourself at interesting places.”
Ibuki Hada ’25, an international student and a Senior, attended the fair in order to expose herself to other pathways for college. In talking to representatives, she appreciated learning more about higher education opportunities in the U.S.
“I was set on going to a Japanese college for my scholarship, but I learned from an officer that I could transfer science credits for pre-med. That opened up new possibilities for me. [College fairs] are helpful. Especially for international students, you get to discover new colleges, learn about the process, and expand your perspective,” said Hada. “Even if you’re not planning to apply in the U.S., it’s good to learn about educational paths.”
Emma Byrne, a college representative for Sacred Heart University, viewed college fairs as a convenient and important platform for students to gain information on a vast number of colleges.
“[College fairs] give you a nice opportunity to chat with a number of different schools all at once, get some information, and understand the next steps in the application process. The key factor is getting to talk to a lot of schools conveniently,” said Byrne.
Byrne added that especially early in the process, students can gain an understanding of the college at fairs by asking questions and gathering insight directly from the school.
“[They] are a nice introduction to the process, ideally starting in [Upper] year, or even [Lower] year… It’s a great way to put a face to the person who might read your application,” said Byrne. “I [also] wish more students asked about our less common majors. It’s easy to talk about the big ones, but we have smaller programs that offer great one-on-one time with professors.”
Cindy Yang ’26 appreciated the breadth of the colleges represented at the college fair, explaining that it exposed them to new ones they had not heard of before. Yang described how even without speaking to every representative, reading names and brochures gave them a clearer sense of the options beyond their initial college list.
“One thing college counselors always tell us is that there are many college options, and you don’t have to focus so early on one school. The fair is a visual representation that there are many opportunities, even nearby,” said Yang. “There’s a lot of people here, and it’s a pretty interesting opportunity to talk with representatives from different colleges.”
