As a means to introduce students to different universities across the globe, LT hosted its annual College Fair on March 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the NC fieldhouse.

“[The College Fair was] a really great way for students to learn about their options,” college and career counselor Cody Dailey said. “There are thousands of colleges out there and students often wonder, ‘How can I find the best fit for me?’ Well, that’s what the College Fair is all about.”

With about 180 colleges that attended this year—including international colleges, military academies, and a community college—there were plenty of different postsecondary experiences for students and parents to explore, Dailey said. By speaking to college representatives, many of whom were from the LaGrange area, attendees were able to gauge more information about certain schools that might not have been available to them with a simple Google search or glance at a website.

“Having the opportunity to speak to different admissions reps allowed me to figure out which colleges would be a good fit and see what different schools are looking for in an applicant,” College Fair student volunteer Keira Connelly ‘25 said. “The college fair was an amazing opportunity for LT students to come and learn about higher education, especially if they were first generation.”

Tables and booths representing each visiting college were set up alphabetically all around the fieldhouse, with the more sought-after schools located on each baseline of the basketball court in order to accommodate longer lines, Dailey said. University of Illinois—the most popular destination at the fair—even got its own breakout room, where the representatives gave families 15-minute presentations. These presentations included all the information they needed so that they could avoid excessively long waits and crowds, especially with a total turnout of around 600 people.

“We want[ed] students and families to reach as many schools as they can and be able to learn meaningful information,” Dailey said. “We [did not] want this to turn into some chaotic race.”

Before the event, students signed up via StriveScan, a college fair registration app.  This provided them with a personal QR code, which college representatives could scan and thus obtain their basic information, such as their email address. Additionally, students got a report the next day listing all the colleges that scanned their code, allowing them to keep track of all the colleges they visited.

“It’s a really great tool to help keep things organized,” Dailey said.

Along with people from the LT community, non-LT families were also able to attend the fair, Dailey said. Since not all schools offer college fairs, Dailey and his colleagues marketed it toward students at Nazareth Academy, Oak Park and River Forest High School, York Community High School, and more. In order to make the event as accessible as possible, Spanish translation services were also available.

“Attending the college fair helped me feel prepared going into the college application process [along with] easing my anxiety surrounding college applications,” Connelly said.  “I hope that students see [the] fact that college doesn’t have to be scary and there are many people in LT and beyond that want you to succeed in whatever you choose.”