Hillsborough high school hosted its annual college fair in the school gym Monday, March 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event gave students and families the opportunity to explore a wide variety of post graduation paths, from four year universities to military service and hands-on training programs.
Representatives from colleges across New Jersey and beyond filled the gym with tables, brochures and information about campus life, majors and admissions requirements. Students moved from table to table asking questions and learning about schools they may be considering to apply to in the near future. “ When people ask me what I want to do and what college I want to go to and what major, I had an answer, but I don’t. So I’m a little overwhelmed and stressed, but it’s nice to see all the options I do have and that people are telling me I don’t have to know. So it’s good reassurance.” said junior Sadie Miliano.
For students interested in military service, representatives from the US Army, US Marine Corps, and US Navy were also present. These representatives spoke with students about service opportunities, training programs and potential career paths within the military. “Education’s a big one. I basically don’t have to pay for education too much because there’s the GI bill and tuition assistance. So, I’m a legal service specialist, so I get to pursue school while I’m getting paid.” said Private First Class Agnew, U.S. Marine Corps representative.
The fair also highlighted alternatives to traditional four year colleges. Schools such as Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), Pennsylvania College of Technology and American Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) provided information about shorter programs, hands-on training and specialized career pathways. “I think what’s really important is that even as, like an admissions counselor, a lot of times I’ll come to these events and there are some colleges that I hadn’t seen before. And so it really opens your eyes to the different possibilities that you’re able to find as a student because college is not, it’s not just Harvard, it’s not just Ivy Lee. Students are very successful going to different colleges. A lot of them offer really great education and they offer very different experiences and opportunities that you wouldn’t really know unless you sort of went out of your way to sort of see what lies beyond” said Ariana Rivera-Maldonado, NJIT admissions representative.
Additionally, several universities are still accepting applications for fall admission. Schools including Montclair State University, Temple University, Rowan University and many more, offered students the chance to learn more about programs and admissions opportunities.
Students were encouraged to register for the event through an online platform called StriveFair, a platform that helps connect students with college representatives and share contact information with schools they are interested in.
Overall, the college fair provided students with a valuable insight into the many options available after graduation. By speaking directly with representatives, students were able to gain a better understanding of different academic programs and future opportunities.
