Area high school students will soon have the opportunity to learn information about their possible destination following graduation.
The annual Tri-Cities College Fair, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at East Tennessee State University, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Elizabethton High School with two different sessions on tap for area students.
A staple in Johnson City for the previous events, this year will mark the fair’s first appearance at the high school.
“We’ve typically had it at Freedom Hall each year,” Nicole Martin, Assistant Director of Admissions, said. “With the renovations going on there this year, we spoke with Dr. (Josh) Boatman and the staff at the high school and they’ve been gracious enough for us to host it at their school.”
While preparing for a new location, the working partnership has gone smoothly with the school, according to Martin.
“It has been great,” she added. “The school system has been wonderful to work with and we’re excited about the fair.”
Thursday’s festivities will be broken up into two parts, a morning session from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and an evening session from 6 to 8 p.m.
“We contacted area high schools and their students will be brought in around 9 a.m.,” Martin said. “With the event at the school, the Elizabethton High School system will have the first crack at the different booths on display.”
All area high school students, prospective transfer students and their families are all invited to attend, Martin added.
The director added the fair is expected to bring in approximately 70 colleges and universities throughout the Southeast to present and discuss admission requirements, scholarships, academic programs and campus life.
Martin added that while the event is free, attendees are encouraged to register online at gotocollegefairs.com to create an account to make the process go with more ease.
“This is the second year we’ve been able to partner with Go To College Fairs to have an automated college fair,” she said.
The usefulness of the website allows students to register and create an account before heading into the college fair. Once the students attend, they can pull up a barcode provided from the site on their phone or tablet, from which a college representative can scan a student’s information to help eliminate long lines to see as many students as possible, Martin said.
Information compiled at fairs from representatives is then sent to their respective college or university, filled with information of the prospective student.
For more information, contact the ETSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 439-4213.