Spanning two days, Pennington’s 2025 College Fair featured over 150 different colleges and universities, both large and small, domestic and international. For many juniors, the fair offered initial opportunities to glean a “first look” at different schools, but for others, like Caiden O. ’26, it was the chance to take a deeper dive into the schools which most interested her during her many college tours. “I’ve been really looking forward to connecting with the different college reps from the schools I visited to learn more about the things I might have missed the first time through,” shared Caiden. Prior to the event, she worked with Director of College Counseling Adam Materasso to target the schools which most closely matched her interests, ensuring that she made the most of her time during the fair.

The college selection process can certainly be daunting for students who feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices and the many facets they need to consider. That was certainly the case over spring break for Ciaran W. ’26, who “felt like I was flying blind trying to see so many different schools.” While tours are an important part of the college search, Ciaran appreciated the opportunity to “have that personal touchpoint” with the reps who were on-hand to speak with students this week. 

For their part, the college admission representatives relish the ability to shake the hand of a prospective student and share the aspects they believe make their school special. Grace Robertson-Lloyd of Grinnell College in Iowa acknowledged that it can be hard to translate an institution’s ethos and energy through a website or standard brochure. “Most people have never been to Iowa,” said Robertson-Lloyd. “This college fair allows me to bring our community on the road, offering a more tangible snapshot of Grinnell College for prospective students.”

Students like James B. ’26 enjoyed further building upon the connections they had already made. Elon University is currently a top choice for James; he has already toured that campus and remains in regular email contact with Paige Tatum, Elon’s regional assistant director of admissions. “I want to grow my network,” said James, “and Ms. Tatum has been really great in helping me set up a tour of the business school.” The two were able to solidify their plans at the fair and this kind of interaction highlights the value of events like these. “Connection is so important,” said Tatum, “and the more students talk to us, the more comfortable they become. James is a perfect example of someone who has made the most of every opportunity in his college search process.”