Most colleges have admissions staff who are "assigned" to a particular high school, state, or region, and it is usually these admissions personnel who attend college fairs and visit Judge Memorial Catholic High School. These representatives are often the admissions staff who read and evaluate applications from our school, so we highly encourage you to get to know them and make your interest known.

Our regional Rocky Mountain Association of College Admissions Counselors holds an annual college fair, usually in late September or mid-October. These college fairs offer the opportunity for students to speak briefly to a variety of college admissions representatives at one time. Plan your strategy before attending a fair, because it's easy to get caught up in the crowds and confusion until you end up with a lot of brochures but no clear impressions about which colleges you may be interested in.  Here are some suggestions for a successful college fair:

- Look over a list of participants before the fair and choose the colleges you want to find out more about. When you get there, use the map provided so you have time for each one.

- If you have time, research these colleges by reading information in the Guidance Resource Center or checking out web sites.

- Write up a short list of questions to ask admission representatives. To compare several schools, plan on asking the same questions at each table. See suggested questions below.

- You might want to take the following supplies: a small notebook with your list of colleges and questions, also useful for jotting down impressions; a pen or pencil; a backpack for all of the information you'll be collecting. Bringing a few sheets of self-stick address labels with your name, address, phone number, email address, high school, year of graduation, intended major(s), and any extracurricular activities you're interested in, can save you the time of filling out mailing cards at each table.

- Check out the schedule of information sessions. Many fairs have sessions on the search process, applications, financial aid, and other issues, and they're a great place to ask general questions about the college admission process.

Every year, especially in the fall, college representatives visit Judge Memorial to meet with interested students. For students who are unable to visit colleges at a distance from Salt Lake City, or for those seeking general information or a chance to ask particular questions, these small-group meetings can be especially helpful. Each week's visits are posted on the bulletin board across from the Counseling Center, along with sign-up sheets. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend. You are responsible for asking permission ahead of time from your teacher if any of the college visits conflict with your scheduled class time. 

Some questions you may want to ask, at both JMCHS meetings and college fairs:

- What is the campus like on weekends for students out-of-state? Is there an active dorm life?

- What are some student traditions?

- How many students study in my intended major? If you're undecided about a major, ask which departments are considered outstanding, weak, or average.

- What research opportunities are available in my area of interest?

- What other programs are available to students (study abroad, internships, honors programs, tutoring, career counseling, study skills workshops, etc.)?

- What constitutes a typical freshman-year program?

- What is the academic profile of students attending your college (GPA, test scores, courses)?

- Ask about total college costs (tuition, room/board, books, travel, etc.). What is the average financial aid package?

- What are your largest and smallest class sizes? Are professors accessible beyond office hours?

- How do you assign faculty advisers to students? What if I'm undecided about my major? What kinds of feedback do students get on coursework and how often do they get it? Is this a good place to explore majors?

- Is housing guaranteed all four years? What's the procedure for choosing dorms/roommates?

- How active is the college in helping students with career planning?

- After graduation, what do students do? Go to graduate school? Get a job?

And more generally, if it's a college you're just beginning to learn about:

Could you give a brief description of your college (type, location, history, programs)?

Who are "typical" students at your college?

How are admission decisions made? My academic and personal strengths include ________.

Might your college be a good match for me?

What makes your college distinct from other colleges of its type?