It seems that at certain milestones in one's life, it's natural to reflect on the past and consider how you ended up where you are. At these times, I consistently recall my memories of the U of R, and these warm memories are what motivates me to 'get the word out' about this great institution. I stumbled on the opportunity to represent the University at college fairs while chatting with an alumnus. After signing up for a fair, I became a little nervous that I did not know enough about the school to adequately represent it. I guess this is a natural feeling, and the Admissions Office recognizes this and supplies representatives with lots of material about the University. While the supplies were helpful, what I realized was that potential students are interested in someone who is genuinely excited about the school and can chat with them about their own experiences, student life, different courses, etc., and not just the statistics available on the web site. Halfway through my first college fair I thought 'this is fun!' and I really got into it. During these fairs it is normal for alumni to come up and say hello and reminisce a little - that's fun too! Above all, there is great satisfaction in participating in these fairs and communicating to potential applicants all the University has to offer and sparking someone's interest in a very special place.

I have staffed several college fairs, and I never get over the excitement of sharing my joy for Rochester with high school students who are looking for that perfect place. You don't have to be an admissions expert to share stories and excitement about a place that you love!

I have had several great experiences staffing college fairs and talking with prospective students about the U of R. Talking to parents about the University and helping students wade through the myriad of information available is a very rewarding experience. Being a 'salesperson' in nature and having had a truly wonderful experience at the U of R makes it easy to 'sell' the University to prospective students and parents. There is a completely different perspective staffing a fair when you are a UR alumnus. The students really want to know what it's like to attend the UR, and who better than an alum to fill them in? I think the parents also get a much better feeling about the University by talking to alumni versus talking with someone who works for the University.

I was a bit nervous at first, not knowing what kinds of questions would come my way. But my nerves quickly were calmed by talking about our alma mater and the wonderful and innovative programs the UR provides. The 'Cheat Sheet' the Admissions Office provided was also a BIG help! By the end of the evening, after repeating the same statistics over and over, I was a pro!

The Admissions Office provides all the tools necessary to have a successful, rewarding experience staffing a college fair.

It's wonderful to speak with parents about the finances of college life! The statistics the Admissions Office provides prove to be a welcome surprise for parents who think that the U of R is financially unreachable. Parents are equally impressed by the Take Five program!

I personally love doing the college fairs...and my disappointment is great when scheduling conflicts prevent me from signing up.

Here are the reasons why I enjoy staffing college fairs for the U of R:

• Alumni volunteers can select locations which are mere minutes from their homes or offices ... thus making participation quite convenient.
• Schools are genuinely grateful to have U of R representatives participate.
• The material provided by the Admissions Office is complete and well laid-out ... making answering questions on current U of R programs easy.
• The more fairs one does, the more enjoyable they become.
• Participating keeps me up to date on what the current U of R programs are.
• First-time staffers will find nearby booth attendants quite friendly. Also, schools are typically lined up alphabetically, so, over time, one can build rapport with representatives from schools similarly positioned in the alphabet.
• Student's questions are usually very easily answered ... even for a first-time fair staffer.
• The fairs are generally short, and time flies by. It's a very enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Benefits to the U of R of having an alumni volunteer at the table:

• Parents always seem more interested in stopping at the table and speaking with me once they realize I'm a volunteer who actually attended the U of R. Their questions usually relate to safety on campus and travel options between Chicago and Rochester.
• Students are often interested in alumni's own stories of how they decided to attend the U of R.

Even in the Internet age, characterized by various new admissions tactics (virtual tours, online videos, and chat rooms), college fairs remain a vital tool for University of Rochester representatives to communicate with prospective students and their parents. Face-to-face interaction is still the ideal way to convey enthusiasm for Rochester to high school students who might not have had the opportunity to visit campus or may have additional questions best posed in person. Attendance at these events is also a concrete manifestation of Rochester's commitment to recruit students from a given region, as well as the enthusiasm of local alumni for their alma mater.