Questions about class sizes, scholarships, and extracurricular activities dominated Wednesday’s Districtwide College Fair that brought more than 2,000 Dallas ISD students to the Ellis Davis Fieldhouse.
Representatives from more than 200 colleges, universities, the military and trade schools fielded students’ questions and provided information, brochures and, in some cases, key chains and other goodies.
Dr. Sylvia Lopez, director of the Dallas ISD Counseling Services department, said the college fair was a huge success.
“The high school counselors did a fantastic job of preparing the students for the College Fair,” she said. “The students were ready to greet and meet the college reps of their choice. One of the college representative mentioned how impressed she was with the behavior of the students and how prepared they were by asking very good questions.”
Jordan Johnson, a senior at Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, has attended the college fair since she was a freshman. With graduation less than nine months away, she took the college fair much more serious this year.
“This event really helps us get to know more about different colleges all in one place,” she said.
Victor Huertas, a student at Skyline High School, knew going into the college fair that he wanted to talk with representatives from the University of Texas and University of North Texas. As he walked by representatives of dozens of colleges and universities, he admitted to being a little intimidated.
“This is your future, and you have so many options ahead of you,” he said. “It’s hard to know what to do.”
Under the tutelage of the district’s counselors, the students were encouraged to do some homework in advance and to show up to the college fair with questions in hand.
Lopez said she heard great feedback from students who learned valuable information from representatives at the event.
