College Fairs

When you participate in college fairs, it is more than just extending the reach of the admission office by providing current information about Sage. As valuable as that is, you also 1) offer prospective students and their parents an opportunity to talk to someone who has been there, 2) share personal experiences of the college and speak of the benefits you have derived from a Sage education and 3) are able to assess the potential applicant and facilitate an application and an alumnae/i referral as appropriate.

The actual doing of the college fair is described here. Much may seem obvious; the detail is provided to simplify and clarify the process for those who have not experienced a fair.

The Request

  • Alumnae Admissions sends out information (by phone, newsletter, web site or e-mail) to let you know that a representative is needed for specific college fairs and to ask if you are available to represent Sage.

Before the Fair

  • A packet of information directions, maps, instructions and the fair materials will be sent to you.
  • We suggest you review your information prior to the fair and contact Alumnae Admissions (518-244-4799) with any questions or concerns.
  • You may want to go to Sage.edu to look at the web information and familiarize yourself with how to access specific items such as the virtual tours.
  • Verify directions, particularly if the directions have been downloaded from the internet.
  • Professional attire is expected, but dress comfortably. You will be standing for the entire event. Please do not bring knitting or reading.

At the Fair

  • Please arrive at least half an hour before the fair begins to allow time for check-in and set up. Give yourself longer if food is being provided.
  • Set up a display of the materials and publications on the table.
  • Once you are ready to go take a deep breath and relax. We hope you have fun and enjoy the people you will meet.
  • Ask students to fill out inquiry cards and collect them (making sure they are legible and complete). Please give students, that seem especially interested, an application and additional information such as the college overview. If the materials are depleted, please indicate on top of the inquiry card that materials need to be sent to the student.
  • Encourage students to arrange a campus visit. [Research has found that the campus visit is crucial to prospective students college decisions.]
  • Please do not hesitate to take the initiative and start a conversation with students who are browsing. Possible openers include: "Are you familiar with the Sage colleges?" or "Do you know what you would like to major in?" Your conversation can make an early and lasting impression on prospective student.
  • Refer young men to Sage College of Albany (SCA) and young woman to either, or both, SCA and Russell Sage College (RSC). Encourage them to explore all program offerings.
  • One or more alumnae may be assigned to cover a fair. Having two at a fair provides a team approach to answering questions at a fair and ensures coverage should an emergency arise and one volunteer is unable to attend. Volunteers may also attend a fair with an admission counselor.
  • If a last-minute illness or emergency does arise, please notify the Office of Admission as soon as possible at 1-888-VERY-SAGE or the AAP office at 518.244.4799. If neither can be reached, leave a message and call the local coordinator of the host school. To say a Sage representative will not be attending.
  • Some of the fair materials will not be for general distribution to students. They are provided for information and reference only. Use your judgment about handing out supplementary materials. All students who complete inquiry cards will receive a sequence of mailings from the college.
  • If time permits, seek out the guidance personnel from the host school and identify yourself as a local representative of Sage. Express your willingness to speak with students interested in Sage, offer to meet with a prospective student in the interests of making a recommendation or referral.

Following the Fair

  • Feel free to send a follow-up note to students you met at the fair. It is a nice way to open the door for further communication and to encourage their application to Sage. If you want, share your phone number and/or e-mail address to promote additional contact.
  • Code any student who seems very interested in Sage, plans to visit, or is particularly compelling as hot prospect by writing ahp or hot prospect on the bottom of the inquiry card. If a hot prospect responds to a follow-up note or phone call and you continue contact, please let the admission office or the AAP office know.
  • Complete the evaluation card that came with the fair materials. Please return it (asap) in the envelope provided, along with the inquiry cards.
  • As soon as the cards are received, additional information materials will be sent to the student. The students are added to our database and continue to receive mailings from Admission until they enroll or tell us they are no longer interested in the college.

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