Bellaire High School's 2017 College Fair

Junior Andrew Wu engages in a discussion with a representative.

As a senior, the college application process is upon me. The long and arduous tasks of deciding where to apply, actually applying, and then deciding where I will spend the next four years of my life will be completed by spring of next year. And it’s a terrifying yet exhilarating concept.

The Bellaire High School College Fair is an annual event which hosts over 100 colleges and other programs, both from in Texas and out of state. Each college sets up a table, stocked with brochures and flyers, and representatives are available to answer any questions students might have.

This year, I attended the college fair for the second time. Last year, as a junior, the main goal for me was to discover new colleges and talk to their representatives in an effort to get to know more about the schools. I went in with very little decided in terms of where I was applying and what majors I was set on. In contrast, this year was a complete 180. My list of colleges I am applying to has been set for a few months now and I have already started my application process. I know what I want to study and therefore I was able to ask very specific questions regarding the application process or my specific area of study.

Senior Caroline Lee talks with Katy Lipscomb from Trinity University

Personally, I found value in attending both years with completely different mindsets. Last year, I was able to truly explore. I allowed myself to visit any table that caught my eye and have small discussions with anyone who had helpful information. I gained a lot of knowledge this year and it really helped me narrow down my final list of colleges that I am now applying to.

This year, I took my time with the schools I knew I would be sending my application in to. I had deep discussions and asked in-depth questions, specific to me and my intended area of study. By going in with this set knowledge, I was able to get help with my application process and learn more about not only the school as a whole, but about the programs I am most interested in.

Students pick up pamphlets and brochures with basic information for them to go over.

Ultimately, college fair was a great experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking into colleges or other education-based programs. The event is hosted every year, so it is not something to go to only once and allows students the opportunity to learn so much about a wide array of schools and themselves as they either begin or continue on their college application journey.