“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won,” said Frank Sachs, former president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

His words, displayed in the upper school guidance office, echo in the minds of many students—and with good reason.  Admissions officers spend a great deal of time deciding which applicants are good fits for their school. To make it easier for students to find their potential fit, over a hundred colleges and universities sent representatives to the college fair in the downstairs 3000 building Oct. 15. Seniors spent fourth period at the fair while sophomores and juniors met with the representatives during fifth period. Parents were invited to stay throughout the entire event.

At the fair, students were able to ask questions, take informational pamphlets and sign up for mailing programs. Students were exposed to a diversity of schools, from liberal arts colleges such as Haverford College to research universities such as University of Chicago.

“I went into the room thinking about Harvard, but Kalamazoo College really impressed me and now I’m thinking of applying there as well,” said sophomore Andrew Kim.

Speaking with the representatives gave students first-hand knowledge of financial aid, scholarships, college life and academic opportunities.

“The college fair really helped me prepare for the future and get a better idea of colleges, some of which I didn’t even know about before,” said sophomore Celine Loh.