RV hosted its annual College and Career Fair to provide students and guardians with a headstart on further education and career paths on Thursday, October 20 in the cafeteria.  

The fair lasted from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with over 100 representatives from 2-year and 4-year colleges, universities, trade & technical schools and the military in attendance. The informative event was an opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives and gather information. 

“I’m not really sure about where I want to go or what I want to do, so I want to see what programs different colleges have and what kind of campus lifestyle they have to see what would fit me best,” junior Shayna Miller said. “The scholarships, financial aid and everything, I just love seeing all that kind of stuff so I can make sure I’m making the best decision.”

To ensure that students are making informed decisions about their future, representatives make it a priority to listen intently to the student’s wishes and act as a guide in helping them shape their own futures.

“Connecting with the students, and then connecting the parents with the students is the most important part of tonight,” Assistant Director of Admissions of East Stroudsburg, Stanton Estwick, said. “I think a lot of times the students are not really sure what they want to do, and parents are kind of pushing them, so I want to help bridge the gap and get them on a common ground.”

This priority is shared across the board with different colleges making it a point to understand where students are coming from and help them make the best decision for themselves. 

“One of the things that you earn in admissions work pretty quickly is that not every student is going to love your school,” Associate Director of Admissions of TCNJ, Matt Middleton, said. “It’s important for them to ask questions and figure out which schools might be good fits for them…we just like to have those relationships [with students] where we can find that student who really does like our school.”

The importance of the event is evident in how representatives guide students, which is why RV continues to host this event. 

“One of the best ways to get students excited about the school is to meet them where they’re at, and that’s why we come to college fairs, “ Middleton said. “This is always a really great event, and I just love getting the opportunity to not only share information about our program but also to get students excited about what they want to do with their lives during college, so it’s a good chance to do something impactful.”

Exposure to various future education opportunities and career paths also allows students to learn and grow from the experience while also figuring out what colleges suit them best.  

“I learned that a lot of different colleges offer different activities,” junior Shayla Miller said. “The only thing is that I want to major in psychology, but a lot of colleges here don’t have psychology.”

Recognizing that every path may not be the best fit for them allows students to narrow down their choices, and the fair is a great opportunity to hone in on what suits them best.