More than 650 students and parents turned out last night for NUSD’s College Fair, held at Natomas High to give families an opportunity to speak directly to representatives of more than 50 colleges and universities.
Students said they appreciated and benefited from the event, which enabled one-stop shopping by seniors and provided wide-ranging perspective to younger students.
Tables were manned by officials from UC and CSU campuses, private colleges, art institutes, community colleges, even military personnel. Participants included UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Sacramento State, University of the Pacific, Azusa Pacific, Holy Names, Sonoma State, Grand Canyon, Cosumnes River College, Southern Oregon University, University of New Mexico, the list goes on and on.
Susana Hernandez, a Natomas High School College and Career Coordination Specialist who helped organize the fair, said the goal is to help families navigate the college-going process. “It can be super-complicated, so we’re hoping this will help out,” she said.
Hernandez noted that workshops were a new addition to the College Fair this year. Two options were available, titled, “How to Pay for College” and “What College Best Fits Your Child?” More than 250 people attended one of the workshops.
Antonio Montoya, father of an Inderkum High School senior, gave the College Fair high marks.
“We know a lot more now than when we came in,” Montoya said as he left the event. We’ve always tried to be prepared and we were going to workshops already, but you just really don’t kind of put it together (until you) talk face to face with recruiters of the different universities.”
Added Montoya’s daughter, Talitha: “They ask you, ‘What are your interests in school?’ and someone will say, ‘I like to dance,’ and they say, ‘We have a program for that.’ You wouldn’t have known until you talk to these people. So I think this is great.”
Tyrone, 17, said it would be hard to call dozens of colleges individually. “If there’s a central area for everything to be located, it’s a lot easier to get information,” he said.
“It gives me an image of what I want to do later on in life,” said Briyon, 14.
