WEST AMWELL: Two dates set for college fair at South Hunterdon

By Alana Kilcoyne, South sophomore
   WEST AMWELL — The South Hunterdon Regional High School guidance department will be hosting its annual college fair Oct. 10 and 24.
   Representatives from nearly 90 participating colleges and universities will assemble in the school’s gymnasium from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
   ”Students will be able to sample a wide range of schools, large and small, some more prestigious than others,” Principal Mark Collins said.
   In the past, South has hosted a range of both state and out-of-state schools. Raritan Valley Community College has participated in the fair in recent years as well as institutions like Elon University and Boston College.
   The participation of these institutions as well as that of other national and state schools provides an invaluable resource for college-bound students, Mr. Collins said.
   Regardless of whether students decide to attend these schools, the fair’s most valuable asset to a student’s college selection process is exposure, he said.
   The fair aims to encourage both students and their parents to visit a number of different booths and to sort through the often-distracting bells and whistles each college touts, urging “students to hone in on what they want, with respect to majors, locations, cost and size,” he said.
   South hopes the fair will provide a starting point from which students and their families can make practical decisions in anticipation of the application process. These decisions come with heightened importance in today’s economic climate.
   Other members of the community also are encouraged to attend.
   In addition to the fair, South Hunterdon has hosted college booths during the school’s lunch hours.