What A College Fair Looks Like From My Side Of The Table, As Told By GIFS
This may be the most overused GIF in the history of higher education, but boy is it accurate. Truly, this is what I see from behind my table.
But this is what I signed up for. I want to help those lost and confused clumps of flamingos find the place that they will spend their next four years. Mostly, I want to do that because I remember how it felt to be a flamingo — but let me tell you, I did not look anywhere near as good being lost and confused as the girls that I see now. They own it. And they do their makeup, they have good hair and even make their school uniform polos look flattering. When I was in high school, I don’t remember polos looking good on anyone. Or at least not on me.
It’s straight out of Mean Girls. And I’ve discussed this with other Admissions counselors, too — none of us can believe the caliber of girl that shows up to our college fairs. I think most of us female counselors are hoping that we’ll get a free lesson in contouring at one of these fairs instead of the usual (very delicious) chocolates in the shape of the school mascot.
Second to the Kardashians of college fairs, one of my next favorite things to watch from behind my table are the students just like this excited little duckling, who have been patiently waiting in line and/or searching for my table and finally have their moment to make my acquaintance!
These are always my favorite students to see, because they remind me why I’m standing behind my table in the first place. They are so gosh darn excited about college that they make me excited for them. And that, my Admissions friends, is what it’s all about. So, duckling students, keep doing what you do — we love you for it.
When the entire football team approaches my table, all sporting their varsity jackets, and ask me if they can major in football… I basically see this. The pack mentality is real.
I always say there’s no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to college, because the process is just so damn confusing and I know that. But unless your last name is Gronkowski, you’re probably not ‘majoring’ in football anytime soon.
How would that even work???
Not to discriminate against football dudes, LAX bros or any other athletes — we appreciate you, and college culture wouldn’t be the same without you. Most of the time, athletes are the easiest type of students to work with because they are full of personality and I don’t have to pull teeth to get them to engage with me. When I was a student tour guide, I took the football tours all to myself because they were just so easy.
But as soon as you put them all together at a college fair on their home turf, you get what looks like a clump of poofy, blank-faced llamas with a spring in their step exactly like the ones in the above GIF.
And this is how I feel at fairs when students take my pens without even humoring me with a decent conversation.
Oh no you did NOT!
