Events

Fall 2021 Virtual College Fairs, Tours and Information Sessions

We always stress with our clients that it is SO important to demonstrate interest for the schools on your list! Especially now that so many schools have virtual offerings, there is really no excuse for not checking out all of the colleges that interest you.

Check out some of the events on this list and make sure to bookmark this page, because we’ll continue to update as we hear about more events!

Discovering U Virtual Group Sessions

Event Description:

Join Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, and Yale University for this online info session. This is a great opportunity for students to hear from several highly selective schools at once. 

When:

The next session is being offered on September 30 at 7:00 pm EDT. However, Discovering U is also offering several special sessions that are worth checking out, including a Session with the Deans on October 20. 

Learn more and register for Discovering U here.


UCLA’s Annual Fall Open House

Event Description:

UCLA has made their annual event virtual for the past few years, which is a great opportunity for students on the East Coast who may not have been able to attend an in-person event on campus. There will be sessions on admissions, financial aid, housing, academic programs, and student life, among others. 

When:

Saturday, September 25 through Thursday, September 30. The sessions will be a little late for those of us in the DC area, running from 8:00 to 10:00 pm EDT on weekdays, but the Saturday session will be in the afternoon from 1:00 to 6:00 pm EDT. 

Learn more and register for UCLA’s Fall Open House here.

NACAC Virtual College Fairs

Event Description:

NACAC is offering a variety of virtual fairs this fall, with several that focus on particular regions. Their virtual experience lets you put together a schedule so you can catch the Zoom presentations from the colleges you are most interested in, as well as set up one-on-one meetings with admissions officers. 

When:

The next fair on September 28 focuses on colleges in the Northeast, including Boston University, Drexel University, and Northeastern University

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

National CCAA Virtual College Fair

Event Description:

The Catholic College Admission Association is offering several virtual fairs this fall. Over 100 Catholic colleges and universities will be in attendance, and the fair will involve one-on-one chats with admissions officers from many of these schools.

When:

Wednesday, October 6, Tuesday October 19, or Thursday October 21 from 6:00 to 8:45 pm EDT

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

Greater Atlanta Area Colleges Virtual Exploration

Event Description:

Nine Atlanta-area schools, including Emory, Georgia Tech, and UGA, will host sessions and presentations at this two-day virtual fair, with typical Admissions sessions as well as specific events like “Why Atlanta?” to help students explore schools in the area.

When:

Wednesday, September 29 - Thursday, September 30, with sessions in the afternoons and evenings.

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

Six Colleges Events

Event Description:

Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams have joined together to put on these virtual events throughout the fall. Students can register for individual events, but there is also a single form that students can fill out to receive information about each school and all of the upcoming sessions.

When:

There are several sessions scheduled, including an Academic Experience session on Tuesday, September 21 at 8:00 pm EDT and a “Real Talk” session with students on Monday, October 18 at 8:00 pm EDT.

Learn more and register for a Six Colleges event here.

Explore Maryland Day

Event Description:

This full day of live sessions from the University of Maryland provides students with the opportunity to learn about the various colleges within the university, hear from current students, and learn more about resources on campus. Students can choose to attend just one session or the full day.

When:

Saturday, October 16, 10:45 am - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for Explore Maryland Day here.

Baylor Premiere

Event Description:

This is another full-day open house, with breakout sessions for academic programs, a live Zoom tour, a parent Q&A session, and other options throughout the day.

When:

Saturday, October 2, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for the Baylor Premiere here.

Behind the Curtain

Event Description:

Bates, Claremont McKenna, Lehigh, and UChicago are teaming up to offer this information session where they let students see “behind the curtain” of the admissions process and hear from admissions directors.

When:

There are three events - the soonest is on Sunday, September 26 at 4:00 pm ET

Learn more and register for Behind the Curtain here.

Exploring Educational Excellence

Event Description:

Brown, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, and Rice are offering this joint session that will include a brief overview from each school and the opportunity to ask questions of the admissions officers. A great way to learn about five highly selective schools at once!

When:

There are four remaining sessions - the soonest is on Tuesday, September 28 at 9:00 pm ET

Learn more and register for Exploring Educational Excellence here.

Fall 2020 Virtual College Fairs, Tours and Information Sessions

We know that it can be difficult to get to know colleges during COVID-19, when you are unable to walk around campus or get face-to-face time with an admissions officer during a college fair.

But it is still SO important that you make the effort to demonstrate your interest with the colleges on your list! In some ways, it is even easier to do so now, since you can attend information sessions and tours all over the country from your computer - so there’s no excuse!

Fall 2020 College Fairs Washington DC

Carnegie Mellon’s Turn Tartan Experience

Event Description:

Carnegie Mellon is providing so many virtual offerings to get to know the school, including information sessions with different colleges and academic departments within the university, tours, and student panels. The big one for me here is that they are also providing one-on-one admissions counseling sessions during the event! This is a GREAT way to get to know your admissions officer and demonstrate your interest in the school. 

When:

The Turn Tartan Experience runs from this Sunday, September 20 through October 29. Most sessions are in the evenings between 4:00 and 8:00 pm EDT, although they also have some sessions on the weekends.

Learn more and register for the Turn Tartan Experience here

Metro 5: Liberal Arts in the City

Event Description:

If you are interested in a small liberal arts college with ties to a major city, I highly recommend this session. The Metro 5 session for counselors was one of Shannon’s favorites so far this cycle! You’ll hear from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR; Macalester College in St. Paul, MN; Rhodes College in Memphis, TN; the University of Richmond here in Virginia; and Trinity College in Hartford, CT. If you haven’t heard of some of these small institutions, it is worth checking out this session to see if one could be a good fit. 

When:

Monday, September 21 at 6:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for Metro 5 here

The Metropolitan University Tour

Event Description:

Southern Methodist University, Tulane, Northeastern, George Washington, and the University of Miami team up in this session to introduce students to top research institutions located in major cities. Joint info sessions like this one are a great way to learn about the schools that interest you while also gaining information about more institutions you may want to add to your list! 

When:

Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for the MET here

Discovering U Virtual Group Sessions

Event Description:

Join Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, and Yale University for this online info session. This is a great opportunity for students to hear from several highly selective schools at once. 

When:

The next session is being offered on October 1 at 8:00 pm EDT. However, Discovering U is also offering several special sessions that are worth checking out, including a Current Student Panel on October 8 and a Session with the Deans on October 22. 

Learn more and register for Discovering U here.


UCLA’s Annual Fall Open House

Event Description:

UCLA has made their annual event virtual this year, which is a great opportunity for students on the East Coast who may not have been able to attend an in-person event on campus. There will be sessions on admissions, financial aid, housing, academic programs, and student life, among others. 

When:

Monday, October 5 through Saturday, October 10. The sessions will be a little late for those of us in the DC area, running from 7:00 to 10:00 pm EDT on weekdays, but the Saturday session will be in the afternoon from 4:00 to 8:00 pm EDT. 

Learn more and register for UCLA’s Fall Open House here.

NACAC Virtual College Fairs

Event Description:

NACAC is offering four virtual college fairs this fall, and each fair has over 600 institutions in attendance! Their virtual experience lets you put together a schedule so you can catch the Zoom presentations from the colleges you are most interested in, as well as set up one-on-one meetings with admissions officers. 

When:

The next fair on Monday, October 12 runs from 1:00 to 9:00 pm EDT and features sessions from Boston University, Clemson, and Fordham, along with 600+ other colleges and universities. 

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

National CCAA Virtual College Fair

Event Description:

The Catholic College Admission Association is offering its first virtual fair this month. Over 100 Catholic colleges and universities will be in attendance, and the fair will involve one-on-one chats with admissions officers from many of these schools.

When:

Tuesday, September 29 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm EDT

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

Preview Georgia Tech

Event Description:

Georgia Tech’s Open House spans three weeks in October, giving students the opportunity to register for sessions of interest from dozens of options including First-Year Admissions, Student Panels, Academics, and Career Counseling.

When:

Monday, October 12 - Thursday, October 29, with evening sessions from 4:00 - 7:00 pm EDT.

Learn more and register for Preview Georgia Tech here.

Greater Atlanta Area Colleges Virtual Exploration

Event Description:

Nine Atlanta-area schools, including Emory, Georgia Tech, and UGA, will host sessions and presentations at this three-day virtual fair, with typical Admissions sessions as well as specific events like “Why Atlanta?” to help students explore schools in the area.

When:

Tuesday, October 6 - Thursday, October 8, with sessions in the evenings.

Learn more and register for a Virtual College Fair here.

Six Colleges Events

Event Description:

Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams have joined together to put on these virtual events throughout the fall. Students can register for individual events, but there is also a single form that students can fill out to receive information about each school and all of the upcoming sessions.

When:

Wednesday, August 26 - Tuesday, October 27, with sessions in the evenings, though they will also send recordings of events to all registrants if you are unable to watch live.

Learn more and register for a Six Colleges event here.

UF Student Experience Q&A

Event Description:

This event will enable prospective students to hear from current students at the University of Florida and participate in a live Q&A. I love events like this because hearing from current students is a great way to get a “feel” for the university that might be missing in virtual tours and information sessions when prospective students can’t get to campus.

When:

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 pm ET throughout the fall semester.

Learn more and register for the UF Student Experience here.

UF DMV-Area Information Sessions

Event Description:

In addition to the student panels, this is another great resource for students interested in applying to the University of Florida. Our admissions representative will be offering virtual information sessions for residents of the DC area to discuss the application process and life at UF.

When:

There are four separate sessions over two weeks. The first one is on Thursday, October 8 at 4:00 pm EDT.

Learn more and register for a DMV-area virtual information session here.

NWHE Special Topics Sessions

Event Description:

The cool thing about these sessions hosted by Notre Dame, Wash U, Johns Hopkins, and Emory is that each session has a particular special topic that will be of interest to many applicants right now, including Decision Plans and Special Programs, as well as a session on applying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When:

Sunday, October 4; Wednesday, October 14; and Sunday, October 18, with sessions in the evenings.

Learn more and register for a Special Topics session here.

Northeast Public Universities at a Glance

Event Description:

This hour-long virtual event is a great way for students to get some quick information about large public research universities in the Northeast, including Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Delaware, the University of Maryland, and the University of Pittsburgh.

When:

Thursday, October 8 or Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 - 8:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for a Northeast Publics session here.

Rochester Institute of Technology Open House

Event Description:

RIT is offering virtual open house sessions in October and November. Students can learn more about specific degree programs of interest as well as “Beyond Academics” sections that cover various aspects of student life.

When:

Various dates throughout October and November, click the link below for more information about specific sessions.

Learn more and register for an RIT Open House session here.

Explore Maryland Day

Event Description:

This full day of live sessions from the University of Maryland provides students with the opportunity to learn about the various colleges within the university, hear from current students, and learn more about resources on campus. Students can choose to attend just one session or the full day.

When:

Saturday, October 17, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for Explore Maryland Day here.

Baylor Premiere

Event Description:

This is another full-day open house, with breakout sessions for academic programs, a live Zoom tour, a parent Q&A session, and other options throughout the day.

When:

Saturday, October 24, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for the Baylor Premiere here.

UVA Virtual Event Series Week

Event Description:

This week of sessions from UVA includes presentations from admissions deans and undergraduate students, as well as sessions on different colleges and academic programs, student resources, and student life on campus.

When:

Monday, October 19 - Thursday, October 22, with sessions from 6:00-8:00 pm EDT

Learn more and register for the Virtual Event Series Week here.

Fall 2019 College Information Sessions, Fairs, and Events in the Washington DC Metro Area

Looking for some face time with admissions officers? Check out these upcoming events in our local area!

Exploring College Options Recruitment Program

When: Monday, September 9 from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM

Where: The Westin Richmond

6631 West Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23230

Event Description: Exploring College Options is a special recruitment program sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices of five of the country's leading universities: Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

Click here for additional event details, including registration, arrival information, and directions.


Beyond the Numbers: Breaking Down Highly Selective Admissions (Tufts) - Washington, DC

When: Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM

Where:  Washington Marriott at Metro Center

775 12th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

United States

Event Description: Please join Joseph Duck, Dean of Admissions and Sayaka Smith, Assistant Director of Admissions for a look inside a selective college admissions process.  Insight into how and why admissions decisions are made will be revealed during this interactive workshop. Please consider joining us! The event is open to students, parents and guidance counselors.

Click here for registration and directions.


The Oberlin Preview

When: Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 3:00 PM until 4:30 PM

Where: Bethesda Marriott

5151 Pooks Hill Rd

Bethesda, MD 20814

United States

Event Description: The Oberlin Preview is an opportunity to learn more about the distinctive features of our school.  Come and learn more about the academic community, the musical and artistic atmosphere, the commitment to sustainability, and the passion our students and alumni have for changing the world.

Click here for registration and directions.


Oxford University Information Session

When: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 6:30 PM until 10:30 PM

Where: Washington International School

3100 Macomb St NW

Washington, DC 20008

Event Description: This free information session for students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors will be delivered by Alice McCallum, Student Recruitment Officer (UK & North America) from the University of Oxford's Undergraduate Admissions Office.

In this session we will cover applying to Oxford, as well as outlining some of the distinctive features of the teaching and learning environment offered by the university. Oxford is the top university in the world according to the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2018-19 and therefore entry to this institution is competitive. This presentation will include detail on every aspect of the application process including, course choice, entrance requirements, admissions tests and interviews. This session will not cover graduate programs at the university.

The session is aimed at those considering undergraduate study at Oxford, and will be most relevant to those who intend to start their studies in Autumn 2020 or 2021, although younger years are welcome. We warmly welcome teachers, guidance counsellors, and parents/guardians to attend too.

Click here for registration and directions.


NYU Information Session

When: Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM

Where: NYU Washington, DC

1307 L St NW

Washington, DC 20005

United States

Event Description: Each year, NYU Admissions goes on a world tour. We visit dozens of cities so prospective students can learn more about what our three campuses have to offer. Join your regional admissions representative, Joal Chen, for a special presentation specific to NYU. At these receptions, you can talk with your admissions officer and staff and learn about academic programs, student life, and the benefits of living and learning at a truly global university. 

Click here for registration and directions.


VCUarts National Portfolio Day

When: Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 9 AM until 5 PM (Click here to view the event schedule)

Where: Fine Arts Building 

1000 West Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23284

 and

The Depot 

814 West Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23284

Event Description: If you are a high school or college student interested in applying to an art school for fine arts or design, then National Portfolio Day is for you! Representatives from the nation’s leading art colleges and universities accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design will travel to VCUarts to review your artwork, discuss your educational and professional goals, and share information on art programs, careers, admissions, and financial aid and scholarships. This event is free and open to the public.

Click here for additional event details, including the list of participating schools, contact information, and event schedule.


Harvard, Princeton, UVA, Wellesley, Yale Information Session in Washington, DC

When: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM

Where: Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel

999 9th St NW

Washington, DC 20001

United States

Event Description: William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions at Harvard; Karen Richardson, Dean of Admissions at Princeton; Gregory Roberts, Dean of Admissions at UVA;  Joy St. John, Dean of Admissions at Wellesley; and Jeremiah Quinlan, Dean of Admissions at Yale will discuss academic programs, campus life, selective college admissions and financial aid. Please bring your friends and family.

Click here for registration and directions.

2019 Fairfax County Public Schools College Fair

When: Sunday, October 20, 2019 from 7:30 PM until 9:30 PM

Where: Fair Oaks Mall

Fairfax, VA 22033

Click here for directions.


2019 Fairfax County Public Schools College Night

When: Monday, October 21, 2019 from 7 PM until 9 PM

Where: Hayfield Secondary School

7630 Telegraph Rd.

Alexandria, VA 22315

Event Description: 2019 College Night Workshops, Hayfield Secondary School

The following list includes some of the workshops that might be available:

  • Considerations in the College Search Process and Beyond for Students with Disabilities

  • Dual Enrollment: Earning College Credits in High School

  • Earning a Degree Abroad

  • Funding College for Underclassmen

  • Helping Teens with Mental Health and Wellness as They Transition to College

  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

  • Scholarships 101

  • The Common Application and The Coalition

  • The SAT and ACT: Their Role in the College Application Process

Tulane University Tysons Corner Information Session

When: Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM

Where: Tysons Corner Marriott

8028 Leesburg Pike

Tysons, VA 22182

Event Description: Meet Tulane admission counselors when they come to you! Tulane hosts several receptions in cities throughout the country for any interested students and their families each fall.

Click here for registration and directions.


Greater Washington, DC National College Fair

When: Sunday, October 27, 2019 from 1:00 PM until  4:00 PM

Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Exhibit Hall C

801 Mt Vernon Pl NW

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 202-249-3000

Click here for registration, list of participating schools, and directions.


DC National Portfolio Day

When: Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM

Where: The Art & Design Building

4515 Patriot Circle

Fairfax, VA 22030

Event Description: If you are a high school or college student interested in applying to an art school for fine arts or design, then National Portfolio Day is a great resource for you. Representatives from the nation’s leading art colleges and universities accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design will travel to the George Mason University School of Art to review your artwork, discuss your educational and professional goals, and share information on art programs, careers, admissions, and financial aid and scholarships. This event is free and open to the public.

Please note: Admissions decisions and scholarship awards will not be offered at National Portfolio Day. Some colleges may accept your portfolio as the visual portion of your application while others have policies which prohibit making an admissions decision at the time of your review. We recommend speaking to and having your work reviewed by as many representatives as possible.

Click here for additional event details, including pre-registration, list of participating schools, contact information, and event schedule.