FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2009
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Jacksonville National College Fair October 24 for students and parents
Special sessions on college planning and financial aid for Spanish speakers

What:	The National College Fair of Jacksonville A local opportunity for students and their parents to meet college and university representatives from across the nation.
When:	Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, noon-4 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
Where:	Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
Cost:	Admission is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

Details: Sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the National College Fair of Jacksonville draws thousands of students and their parents each year. The event will be attended by representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities spanning from Hawaii to Maine.

“First of all, attending the National College Fair is fun,” said Kevin Cotton, Florida State College director of recruitment. “It provides a smorgasbord of colleges and universities for students to sample, as many as they want at one location. They can begin establishing that vitally important relationship with staff members from their colleges of choice. It allows students to begin “kicking the tires” of schools they're interested in attending.”

“For parents, the College Fair affords them the chance to collect valuable information on colleges and the college-going process. Parents are the main influencer on a young person’s selection of one college over another. It is vitally important they have the information necessary to make the most informed decision possible. Parents need to be able to adequately compare colleges and make a solid decision of issues such as quality of education, cost of attendance and academic support,” said Cotton.

Information sessions begin at noon. A new session added this year, College Fair Orientation for First-Time Attendees, will be presented at noon in Room 104. It will help attendees make the most out of their visit.

Sessions presented in English include Bright Futures Scholarship Program; Federal Financial Aid; College Planning; FACTS.org — Free Online Advising and College Search; Writing the College Admissions Essay; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Ready to Apply: Now What? and Scholarship Tips: Local and National. Information sessions presented in Spanish include Federal Financial Aid and College Planning. For an online schedule of times and rooms visit http://jaxcollegefair.org/custom59.html.

The local committee includes representation from the Bolles School, Duval County Public Schools, the public school systems of Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties, Bishop Kenny High School, Edward Waters College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida and Communities in Schools — Take Stock in Children. For more information, students and parents may visit http://jaxcollegefair.org/ or contact any local high school guidance office.