Rome High School recently hosted a college fair that attracted representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities, some traveling over 2,500 miles to attend. The event took place in the school’s main gymnasium, where colleges set up tables with informational materials such as brochures and banners.
The fair was organized for juniors and seniors, who attended in separate sessions lasting about 45 minutes each. Students engaged with college representatives, gathered pamphlets, and learned about different educational opportunities.
Senior Jayden Perez said he plans to major in nursing at Emory University but is also considering other state schools. He commented on the value of the event: “This has given me an opportunity to get excited about college,” Perez said. “It also is a great opportunity to speak with real college professionals one-on-one.”
Andrew Hunsinger from the University of Vermont explained his goals for attending: “The main thing I want to bring to a place like Rome High School is to let students know that the Northeast is an option for them,” Hunsinger said. “Especially in Atlanta, a lot of people from the northeast are moving to the south, and we are trying to let students in places like Rome know about the opportunities that are available at universities like Vermont.”
Rome High School Counselor Melissa Holland detailed her efforts organizing the fair: “I have been planning the college fair since June. I wrote a lot of emails and made phone contacts with a lot of these colleges,” Holland said. “I am also able to reach out via SCOIR (the SCOIR College Network), and there is a way to invite colleges through the site, and I got a lot of interest that way.”
Junior Genesis Uzcategui expressed interest in exploring colleges far from home while planning to study ultrasound-radiology. She mentioned looking into Warren Wilson, Toccoa Falls, Eckerd, and Florida Southern.
Lilly Blanchard noted her enthusiasm for Oregon football and shared her surprise at some of the visiting schools: “I’ve been on a tour at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and I’m applying early to Duke for neuroscience,” she said. She added that she seeks a diverse and inclusive community as well as strong academics and sports programs.
Janna Nyguen, another junior interested in pre-med studies, stated: “I don’t know exactly what college I want to go to, but I am interested in UGA or Emory,” she said. “I want to major in Premed. I want to go into the healthcare field.”
Holland explained how this event supports Rome High School’s broader educational goals: “The college fair is an extension of our mission statement, which is to make sure students graduate from Rome High School prepared for college or work,” she said. “I want the students to have an open mind and to be able to find out the opportunities that are out there and available to them. Some students may have in mind that they want to go to work, but through this they may see they want to go to college. An event like this offers them the chance to open their minds to other opportunities.”
