Lilybeth Dooley

A college representative prepares to introduce her college to students and their families. On Tuesday, Sept. 5, Round Rock ISD (RRISD) held the Central Texas College Fair, where students were given the opportunity to meet admission representatives from colleges around the United States to learn more about college possibilities after high school.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, Round Rock ISD (RRISD) hosted a district-wide Central Texas college fair at 6 p.m. at Round Rock High School. The fair gave students the opportunity to connect and learn more about colleges around the nation.

College representatives set up booths around the campus, stocked full of informational pamphlets and merchandise pertaining to their schools. Representatives talked with students and families about their colleges in hopes to recruit them.

“When choosing a school I always tell students, ‘Do what’s best for you, not for anyone else,’” DePaul University representative Kelsey O’Neil said, “because there’s going to be a lot of great options out there, but you want to make sure you find the one that’s the best fit for you.”

College fairs give students an opportunity to see their options for higher education even if they aren’t able to go on college tours and survey their options outside of Texas. It also gives students a chance to ask any questions they might have.

“Some students have really great guidance, whether it’s resources at their high school, or maybe they have a really great relationship with their guidance counselor, but some students may not have access to those things,” Purdue University Representative Brenda Ramirez said. “Having exposure to a bunch of universities and being able to talk to those individuals that will be reviewing your application can be really useful.”

Students and families truly did find the college fair fruitful. For many students, the prospect of college itself may seem daunting and unknown, so an event like this is extremely helpful.

“I found the college fair helpful for building a personal application timeline and learning from professionals about the process,” Harrison Malinger ‘25 said. “My biggest takeaway from the college fair was that there are many scholarships that a student can apply to, specifically in the U.S.”

The next Round Rock ISD college fair will be held at McNeil High School on Saturday, Oct. 21.