Applying to college can be an overwhelming educational milestone. On Oct. 13, the PTSA organized the annual College Fair, helping alleviate some of the stress that comes with thinking of applying to college.

Every year, the PTSA parents work hard to organize and actualize a college fair where the students’ best interests are met. College tours can sometimes present an economical challenge for students, and thankfully, the PTSA was able to bring the colleges to the students. Such efforts allow for all juniors and seniors to receive the same opportunities, a chance to discover schools and the ability to learn more about the colleges they wish to attend.

“College Fair is a great opportunity because it allows students to see and interact with college representatives. Not many students can afford going to College Fair and our’s gives students a chance to ask questions and get face to face with schools,” PTSA parent Mary Walsh said.

Present at the Colleges Fair were a variety of both in-state and out-of-state schools, providing students with the opportunity to get a nationwide view of their options. Among the extra-provincial schools present were Wake Forest, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard and Columbia, as well as in-state schools like University of Miami, University of Florida and Florida State University.

“I love these college fairs. It’s an effective way of recruiting students. It’s amazing how it’s not only Florida schools but colleges from all over the nation, and I think that exposure is fundamental, especially because it allows students to ask questions, and it’s that open-mindedness that colleges look for,” Franklin & Marshall College representative Matt Latessa said.

This year’s College Fair stood out among the rest to be one of the most successful, and it’s all thanks to the PTSA parents. Last week alone, about 300 passes were distributed, not including the many that were given the morning of, which left the gym swarming with students. As a means of helping out with this chaos, several students volunteered to assist the parents with a variety of jobs from helping organize the college representatives to assisting students in finding schools. All this allowed for a successful and smoothly-run College Fair.

“I think that College Fair is really helpful to not only seniors but juniors as well because it allows them to learn what college is really about. Not everyone talks to universities and this allows them to get that opportunity. When colleges aren’t that big, it helps them get their information out there and interact with students,” Bethune-Cookman University representative Maria Garrido said.

Many students don’t know when or even where to begin when it comes to college, and thanks to the College Fair, students have one less conundrum with which to deal.