Harrisburg Academy (HA), the Capital Region’s premier, and one of the nation’s oldest, private, independent, co-ed, pre-K through Grade 12 schools, hosts its annual FREE Spring College Fair for Central PA high school students on April 22 from 6-8 p.m. Students and their families can interact with representatives of more than 100 colleges and universities that will be on the Academy campus that evening.
Capital Region students in Grades 9-11 are invited to register for the Academy’s College Fair at https://app.strivescan.com/registration, or simply register at the door on April 22.
WHO:
Harrisburg Academy
Representatives of 100+ Colleges and Universities
Central PA High School Students and Families
WHAT: Spring 2024 College Fair
WHEN: Monday, April 22, 6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Harrisburg Academy, 10 Erford Rd., Wormleysburg, Pa.
“It’s our pleasure to present this informative College Fair for students in the region who are contemplating their post-secondary educational opportunities. Our College Fair is free, convenient and an interactive forum where students and families can speak directly with dozens of representatives from higher-ed institutions,” commented Harrisburg Academy Head of School Adrian Allan. “Whether to attend college, enroll in a training program, enlist in the military or pursue another calling is a very personal and difficult decision for many young people. By attending this Fair, they can garner a better sense of what these schools offer and create a path to reach their personal and career goals.”
“It’s never too early to start considering colleges/universities. At Harrisburg Academy, we actually start in 8th grade,” noted Loren Gordon, the Academy’s director of college counseling. “In those earlier years you can start considering: What courses am I taking? What am I drawn to? Start thinking about and being intentional about which extracurriculars you’re pursuing and whether they point you toward a future goal you’d like to achieve.”
And Gorden added a note for parents and guardians: “Consider who your child is as a learner and what is important to them. Help them ask those questions of different institutions: Is this where I can accomplish my goals, be happy, learn comfortably and explore my passions?
“Visit different kinds of schools, large state universities, small liberal arts colleges, urban and rural school settings. Discover the feel of the campus, what you see students doing, whether your student feels like this is the kind of atmosphere in which they would thrive.”
A full list of the schools sending representatives to the Fair can be found at www.harrisburgacademy.org/campus-life/college-counseling/college-fair. They include:
Carnegie Mellon University, PA
Kenyon College, OH
Muhlenberg College, PA
Penn State University, PA
Purdue University, IN
St. Andrews University, NC
Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ
Trinity College, CT
University of California, Berkeley, CA
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Attending students and parents will receive a comprehensive College Fair Guide at the event which provides a list of suggested topics and questions to discuss with college representatives. Harrisburg Academy will continually update the online list of attending schools so that students and their parents can narrow down a list of colleges to engage with and ask detailed questions about campus and academic life, admission criteria and financial aid. As a student heading into higher education, it’s important to know things like whether freshmen are guaranteed housing, what the dorms are like, which clubs and activities are offered, lecture or class sizes, the programs or majors most popular at the school, admission deadlines and what the school looks for in an ideal candidate.
Students and parents interested in attending can find additional information on HA’s website at https://www.harrisburgacademy.org/campus-life/college-counseling/college-fair or by calling (717) 763-7811.