Opinion
Education Opinion

Friday Guest Column: The Rise of Virtual College Fairs

By Marc Dean Millot — April 04, 2008 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Heather Johnson is a regular contributor to Online Education Database (OEDb).

Recently, CollegeWeekLive hosted the largest virtual college fair in history. Its success and the success of virtual college fairs in the past indicate that traditional colleges have started to embrace students’ digital world.
A virtual college fair offers everything you might see at a traditional college fair. Participating colleges set up online “booths,” offering information about the school in the form of an online brochures, virtual campus tours, video testimonials. Live Q&A makes the experience unique. Potential applicants from around the world can question professors, students, alumni and financial aid counselors.

Both college-bound high school students and their parents can participate with virtual college fairs. This can save a tremendous amount in travel expenses, as they can “tour” many colleges at once. Environmentally conscious students will also appreciate the eco-friendly nature of the virtual college fair. Distance learners will no longer feel obligated to physically visit a campus. It won’t be necessary.

Last year, Second Life hosted its first online college fair on the teen grid, which included Penn State, University of Kentucky, and Bowling Green State (see here.) CollegeWeekLive attracted Rutgers, Baylor University, Texas Tech and the Air Force Academy. With virtual college fairs now attracting thousands of attendees and dozens of accredited schools, perhaps more people will become comfortable with the notion of distance education. This is a boon for those attending online colleges and traditional colleges, as e-learning is unmistakably a big part of the future of education, including higher education.

Heather invites your comments and freelancing inquiries at heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com

The opinions expressed in edbizbuzz are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Events

School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.
Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP