Navigating college choices can be overwhelming, but a recent college fair helped make the process feel much more approachable. Designed to connect students with colleges in a casual, low-pressure environment, the fair offered a valuable opportunity to gather information, ask questions, and discover new possibilities.

Students like Sofija Graba appreciated the event’s setup. “At first, the fair was pretty overwhelming because of the sheer number of people and colleges there,” she said. However, once she took her time at each booth, she found the experience helpful. “I was able to learn a lot of clear information.”

For Graba, who doesn’t have a dream college yet, hearing directly from representatives rather than relying on websites made a big difference. She came away particularly interested in a few Wisconsin schools and the University of Minnesota.

Many students used the opportunity to explore beyond the obvious choices. Molly Smith, who attended with her dad, visited well-known schools like Eastern and Northern Illinois University, but also discovered new options.

“One was called Knox College in Galesburg, IL,” Smith said. “They had some very unique majors and minors that I thought were very interesting, and the lady we talked to was very sweet and helpful.”

Smith also highlighted the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, praising its beautiful campus and wide range of programs. Students were able to explore a variety of career paths.

“The colleges had many different courses—some were trades, some were engineering, and some were overall everything,” Rylan Castel said.

By bringing dozens of colleges directly to students in a welcoming environment, the fair made higher education feel more accessible, helping students take their first steps toward future success.