Fulbright USA College Day is back! On the 23^rd and 24^th of September, the US-UK Fulbright Commission will host its USA College day. This will be the first time the event is hosted in person since 2019! The UK-US Fulbright Commission runs both the Fulbright scholarship programme and the EducationUSA advising network in the UK. This Commission focuses on educational opportunities and exchanges between the USA and the UK, as part of their larger global programme.

The USA College day is the largest US University fair in Europe and provides prospective undergraduate students, parents, and teachers with the opportunity to meet representatives from a wide variety of colleges and learn more about the US tertiary educational system. Tickets are free and you can register for tickets here.

So, why attend? This fair is a great opportunity to learn about an array of different schools and potentially discover new colleges and programmes. The fair hosts more than 165 universities! At the fair, there will be various booths, each one for a different university. This gives students the chance to meet admissions officers and alumni and ask any questions they have about the school.

Understanding the ethos of a particular university is vital when it comes to writing your supplements. Supplemental essays give each university the opportunity to evaluate your enthusiasm and curiosity for their specific programmes. In supplemental essays, students need to show that their values align with the school’s ethos and goals. For more information, Vela Education are hosting a webinar on writing your supplements on the 14^th of September. You can register here.

Making contact with different schools at the USA College day will also allow a student to “demonstrate interest”. Demonstrated interest is a metric used by certain universities to measure the likelihood that a student will accept a place if offered.  You can read our blog on demonstrated interest here. Connecting with schools at the Fulbright USA College day is a great way to meet admissions officers and show commitment to your application.

The admissions process can feel one sided as the university is assessing you through the material that you submit. However, don’t forget that you are also choosing the university! The USA College day provides an opportunity for students to hone in on the qualities they are looking for in their university experience. You can find out which universities will be attending by using the USA College Day university search.

If you have any questions about boosting your application, Vela Education is here to help. You can schedule a strategic consultation with us if you would like to plan out your US university application process.