Juniors and seniors alike scrambled to get their field trip permission slips signed. The annual Minnesota National College Fair was recently attended by a large number of hopeful college-goers. Hosted at the Minnesota Civic Center, the fair was run by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Some students only wanted to spend the day at the MOA, but others were excited to see what institutes hold their futures. Most juniors were focused on finding out what programs interested them, and which colleges offered those programs. The fair is a great place for them since there is such a variety of schools present. The seniors however, had a pretty good idea on which program they wanted to look for, and had already narrowed down a few schools.

The guidance counselor at CFHS, Kirsten Hoffman, says that college fairs have always been a “big deal to attend”. However, she also stated that she never felt as prepared as she could have been. Luckily, CFHS’s Ramp up to Readiness program is designed to help students know what to look for and which questions to ask at the college fair. Before, students went into the college application process blind, but now this program provides juniors and seniors with workshops that will inform them about college. Hoffman stated, “Minnesota students are pretty lucky that they have so many choices right in Minnesota.”

This year’s college fair was a success, leading Cannon’s students to a promising future. Upperclassmen have an easier ride to apply to college with all the opportunities they are given, including the college fair and Ramp Up. Even though some kids skipped out to shop, it was still a productive day. Nevertheless, the day was filled with tough decisions, new clothes and new schools.