College fairs, whether that’s 10 colleges that come to your high school or 298 that descend on the Civic Center, are a golden opportunity to get the scoop on a lot of schools; they can even help you to rule out schools and put news ones on your list.

Since most high school students have little experience talking to college reps, I thought it would be a help to scope things out: What to do before you get to the fair, at the fair and after the fair.

Long before you attend the fair, write down the questions that are most important to you and tuck them in your wallet.

And don’t hold back on a question just because you think it sounds atypical, college reps are bored with the same old questions; you’ll do them a favor if you ask a question that’s outside the box.

Please remember that a little etiquette goes along way. Start off by introducing yourself – something like, “Hi, my name is R. Rooster, I attend Henrietta Hen High in Flatlbed, CT, and then ask a specific, rather than a vague question.

You could ask about campus life on the weekends, what percent graduate in four years, or for a description of a particular club, or the requirements for a major you’re considering.

What follows is a list of questions that Eva Maria Garza, a college advisor at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, and I put together. Hopefully they will bring you to a handful of questions that are important to you.

Ask for a list of majors you can take with you.

Ask if there’s a typical student profile that would let you know if you have a shot at being accepted to that particular school.

Ask if a student could contact you so that you could hear what school is like from the perspective of an enrolled student. Ask if there is someone you can talk to who graduated from your high school.

Ask about scholarships and meritorious money. There are often little-known pools of money, which are under-fished.

Ask about overnights, day visits, what life is like off campus and if students take classes at other area institutions.

Ask about the food, the menu and time choices for meals. Ask questions about housing, and inquire about how safe the school and the surrounding area is.

Ask about class sizes and mandatory classes, the writing and reading loads, and what type of tutoring is available.

If you’re very conservative or liberal, ask about the political and social climate on campus. We’re generally happier when we’re surrounded by people who see and think more or less like we do.

For additional ideas and to see where some of these questions were generated from go to http://homeworktips.about.com/od/preparingforcollege/a/repquestions.htm and to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/where-to-start/28841.html.

To make the most of a college fair, review the list of the colleges that will attend and make sure to visit the schools you’re most interested in early. You’ll be fresher and so will the reps.

Pay close attention to the clock because times flies at the fair, and after each visit make sure to take notes if you think they will help you to remember what you need to follow up on.

So plan to attend as many college fairs as possible. If you’re not sure when the next fair in your area is scheduled, ask your college counselor, and make sure to bring a big bag to hold all the stuff schools want you to have.

One last thing, get the names of the representatives that you spoke with and send them a thank you card snail mail, stating how much you enjoyed meeting them. Think of this as an opportunity to create a relationship with someone who could help you get into that school.