College to Participate in 'Online College Fair'

Prospective students and their parents will be able to communicate with representatives of Pennsylvania College of Technology with just a few clicks of a mouse and some keyboard strokes when the College begins participation this fall in the "Online College Fair."

The new recruiting tool − developed by the National Association for College Admission Counseling and offered in conjunction with Interaction Software, Inc. − enables parents and students to join live, on-line chat-room discussions about financial aid, scholarships and test preparation; view college campuses; and, in "virtual question-and-answer" sessions, learn more about what colleges and universities have to offer.

While the sessions won't take the place of face-to-face meetings with admissions representatives at college fairs or on campus tours, they do allow students access to many colleges and universities from the convenience of a computer screen at home or in school, said Chester D. Schuman, director of admissions at Penn College.

"While the Online College Fairs enable us to expand our reach, they are just one aspect of the overall recruiting effort here," Schuman said. "We continue to offer prospective students ample opportunities for personal contact with Penn College representatives through a variety of college-fair events in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Our annual Open House in March and Fall Visitation in October provide even more opportunities for students to meet staff and faculty and to gain firsthand knowledge of the high-quality, applied-technology programs available here."

Penn College's fall-semester Online College Fair participation will include fairs on Thursday, Oct. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., (general interest); Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (international students); and Tuesday, Nov. 14, from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. (science, engineering and technology).

Penn College's spring-semester Online College Fair participation will include fairs on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. (business majors); and Thursday, Feb. 1, from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. (general interest).

NACAC is an Alexandria, Va.-based education association of more than 6,900 secondary-school guidance counselors, college admissions officers, financial-aid officers and independent counselors.

Interaction Software, Inc. is a Web-based technology company in Boston providing software to facilitate on-line, interactive events using chat and multi-media, such as streaming video and hyperlinks to Web sites.