When attending college fairs, collect information, get business cards/contact names, and ask good questions.
This is where your networking begins. Creating a connection will result in more possibilities and potentially more money! You make a good impression - you end up on the "students of interest" list. You have a great story and resume, even better.
Introduce yourself. At times there are lines, so use time wisely. Either walk up to the front and listen or wait in line if you are truly interested in the school. Check the college fair websites for lists of colleges planning to attend. Research your top five before you go. Why? You can ask a more educated list of questions if you know a bit about the school. Type up the questions on your phone so you can refer to them. They will take note of your preparation. You won't have time to research them all, but once you get to the fair don't shy away from unfamiliar schools. Those you've never heard of often have some of the best programs: design your degree, rolling admissions, block scheduling, undergraduate research funding, etc. For schools you did not have time to research, say something similar to, "I researched schools before tonight, but of course, didn't have time to research all. I would like to hear about your school and will look online when I get home."
Other recommendations/preparation:
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Firmly shake hands, make eye contact, and thank him/her as you introduce yourself. "I know there is a long line, so thank you for your time," or, "Thank you for your time; I will be quick."
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Avoid the word "like" as a pause/placeholder. Let's call it "LIKE DISEASE." Slow down, and think as you talk. If you can't cut it off immediately, don't make yourself paranoid before the fair. Instead, at some point, make an effort to get rid of it. Improve your speech patterns. The more mature you sound, the more likely others will take you seriously. It is a bad habit, and professional, high-paying jobs require professional level English.
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The university/college representatives will probably start pitching you, if not, you start your pitch. Before you go, think about what academic accomplishments/skills/resume builders you want to highlight and discuss. Do you know what you want to study? What have you done outside of class to build skills and help your community? Have you received awards? Something like, "I plan to study political science. I enjoy Model UN, and I participate in the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions program. What kind of events and conferences are hosted on campus for political science majors?" If you frame things this way, you are pitching yourself, but you are doing it in a way that doesn't force them to sit and listen to a list. You want to create a conversation and insert your pitch in that conversation. IF THEY START THE PITCH - LISTEN! If you listen, you will generate questions.
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Ask quality, interesting questions. Examples: "“I saw the list of internship sponsors. Are there internships with startups or non-profits?" "Can I set up my own internship?" “I am sure I can find much of the academic information about your school online, but I would like to know more about the classrooms. Are students able to take notes on a computer?” “Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?”
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Avoid questions they will view as unimportant: “Are there fraternities and sororities on campus?” “Is the food good?” I hope you can understand what these questions really say if you ask them of someone trying to recruit college ready students. The general rule is, yes, all universities will tell you they have great food, and yes, many have a Greek system. If you have questions like this, look on university Facebook pages and student posts for answers.
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If you like, you can create contact cards with your name and photo on them. Not everyone will take them, but some will be impressed you have them. You can buy the supplies and print your own, or order them online (Moo @ https://goo.gl/9hBUQ6 or Vistaprint @ http://goo.gl/cPCWjG). If you have a digital portfolio, list that alongside your contact information. Keep your contact card clean and simple. If you would like to create an online digital portfolio, sign up for a workshop here: http://www.getreadyu.com/#!eportfolios/cyx9.
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Get the representative's contact information/card, and send them a follow-up email. Short and sweet, and using the typical format. "Greetings Ms. So and So, Thank you for answering my questions at the Austin college fair last week. I researched more when I had time; it looks like your school might be a good fit for me. If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your time. Best, George" Very few students follow up, and schools prefer students who show interest.
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Keep attending fairs and keep researching online. It is never too early; start your freshman year (many families include a college stop while on vacation - even the little guys get an idea as to what a college campus actually is). A college fair is busy, and in a three-hour time span, you might talk to six to eight (and listen in on a few others). If you go multiple years, you will have some great information when it comes time to evaluate schools, and if you've met the same reps year after year, then you have a contact to leverage. To keep up with college fair alerts, go to the College Fair Guide page.
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Be sure to file away all information, and remember where you put it so you have it when needed. Enter contact information in your email, take pictures of business cards, etc.