BY CAMILLE JOHNSON
Through the Guidance Department’s “College Series,” junior students attended the National College Fair in Edison in March and Monmouth, Kean and NJIT throughout April. These trips allowed students to tour and get information about possible options for post-high school education.
The series began with a trip to the New Jersey National College Fair in Edison on March 4. The fair featured representatives and admissions counselors from over 300 colleges, technical institutes, and military academies across the country, allowing students to explore a wide variety of schools. “I hadn’t really started looking at colleges, so I thought it was a good opportunity to look around and see what different schools had to offer,” said Jenna Wilkinson.
Trips to Monmouth University in Long Branch, Kean University in Union, and NJIT in Newark took place in April. “I decided to tour NJIT, Kean University, and Monmouth University because I wanted to compare different types of campuses and see where I felt most comfortable,” said Aleena Hussain.
Each trip consisted of an information session hosted by an admissions counselor at each respective school, a walking tour of the campus, and lunch. “The opportunity came up of the chance to go on a college trip, and, because I have never went before, I wanted to fulfill that experience,” said Ibrahim Haqqi. “Kean and Monmouth I’ve grown up hearing about, so it only felt right to check it out.”
Seeing the campuses in person helped students envision their futures and experience life on a college campus. “For me, Kean was the best. I thought the campus was very nice, as well as the students,” noted Desmond McLaughlin. “Everywhere on campus, the people were friendly, and welcoming.”
Students also gained information about potential majors and fields of study. “Academically, Monmouth seemed to match my future goals the best because of its strong business programs, internship opportunities, and focus on helping students prepare for careers after graduation,” added Hussain.
Attendees plan to take what they learned from the trips into application process in the fall, while preparing for the next major steps in their lives. “These trips were amazing experiences that went in depth to the many majors and expectations for these institutions. I think they helped me grasp what the concept of college was vs. the soon-to-be reality, which really opened my eyes to certain plans and paths,” said Haqqi. “I know more of what to expect, and what I can do to prepare for college apps because of these trips.”
Photos provided by Amanda Walsh
Posted on May 27, 2026
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