By Jason KUROSU

With a plethora of booths, college representatives and prospective students in attendance, the 18th Annual College Career Fair was in full swing at the Glendale Civic Auditorium on Wednesday night, Oct. 27. Colleges ranged from public to private, two-year to four-year, vocational to military to almost anything imaginable were present to provide information for the eager future students and their parents.

The fair had the intimate feel of a swap meet, in which the prospective students and college representatives could meet and converse without it becoming overly formal; professional without the impersonal mood of a business proposal.

Many of the colleges went above and beyond to show the fair’s attendees what they could expect from an education at their school. There were the usual pamphlets and handouts, but visual aids were aplenty in other various and unique forms.

Science and technology programs held actual labs in which students and their parents went from being mere viewers to active participants, mixing chemicals with the aid of students in white coats and gloves.

GCC’s Nursing Department showcased a low-fidelity human simulation, essentially a robot that is anatomically correct on more than the barest level, with realistic respiratory and circulatory functions to boot. Prospective students could speak not only with the department’s staff and current students, but also get a glimpse at what they might be training with, the closest thing to a true living subject as possible.

Police and fire departments even took part in the recruiting. Uniforms and gear were available for any who wanted to try them on and get a truly hands-on feel for what they would be signing up for. Along with the uniform, the other tools of the trade were on hand: hoses, along with pike poles and Halligans, used to take down structures in order to rescue those trapped inside, were there for any and all to handle.

Interactivity was the weapon of choice for recruitment at the College Career Fair, and the schools’ efforts were not only enticing for the senses, but for thoughts of the future as well.

  GCC, student fair