College has always been a scary subject for most students; some have yet to give the topic any thought, while some have focused on it for many years. Regardless of where they stand, most struggle with figuring out two main components: what they want to do and where they want to go. To help ease these concerns, Fort Hamilton High School’s College Advisement Office hosted its annual College Fair to guide students to success.
On October 15th, Fort opened its doors to all interested in the annual college fair in the girls gym, G83. The fair featured a large variety of colleges, ranging from CUNY schools including Brooklyn College, SUNY schools such as Stony Brook University and a wide range of private institutions like St. John’s University. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore out-of-state options like the University of Florida.
The process to put together this event included the help of Leadership and the counselors in the college office. Mrs. Izzo, as well as the other counselors from the college office, all had important parts in the process of putting the event together. They emailed invitations to colleges and left them reminders as the date came closer, eventually persuading them to attend. Throughout the planning process, they made sure to keep in mind what was necessary for the students after gaining insight into their concerns through the many questions they were asked.
“The process is very thorough,” Mrs. Izzo told The Pilot. “The college office always makes sure that there is a wide range of post-secondary options for our Fort students to explore. The college fair is also a great opportunity for students and staff to meet with college admissions and for parents and students to get their questions answered.”
Students found it easy to explore new opportunities and reflect on their future goals. Emma Tang, a senior at Fort Hamilton, thought she was prepared for her future education; she attended the fair simply to see if there were any colleges she had overlooked in her application process. After attending the event, however, she experienced a new realization about her college decisions.
“I was interested in seeing if there were any colleges I missed; I wanted to make sure my college application was sound,” said Tang. “It made me realize that I will have to choose from different majors.”
After gaining valuable insight late in her own journey, Tang had advice for younger students who may not be thinking about their futures: “It’s never too early.”
A large number of those in attendance were juniors who were hoping to prepare themselves for the college-related decisions of the coming year. Among the juniors present at the event was Colin Mazzey, who attended the fair to gain more information about the requirements for admissions. Mazzey found the event both engaging and informative; he was able to meet like-minded individuals, understand what opportunities were available and learn about the factors he had to take into consideration for his future.
“My favorite part of the college fair was being able to communicate with my peers,” Mazzey said. “I was able to understand what made them interested in certain colleges which helped me think about other ways to approach the decision-making process and other elements to take into account.”
Being able to communicate with others, whether with questions or simply to bond, is especially important to Mazzey. Building those relationships not only helped make the experience more enjoyable, but also helped him start thinking about the college application process he’ll have to undergo in the Fall of 2026. Like the many others circling the gym, Mazzey left with new ideas and a clearer understanding of the college application process.
Whether students left the fair with a dream school in mind or a better understanding of what is to come, the college fair mapped out futures for those who attended, both literally and figuratively. And for the future graduates of Fort Hamilton who strive to succeed, that’s what it’s all about.
