On Thursday, Sep. 19, Thousand Oaks High School will host the yearly college and career fair. Together, 65 different universities will gather in the quad for students and their families, providing information and answers to any questions they may have. The fair is open to all students, free of charge, and is set to occur from 5-6:30 p.m. Student translators who can help guide Spanish-speaking families throughout the event will also be available.

The 65 universities who plan to attend this upcoming event include Moorpark College, UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, Cal Lutheran, University of Pennsylvania and more. Along with the universities, there will also be military and tutoring company representatives available for students to talk to.

“This is a great opportunity for students because…you want to be able to talk to [representatives] and ask any questions you might have,” college and career specialist Mary Ippolito said. “Maybe you’re quite not sure and you want to test out different colleges or universities that you’re curious about.” 

At the college and career fair students are given the opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives and identify what next steps they want to take for their future. Students are also able to download the app StriveScan, available on both Apple and Android, for summaries on the material presence at each university. 

In addition to the fair, there will be three 25-minute workshop sessions that will focus on topics such as career pathways, student support services, the college application process and post-secondary school options. This portion of the event will take place at 6:45-8:20 p.m.

“The workshop portion is really useful…maybe you’re interested in a highly selective college but you do not know where to start or you’re overwhelmed,” Ippolito said. “These reps are here to help break it down for you and explain how exactly you apply to these institutions.” 

The workshops will help students develop skills and obtain information that they may otherwise not have known.