One of the best ways for both parents and students to learn about their college options is by attending local and national college fairs. One of the largest national college fairs comes to Chicago in October.

The Chicago National College Fair will take place from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, at Navy Pier.

The event is free and open to the public. The national college fair program provides valuable resources for students and parents attempting to navigate the college-admission process.

The fair allows students and parents to meet one-on-one with admission representatives from a wide range of national and international, public and private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Participants will learn about admission requirements, financial aid, course offerings, and campus environment, as well as other information pertinent to the college-selection process. At the fair’s counseling center, students and parents can discuss their individual needs with college experts.

By pre-registering, students can print a bar-coded confirmation to be used on-site at the fair as an electronic ID. The online registration for the Chicago National College Fair is available through Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008. Students can pre-register now.

The fair is sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and hosted by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC).

For more information, visit the Chicago National College Fair.