O’Brien Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds bustled with students and parents as they toured the flier-stacked tables of the San Dieguito Union High School District’s college fair Tuesday night.

John Ahern Assistant Director of Admissions at Emmanuel College in Boston commented on the “bigger than average” fair that “fill[ed] the whole conference center.”

Alumnus Sarah Smith of Long Island University described it as “bigger than some of the other district’s [college fair events] that [she’s] gone to.”

The 200+ colleges and universities from all over the world in attendance enabled students to see a wide variety of options. Smith said her goal at the event was “to provide more information to students so they are more prepared to make their decisions of where they want to go to college.”

Students were able to ask college representatives any questions they had about each college. Freshman Olivia Bell said, “I’m trying to get a feel for the atmosphere, the teachers, things I have to do to get in, the different majors, and the reason I would want to go there.”

There were also test prep, interviewing strategy, summer program, and financial aid companies peddling their resources; however, these booths got little attention compared to the crowded college and university tables.

Three college-led information sessions titled “Funding Your College Education,” “Student Athlete Advising & NCAA Eligibility” and” Insider’s View to College Admissions” occurred where students and parents were able to discuss.

While some students like sophomore August Uecker left the event with only “a bunch of paper,” others found the event helpful and informative.

Bell said, “I’ve learned there are some majors that I didn’t know existed [and that the event] hasn’t so much changed my mind [about college] as much as opened my horizons.”